7 Best Small Towns in Tennessee to Visit in 2024
While Tennessee has its share of beautifully vibrant cities, the less populous towns deserve no less of an honorable mention. The hidden knicks and crannies of this popular state are the reason it is the staple it has grown to be. These are the places where real magic lies, where long-forgotten history can be soaked up in today's atmosphere and treasured for years to come. People who appreciate solitude and quiet will like these Tennessee towns with low populations and traffic.
Townsend
Townsend is referred to as the "Peaceful Side of the Smokies" and does offer a more serene version compared to the hustle and bustle found in neighboring towns, which are well-known draws for tourists. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it is surrounded on all sides by natural settings—rolls of hills and lush forests. Cades Cove is a beautiful valley in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park surrounded by scenic beauty and wildlife that couples can enjoy. The rich history of logging in the area is recounted at the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum, which is filled with antique locomotives and equipment used in logging, all nestled amidst the beautiful countryside of Townsend.
Jonesborough
The oldest city in Tennessee, Jonesborough still has features that showcase how historic it is. There are brick sidewalks on Main Street, and historic buildings with varied storefronts. Jonesborough, reputed to be the storytelling capital of the world, is the seat of the National Storytelling Festival staged every year in October at the International Storytelling Center. It is at the Chester Inn Museum where this town's long history in heritage and culture is really deep-rooted. Consider exploring Oak Hill School for a glimpse into the past. It is a19th-century schoolhouse that helps visitors see what educational was like back then.
Leiper's Fork
Leiper's Fork is really more of an artists' community. This village, wrapped by rolling hills and expansive farmland, just oozes rustic beauty. Beautifully restored historic buildings within Leiper's Fork Village host art galleries, antique shops, and great eateries. Puckett's Grocery is kind of the local watering hole where live music and really great Southern food are served—a metaphor for the state's rustic beauty that it shares with its food. Resting in some of the prettiest countryside one can imagine, Leiper's Fork Distillery operations are back in full swing with tours and tastings that bring to life the craft of whiskey-making and a history of region distillation. This would be the perfect wind-down for whiskey aficionados and their minions.
Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg is located at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg. It is a perfect haven for nature lovers and adventure seekers. The town is very photogenic, with some great handshakes as far as views go for the Great Smoky Mountains, which surely do not run out of outdoor adventures. The Gatlinburg SkyLift Park offers panoramic views of the mountains on a very scenic chairlift ride. Full marine life exhibits and interactive displays at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies come with surroundings of beautiful Smokies. The Gatlinburg Space Needle, an observation tower that includes an outdoor viewing deck, allows you to have good views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
Bell Buckle
Bell Buckle features a collection of Victorian homes and businesses, plus arts, which make it the best backdrop for photos and memories. The historic district acts as a picture postcard setting for the town, with lovingly preserved Victorian architecture housing antique shops, galleries, and coffee shops. One of the locals' favorites is the Bell Buckle Café with Southern comfort food; music added to its charm helps to decorate this little village. The community also sponsors the renowned Webb School Art & Craft Festival each October, where local artists and craftspeople sell their work with scenic historic streets and rolling hills of Bell Buckle as the backdrop.
Collierville
Located on the outskirts of Memphis, Collierville is a replete of flavor from historic times that offers present-day amenities. Historic town square and lovely old buildings that line it are a perfect place to stroll and take photos. The quaint shops and restaurants ooze with the small town charm that is present in Collierville. A very fine exhibit and artifact collection reveals much about the past of the town at the Morton Museum of Collierville History housed in an historic building that further adds to the character of the town. W.C. Johnson Park Long, expansive, and beautiful, one may pass several hours in Johnson Park in many outdoor activities: hiking, fishing, picnicking.
Lynchburg
The Jack Daniel's Distillery, world-famous, is located in Lynchburg. With this kind of draw to the town square, most visitors find themselves wanting to linger a little longer among Lynchburg's historic buildings, antique vendors, and coffee shops. Guided tours at Jack Daniel's Distillery, the oldest registered distillery in the U.S., show how whiskey is made. Sit atop to bring out the brand history, set up with a picturesque backdrop of rolling hills and lush forests. In this town, with its historic streets and monuments, makes Lynchburg even more endearing to visitors. Together, these small Tennessee towns make way for several different ways tourists can enjoy and engage in local culture and all it has in store.
Tennessee is more than the country music state it has grown to be. Each town in this state has its own special touch making Tennesse what it is. Mixing history, culture, and beauty, each city has its very own special flair that gives it that uniqueness from the others. These places share their picture-perfect quality and historic landmarks, perfect to enjoy the surrounding beauty with friends or family, placed for relaxing in the state of Tennessee.
