What do national parks, famous buildings, and underground waterfalls all have in common? They’re all Tennessee landmarks! This state has a fantastic array of popular landmarks that everyone from nature lovers to music enthusiasts will enjoy. And visiting these famous places in an RV is a great way to explore the state.
Not sure where to begin? Take a look at the awesome Tennessee landmarks listed below.
Top Landmarks in Tennessee
Tennessee Landmarks
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The first landmark on our list is Great Smoky Mountains National Park. At over 500,000 acres this national park is one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States.
With entrances in both Gatlinburg and Townsend (and in Cherokee, North Carolina) this national park offers plenty of activities for visitors. Hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, and even taking a drive through the scenic roads are all fantastic ways to spend time at the park.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
Because of its size, there’s plenty to do nearby, no matter where you are. Wherever you enter the park, Gatlinburg or Townsend, be sure to explore the towns as well. This national park is also near Knoxville, which has tons of fun spots to visit. For hidden gems near the Smokies check out Pigeon Forge.
As far as camping goes, we recommend staying in the national park for the best experience.
Ruby Falls
Ruby Falls are a series of underground waterfalls located near Chattanooga. Hidden inside historic Lookout Mountain, it’s the tallest and deepest underground waterfall that is open to the public in America.
Visitors can head underground along cave trails to view the impressive waterfalls on several tour options. After your tour, head back outside to continue their fun on the zipline adventure.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
Ruby Falls is right outside Chattanooga, so be sure to explore the city and check out attractions like Tennessee Aquarium and Coolidge Park. It’s also right by another landmark on our list, Lookout Mountain.
Raccoon Mountain Caverns and Campground is a great place to stay while visiting Ruby Falls and Chattanooga.
Appalachian Trail
If you’ve ever wanted to hike a bit of the Appalachian Trail, Tennessee is a great place to do so. Almost 94 miles of the trail are located here, with another 160 miles running along the North Carolina/Tennessee border. And some of it even runs through Great Smoky Mountain National Park!
Even if you’re not planning to hike the entire 2,100 miles from Maine to Georgia, you can explore a bit of it in Tennessee and experience the beauty of nature that appeals to so many hikers.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
Since a part of the trail already runs through it, be sure to explore Great Smoky Mountain National Park. You’ll also want to explore the nearby cities such as Pigeon Forge.
RV camping can be found in the national park or at Smoky Bear Campground and RV Park.
Lookout Mountain Incline Railway
The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway is what’s called an inclined plane funicular railway that heads to the top of Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga. It’s a mouthful, but basically it means the tracks are incredibly steep.
Visitors can take this one mile long single track railway up to Point Park at the mountain’s summit and overlook the Tennessee River and surrounding areas. The grade on the mountain is 72.7% at its maximum, making this one of the steepest passenger railways in the world!
Attractions and Camping Nearby
At the bottom of the mountain where you get on the train is St. Elmo. This town has a fun array of shops, restaurants, and attractions. You’re also near Ruby Falls if you want to take your adventures underground as well as up in the air.
The aforementioned Raccoon Mountain Campground is a great place to stay for seeing Lookout Mountain. If you’re looking for other options, consider Holiday Travel Park of Chattanooga.
Fall Creek Falls State Park
One of Tennessee’s largest and most visited state parks, Fall Creek Falls State Park is almost 30,000 acres across the Cumberland Plateau. There are plenty of natural wonders to explore, including waterfalls, streams, gorges, and cascades. Fall Creek Falls itself is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern U.S., at 256 feet.
There’s plenty to do here, especially if you like hiking. More than 56 miles of hiking trails include both day-use trails and two long distance overnight trails if you want to camp in the backcountry.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
This state park is right in between Knoxville and Nashville, both cities you’ll definitely want to explore. Be sure to check out Zoo Knoxville as well as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.
You can camp in Falls Creek Falls State Park and we definitely recommend doing so.
