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Things to Do in Clarksville, TN: The Must-See Spots

Some of the most memorable things to do in Clarksville, TN let you take part instead of only looking: you can set miniature helicopters in motion at the Customs House Museum, learn about Fort Campbell's military history with no base pass, skate at a downtown ice rink, or catch a live show at the Roxy Regional Theatre.

Families can also spend an afternoon at The City Forum, while art galleries, a restored train station, parks, and a historic cave reveal other sides of the city.

Your Clarksville Quick Start

Have half a day? Start with the Customs House Museum, then head to McGregor Park for views of the Cumberland River.
Bringing children? Pair The City Forum with a skating session at Ford Ice Center.
Interested in history? Explore the Wings of Liberty Museum or tour the L&N Train Station.
Prefer arts and culture? See a Roxy performance or browse the Downtown Artists Co-op and The New Gallery.

Where to Spend Time Outdoors

Choose McGregor Park for an easy riverfront stop, Liberty Park for a longer afternoon outdoors, or Dunbar Cave for a guided visit that combines history and nature.

McGregor Park and the Cumberland RiverWalk: This riverfront park has an amphitheater, a playground, and picnic areas, and the paved RiverWalk follows the Cumberland River. Where it meets the Upland Trail, a bronze statue honors Wilma Rudolph, the Clarksville sprinter who won three Olympic gold medals in 1960.
Dunbar Cave State Park: Mississippian communities left charcoal drawings inside the cave centuries ago, and during the big band era, stars such as Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman drew crowds to the site. Guided tours run from May through September and are closed to children ages four and under, but the park itself welcomes visitors year-round, with about 3 miles of trails and a visitor center with a virtual reality cave experience.
Liberty Park: This 146-acre park beside the Cumberland River includes the Clarksville Marina, a 10-acre fishing pond, King's Run Bark Park for dogs, a playground, and 1.8 miles of trails.

If you go inside Dunbar Cave: Reserve early, since tours often sell out, and bring a handheld flashlight, because phones and headlamps are not allowed. Closed-toe shoes and a light jacket help, since it stays 56°F underground. Photography is prohibited to protect the drawings, and the muddy, uneven paths make the virtual reality experience a better choice for visitors with limited mobility.

A Museum Where You Can Control the Miniature World

Customs House Museum & Cultural Center | 200 South 2nd Street

The Customs House Museum occupies an 1898 federal post office and customs house, but its interactive exhibits offer much more than historical displays.

In the Heimansohn Gallery, push buttons on the Huff & Puff Express model railroad to move miniature cars and helicopters, and the themes change with the seasons. Volunteer conductors run the trains only at selected times, so check ahead if watching them matters to you.

For children, Explorers Landing offers several hands-on areas:

Bubble Cave: Experiment with giant bubbles and learn about cave formations.
McGregor's Market: Pick produce at a pretend farm and shop at a market.
The Landing: Discover fish associated with the Cumberland River.
Tiny Town: Kids ages two to five can play with toys and puzzles.

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m., while Explorers Landing closes at 4:30 p.m.

The Military Museum That Needs No Base Pass

Tennessee Wings of Liberty Museum | 400 Wings of Liberty Way

The Tennessee Wings of Liberty Museum, northwest of downtown Clarksville near the Kentucky state line, tells the story of Fort Campbell's soldiers, aircraft, and military operations. A few things stand out:

Exhibits focus on the units most associated with the post: the 101st Airborne Division, the 5th Special Forces Group, and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
Displays span World War II, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and more recent operations.
The signature exhibit is an MH-47 Chinook helicopter that took part in the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden, presented as an immersive experience with simulated flight visuals, cockpit audio, and vibrating seats.

Do you need military identification?

No. The museum sits outside Fort Campbell's security checkpoints, so you do not need a Department of Defense ID. Use the museum's own address, just off Fort Campbell Boulevard and Tiny Town Road, rather than directions to a base gate.

Admission is free, and the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on federal holidays.

