Best Small Towns in Tennessee
The best small towns in Tennessee are Jonesborough for history and storytelling, Lynchburg for Jack Daniel’s, Townsend for the quiet side of the Smokies, Leiper’s Fork for the Natchez Trace and Bell Buckle for antiques. They run from the mountains to the Mississippi Delta. Jonesborough was founded in 1779, 17 years before Tennessee became a state, which makes it the oldest town in Tennessee. Here are 12 worth the trip, grouped by region.
- Best season: April–May and October
- Regions: East Tennessee, Cumberland Plateau, Middle Tennessee, West Tennessee
- Closest big cities: Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis
| Town | Region | Best for | Nearest airport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesborough | East Tennessee | storytelling, history, walkable Main Street, fall festivals | Tri-Cities (TRI), about 30 min |
| Lynchburg | Middle Tennessee | whiskey tours, Southern food, small-town history, lake fishing | Huntsville (HSV), about 1 hr 15 min |
| Townsend | East Tennessee | national park trips, scenic drives, river tubing, hiking, caves | Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), about 30 min |
| Leiper's Fork | Middle Tennessee | live music, galleries, antiques, day trips from Nashville, Natchez Trace drives | Nashville (BNA), about 1 hr |
| Bell Buckle | Middle Tennessee | antiques, festivals, day trips from Nashville, small-town food | Nashville (BNA), about 1 hr |
| Greeneville | East Tennessee | presidential history, Civil War history, historic downtowns, museums | Tri-Cities (TRI), about 1 hr |
| Sewanee | Cumberland Plateau | hiking, overlooks, college-town weekends, fall color | Chattanooga (CHA), about 1 hr |
| Smithville | Cumberland Plateau | boating, houseboat trips, fishing, old-time music, craft shopping | Nashville (BNA), about 1 hr 15 min |
| Pulaski | Middle Tennessee | history, historic homes, small-town theater, wine tasting | Huntsville (HSV), about 1 hr |
| Linden | Middle Tennessee | kayaking, quiet weekends, camping, festivals, history buffs | Nashville (BNA), about 1 hr 45 min |
| Paris | West Tennessee | lake trips, festivals, birding, families, road-trip photo stops | Nashville (BNA), about 2 hr |
| Brownsville | West Tennessee | music history, road-trip stops, civil rights and Black history, birding, outsider art | Memphis (MEM), about 1 hr |
East Tennessee
1. Jonesborough
Jonesborough, founded in 1779, is Tennessee's oldest town and the Washington County seat. It's home to the International Storytelling Center, whose National Storytelling Festival fills downtown with tents each October. The 1797 Chester Inn and a Main Street historic district round it out.
Pop. 5,860 (2020 Census) Washington County Founded 1779 Nearest airport: Tri-Cities (TRI), about 30 min Known for: Tennessee's oldest town, National Storytelling Festival, International Storytelling Center, Chester Inn
- Best for: storytelling, history, walkable Main Street, fall festivals
- Don't miss: International Storytelling Center; Chester Inn State Historic Site and Museum; Main Street and the Jonesborough Historic District
- Heads up: Storytelling performances and the October festival are ticketed; buy ahead.
2. Townsend
Townsend sits in Tuckaleechee Cove on the Little River, the closest town to Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It grew from a 1901 lumber mill, and two museums tell that story. Tuckaleechee Caverns, river tubing and the Foothills Parkway fill out a stay.
Pop. 550 (2020 Census) Blount County Founded 1901 (incorporated 1921) Nearest airport: Knoxville McGhee Tyson (TYS), about 30 min Known for: Gateway to Cades Cove, Peaceful Side of the Smokies, Tuckaleechee Caverns, Little River tubing, logging history
- Best for: national park trips, scenic drives, river tubing, hiking, caves
- Don't miss: Cades Cove; Tuckaleechee Caverns; Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center
- Heads up: A physical parking tag is required to park in the national park for more than 15 minutes.
3. Greeneville
Greeneville is the Greene County seat and the second-oldest town in Tennessee, once capital of the State of Franklin. Andrew Johnson's tailor shop, home and grave make up a free national historic site. A walkable historic downtown adds a mansion, a free history museum and a car museum.
Pop. 15,479 (2020 Census) Greene County Founded 1783 Nearest airport: Tri-Cities (TRI), about 1 hr Known for: President Andrew Johnson's hometown, capital of the State of Franklin, second-oldest town in Tennessee
- Best for: presidential history, Civil War history, historic downtowns, museums
- Don't miss: Andrew Johnson National Historic Site; Dickson-Williams Mansion; Greeneville Greene County History Museum
- Heads up: Johnson Homestead tours are limited to 10 people and fill first-come; get tickets early.