Beale Street Historic District
Beale Street Historic District is one of America’s most iconic streets. This street was created in 1841 and was a popular place for Black musicians to perform in the 1860s. Beale Street became a hub for entertainment and blues music, and continues to be a top entertainment and music landmark today. Its rich history includes not only the birth of blues music, but also an important role in the civil rights movement, rock ‘n’ roll, and delicious Tennessee BBQ cuisine.
Today the music scene continues in Memphis and Beale Street, as many of the buildings are still the same, and the blues and other musical performances can be seen every night.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
Since you’re already there, explore the rest of Memphis with our local’s guide. We highly recommend the National Civil Rights Museum and the Memphis Zoo.
Graceland RV Park and Campground is a fantastic place to park your rig while you explore the city/
Craighead Caverns
Craighead Caverns is home to the largest non-subglacial underground lake in the United States, and the second largest underground lake in the world. The Lost Sea, as this lake is called, is part of the Lost Sea Adventure where visitors are guided through the system of caverns and take a boat ride at the bottom of the lake.
Not just home to an impressive body of water, the caverns are located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and were used by the Cherokee as a meeting place. The lake is so complex that it still hasn’t been fully mapped, but it’s a great way to spend the afternoon adventuring!
Attractions and Camping Nearby
Located in Sweetwater, the Lost Sea Adventure is southwest of Knoxville, Tennessee. The town of Sweetwater is adorable and is home to several shopping and dining spots. It’s also not too far from Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
Make sure to book a site at Sweetwater/I-75/Exit 62 KOA Holiday, so you have a comfortable place to stay during your visit.
South Cumberland State Park
South Cumberland State Park is an outdoor lover’s paradise. This state park is spread over 30,845 acres and offers 90 miles of hiking and backcountry camping trails. You’ll hike through woodlands and rocky gorges, and view streams and waterfalls.
You can also go swimming, fishing, and boating in Grundy Lakes if you’d rather stick to water activities. On top of all that, there is a visitor’s center that has exhibits illustrating local history and wildlife with audio and visual presentations.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
The three main cities located near the state park are Monteagle, Tracy City, and Cowan and small shops and local eateries are available in each. Chattanooga is a little further if you’d like to see the underground waterfalls and incline train landmarks.
You can camp in the state park, and this is what we recommend doing if possible.
Ryman Auditorium
Nashville itself is practically a landmark, but since we have to pick just one thing, we’re going with Ryman Auditorium. This music venue (and former Grand Ole Opry House and Union Gospel Tabernacle) played a pivotal role in the bluegrass and country music scenes and still holds live performances today.
Ryman Auditorium was the home of the Grand Ole Opry until it moved to its current location in 1974, and is a popular landmark for music lovers to visit.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
Explore Nashville! We’ve got a local’s guide of great ideas, and you could spend days there eating, exploring, and listening to music! Some of our favorite attractions in the city include Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage and Nashville Zoo.
Nashville KOA Resort is a wonderful place to stay nearby, but make sure to book your site in advance.
Graceland
Talk about famous buildings! If you’re an Elvis fan, or even a fan of rock and roll, stop by the Graceland Mansion in Memphis. Not only is it a National Historic Landmark (and the first site related to rock and roll to become one), but it’s also the second most visited home in the United States, after the White House.
Visitors to Graceland can choose from various tours to experience the home of the King of Rock and Roll. They also have a hotel and offer excursions to nearby places of significance to Elvis if one famous place isn’t enough.
Attractions and Camping Nearby
Explore Memphis and check out Beale Street. You can also see other Memphis attractions such as Sun Studio and the Stax Museum.
As far as camping goes, we highly recommend T.O. Fuller State Park for a lovely escape into nature not too far outside of the city.
Planning an RV Trip to Tennessee
Tennessee is a destination with so many landmarks to explore and discover. While you’re there, make sure to visit the best state parks as well as the national parks that call the state home. Of course, you’ll also want to stay at the best campgrounds in Tennessee.