An Indoor Entertainment Center with More Than Go-Karts

The City Forum | 2231-T Madison Street

The City Forum combines go-karts, two-story laser tag, bowling, miniature golf, and arcade games with a carousel, a drop tower, the City Spinner indoor coaster, and a 4D motion theater.

What each activity costs

Entry is free, and you pay for each activity with a reloadable Play Card. Individual prices include:

Laser tag costs $8 per game.
Mini golf costs $8 for adults and $6 for children ages five and under.
Go-karts cost $9 at family speed and $18 at pro speed.
PlayScape costs $10 for two hours.

Younger children may want to start with the PlayScape, the carousel, or miniature golf, while older kids and teenagers often head for laser tag, go-karts, and the arcade. Before loading a Play Card, check each attraction's age, height, and supervision rules.

Want to Try Ice Skating? Book the Ice, Not Just the Day

Ford Ice Center Clarksville | 101 Main Street

Ford Ice Center, connected to F&M Bank Arena downtown, requires online registration for public skating:

Create a DASH by DaySmart Recreation account.
Reserve an available session.
Check in at the front desk.

Sessions cost $10.98 plus tax for matinees and $13.73 plus tax in the evening, with skate rental included.

Available spots vary by session, and the facility is cashless.

The Theater That Changed Its Address

Roxy Regional Theatre | 114 Public Square

Clarksville's Roxy Regional Theatre began as a Franklin Street movie theater in 1947 and later reopened as a home for live theater.

In January 2026, the Roxy moved to 114 Public Square, where it will perform while its former home is redeveloped into the Clarksville Performing Arts Center.

When you choose a show, remember two details:

Older articles and maps may still list 100 Franklin Street, so use the location on your official ticket confirmation.
Read the play description, running time, and age guidance, since a title alone may not reveal if a production suits younger viewers.

Two Art Stops That Offer Different Experiences

The New Gallery at Austin Peay State University

The New Gallery, run by Austin Peay's Department of Art + Design, is a good stop if you're curious about contemporary art and the campus arts community. Here's what to know about visiting:

Each academic year brings three to four curated exhibitions, often by nationally recognized artists, plus a juried student exhibition.
The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and follows the academic calendar, so breaks can affect access.

Downtown Artists Co-op

96 Franklin Street

The Downtown Artists Co-op focuses on painters, photographers, and other artists from Clarksville and the surrounding region, so it shows the local creative community rather than university-curated exhibitions.

The best night to visit is the first Thursday of the month, when the co-op serves as the hub for Clarksville's ArtWalk from 5 to 8 p.m., and you can explore several art stops in one evening.

The Railway Station That Returned to Public Life

L&N Train Station | 189 South 10th Street

Clarksville's L&N Train Station dates to 1890 and served railway passengers until 1968. Restored and reopened on June 16, 2025, the depot now offers a look at how the railroad shaped Clarksville.

The station is open for guided historical tours on:

Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The third Saturday of the month, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Call Clarksville Parks & Recreation at 931-645-7476 to confirm times.

Which Clarksville Attractions Work Well Together?

The places in this guide fall into three categories:

Downtown and nearby: The Customs House Museum, Roxy Regional Theatre, Downtown Artists Co-op, Ford Ice Center, and McGregor Park sit close together.
Other central stops: The New Gallery and the L&N Train Station are a short distance away.
Separate outings: The City Forum, Dunbar Cave State Park, Liberty Park, and the Tennessee Wings of Liberty Museum each need their own trip.

Because the attractions are spread out, grouping nearby stops makes it easier to plan how you'll move around Clarksville.

Start with plans that have fixed times, such as a cave tour or a Roxy show, then add flexible stops around them. An afternoon skate at Ford Ice Center and an evening show at the Roxy fit together nicely, since both sit downtown. Save the Wings of Liberty Museum for a morning, because it is farther out and closes in the late afternoon.

Clarksville Has Stories of Its Own

Clarksville rewards visitors who look beyond its best-known military connection. Its riverfront, landmarks, and local artists show a side of the city that many people passing through never see. Choose a few experiences that match your interests, and give them a little extra time.