Middle Tennessee
4. Lynchburg
Lynchburg is home of the Jack Daniel Distillery and the official start of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. Moore County is dry, but tastings happen on distillery grounds. Around the 1885 courthouse square you'll find Miss Mary Bobo's, the Old Jail Museum and a second distillery.
Pop. 6,461 (2020 Census) Moore County Founded 1841 (incorporated) Nearest airport: Huntsville (HSV), about 1 hr 15 min Known for: Jack Daniel Distillery, start of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail, Miss Mary Bobo's, a dry county
- Best for: whiskey tours, Southern food, small-town history, lake fishing
- Don't miss: Jack Daniel Distillery; Miss Mary Bobo's Restaurant; Moore County Old Jail Museum
- Heads up: Moore County is dry; tastings happen at the distilleries, so plan a designated driver.
5. Leiper's Fork
Leiper's Fork is an unincorporated village of about 650 people in Williamson County, right on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Its historic center is lined with galleries, antique shops and Fox & Locke, known for live music. A small-batch distillery and Trace trails sit just outside the village.
Pop. 650 (2020 Census) Williamson County Founded 1818 (post office named Leiper's Fork) Nearest airport: Nashville (BNA), about 1 hr Known for: Natchez Trace Parkway village, live music at Fox & Locke, galleries and antiques
- Best for: live music, galleries, antiques, day trips from Nashville, Natchez Trace drives
- Don't miss: Fox & Locke; Galleries on Old Hillsboro Road; Natchez Trace Parkway and Garrison Creek
- Heads up: Check Natchez Trace alerts for the Double Arch Bridge, which has been closed for construction.
6. Bell Buckle
Bell Buckle is a Bedford County railroad town of 410 people with a Victorian downtown on the National Register. Antique shops line Railroad Square, and the Bell Buckle Cafe anchors a day trip. The RC Cola-MoonPie Festival in June and a huge October art show draw big crowds.
Pop. 410 (2020 Census) Bedford County Founded 1856 (incorporated) Nearest airport: Nashville (BNA), about 1 hr Known for: RC Cola-MoonPie Festival, antiques on Railroad Square, Webb School Art and Craft Show
- Best for: antiques, festivals, day trips from Nashville, small-town food
- Don't miss: Railroad Square and the downtown shops; Bell Buckle Cafe; RC Cola-MoonPie Festival
- Heads up: Festival days fill the town fast; plan to park and walk in.
7. Pulaski
Pulaski is the Giles County seat, founded in 1809, with a 1909 courthouse at the center of its square. Milky Way Farm, built by candy maker Franklin Mars, offers reservation-only tours. The Trail of Tears center and Tennessee's oldest surviving opera house tell more of the town's story.
Pop. 8,397 (2020 Census) Giles County Founded 1809 Nearest airport: Huntsville (HSV), about 1 hr Known for: Milky Way Farm, courthouse square, Sam Davis history, Antoinette Hall opera house
- Best for: history, historic homes, small-town theater, wine tasting
- Don't miss: Milky Way Farm; Giles County Courthouse square; Trail of Tears Memorial Interpretive Center
- Heads up: The Trail of Tears center opens Thursdays and Milky Way Farm tours need reservations.
8. Linden
Linden is the tiny Perry County seat on the Buffalo River, halfway between Nashville and Memphis. The restored 1939 Commodore Hotel runs kayak trips, including a lit-up night float. Mousetail Landing State Park and a big late-September World War II living history day round it out.
Pop. 997 (2020 Census) Perry County Founded 1850 (incorporated) Nearest airport: Nashville (BNA), about 1 hr 45 min Known for: Buffalo River kayaking, the restored Commodore Hotel, Remembering WWII
- Best for: kayaking, quiet weekends, camping, festivals, history buffs
- Don't miss: The Commodore Hotel & Cafe; Kayaking the Buffalo River; Mousetail Landing State Park
- Heads up: Lodging in town is limited, so book early for festival weekends.
Cumberland Plateau
9. Sewanee
Sewanee sits on the western edge of the Cumberland Plateau, home to the University of the South and its 13,000-acre Domain. Visitors can hike the 20-mile Perimeter Trail, watch sunsets from Morgan's Steep and swim in Lake Cheston. Fiery Gizzard State Park and The Caverns are close by.
