4 Great Nashville Day Trip Ideas

Spend the day exploring a nearby town, strolling through an art museum or enjoyed the great outdoors. Wherever your interests lie, a quick excursion can help you escape the monotony of the day-to-day and have fun.

If you live in or near Nashville, there is no shortage of day trips to take this spring and summer. Many of these destinations, which cater to an array of interests, are featured in Signature Transportation’s Nashville Tours. In addition to our well-rounded list of tour offerings, we’re sharing a few more Nashville day trip ideas.

1. Downtown Franklin

30 minutes south of Nashville

One of the destinations featured in Signature’s specialty tours is historic Downtown Franklin, located a short drive south of Nashville. It’s a great destination for day trips or even entire vacations.

As “America’s Favorite Main Street,” Downtown Franklin has a lot to live up to, and it certainly delivers. Walk along Main Street and check out the local shops and grab a bite to eat at one of the town’s many excellent restaurants, delis and bakeries. Get a healthy dose of history by visiting The Carter House and Carnton Plantation, both open daily for guided tours.

2. Cummins Falls State Park

1.5 hours east of Nashville

What was once the site of two mills is now a popular swimming and hiking spot. The gorgeous 211-acre state park is located just outside of Cookeville in Jackson County along the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River.

With two routes to choose from, both of which are 1.5 miles or fewer in length, Cummins Falls is an easy hike, especially for those with kids in tow. The hike culminates at a gorgeous 75-foot waterfall, where you can often find fellow hikers sunning and swimming on a hot summer day.

The terrain can be slippery, so be sure to wear sensible, sturdy shoes. You may even want to bring a pair of water shoes.

3. Lookout Mountain

2.5 hours southeast of Nashville

Lookout Mountain, a mountain ridge located along the Tennessee-Georgia state line, is another great outdoorsy day trip idea for Nashvillians. Take a guided cave tour of Ruby Falls and see the world’s tallest underground waterfall. Take a walk through the Rock City Gardens, soaking in seasonal flora, fauna and the famous “See Seven States” view. Of course, no trip to Lookout Mountain is complete without a ride on the Incline Railway — the steepest passenger railway in the world. Make it to the stop and take in breathtaking views from the observation deck.

This scenic attraction is an ideal day trip for those who want to escape the confines of city life. There are also several cafes and restaurants where hungry visitors can enjoy a bite to eat.

4. Land Between the Lakes

2 hours northwest of Nashville

This scenic 170,000-acre peninsula is located between the Kentucky and Barkley Lakes in Western Kentucky and Tennessee. Fed by the Cumberland and Tennesee Rivers, the area was designated a national recreation area by President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

With 300 miles of natural shoreline, Lake Between the Lakes offers a picturesque setting for water sports, fishing and boating, as well as camping and hiking. Licensed hunts for deer, turkey, squirrel and other small game are held throughout the year.

In addition to the multitude of recreational activities, visitors can also experience the Woodlands Nature Station, the Elk & Bison Prairie, an 1850s-era working farm with a handful of log cabins original to the property and the Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory.

Nature walks, activities and seminars perfect for children are also held throughout the year.

Book Your Day Trip Transportation with Signature Transportation

Whichever destination you choose for your Nashville day trip, we hope you choose Signature Transportation to handle your travel. Signature has a beautiful fleet of various vehicles that can accommodate groups of all sizes, as well as a team of the most professional chauffeurs in the industry. You can also reserve distillery tours with Whiskey Trail Tours.

Contact Signature today to request a free quote or to learn more about our services.

*Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in July 2015 and has since been updated to reflect the most accurate information.