Pop. 2,535 (2020 Census) Franklin County Founded 1857 (University of the South established) Nearest airport: Chattanooga (CHA), about 1 hr Known for: The University of the South, the Domain's 20-mile Perimeter Trail, bluff overlooks
- Best for: hiking, overlooks, college-town weekends, fall color
- Don't miss: The Perimeter Trail and the Domain; Green's View, Morgan's Steep and Memorial Cross; Abbo's Alley
- Heads up: Trail junctions are numbered; give 911 the nearest number in an emergency.
10. Smithville
Smithville is the DeKalb County seat, a town of about 5,000 people an hour east of Nashville. Center Hill Lake's marinas and coves sit just outside town. Each July 4 weekend the free Fiddlers' Jamboree fills downtown with old-time music.
Pop. 5,004 (2020 Census) DeKalb County Founded 1838 Nearest airport: Nashville (BNA), about 1 hr 15 min Known for: Smithville Fiddlers' Jamboree, Center Hill Lake, Appalachian Center for Craft
- Best for: boating, houseboat trips, fishing, old-time music, craft shopping
- Don't miss: Center Hill Lake; Smithville Fiddlers' Jamboree and Crafts Festival; Appalachian Center for Craft
- Heads up: The lake is big and spread out, so choose a marina close to where you're staying.
West Tennessee
11. Paris
Paris is the Henry County seat and, since 1823, West Tennessee's oldest incorporated town. It has a 60-foot steel Eiffel Tower and throws the World's Biggest Fish Fry every April. Paris Landing State Park and a big wildlife refuge put Kentucky Lake close by.
Pop. 10,316 (2020 Census) Henry County Founded 1823 (incorporated) Nearest airport: Nashville (BNA), about 2 hr Known for: Eiffel Tower replica, World's Biggest Fish Fry, Kentucky Lake
- Best for: lake trips, festivals, birding, families, road-trip photo stops
- Don't miss: Eiffel Tower Park; World's Biggest Fish Fry; Paris Landing State Park
- Heads up: Fish Fry week in late April fills rooms across the county.
12. Brownsville
Brownsville is the Haywood County seat, a cotton town just off I-40 between Memphis and Jackson. Its Delta Heritage Center holds the Tina Turner Museum in her old school and Sleepy John Estes' last home. Billy Tripp's Mindfield and Tennessee's oldest synagogue are downtown.
Pop. 9,788 (2020 Census) Haywood County Founded 1826 (incorporated) Nearest airport: Memphis (MEM), about 1 hr Known for: Tina Turner Museum, Sleepy John Estes, Billy Tripp's Mindfield, Hatchie River
- Best for: music history, road-trip stops, civil rights and Black history, birding, outsider art
- Don't miss: Tina Turner Museum at Flagg Grove School; Billy Tripp's Mindfield; Temple Adas Israel
- Heads up: Smaller museums keep limited hours, so check ahead.
- October: Fall color in the Smokies and on the Plateau. Jonesborough’s National Storytelling Festival fills the first weekend of October, so book early. The festival started in 1973.
- April–May: Wildflowers around Townsend and Cades Cove, mild weather for the Natchez Trace near Leiper’s Fork. Spring is also a good time to see Paris and its 60-foot Eiffel Tower replica before the heat sets in.
- Summer: Lake season at Center Hill and Kentucky Lake, and Smithville’s Fiddlers’ Jamboree around July 4. Winter is quiet in the Smokies, and Jack Daniel’s runs distillery tours all year.
These didn’t make the list, but each has its own guide: Franklin (bigger Nashville neighbor) · Gallatin (Old Hickory Lake city) · Columbia (Maury County seat) · Waverly (Humphreys County seat) · Kingston Springs (Harpeth River town) · Lynnville (tiny railroad town)
What is the prettiest small town in Tennessee?
Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town, founded in 1779, keeps a historic downtown built around storytelling. Townsend wins on scenery, with Cades Cove about 7 miles away. Bell Buckle’s Victorian storefronts are the Middle Tennessee pick.
What small towns in Tennessee are best for a weekend?
From Nashville, pair Lynchburg with Bell Buckle. In East Tennessee, combine Jonesborough and Greeneville. In West Tennessee, Brownsville has the Tina Turner Museum in her old one-room school.
What is the smallest town in Tennessee worth visiting?
Bell Buckle has about 410 people and a whole historic district of shops. Townsend, with about 550, sits at the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Linden, with about 1,000 people, has the restored Commodore Hotel downtown.
What are the best small towns near the Smoky Mountains?
Townsend is the quiet gateway to Cades Cove. Greeneville and Jonesborough are farther northeast and pair well on one trip. Townsend’s Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center covers the region’s history.