Highest-rated things to do in Tennessee by visitors

Written by:
August 25, 2025
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Highest-rated things to do in Tennessee by visitors

When planning your next holiday, you might feel an instinctual pull toward destinations that would take you across oceans, like Tokyo or Paris, but there are experiences closer to home that will have you thinking twice before booking a trip abroad ever again.

If you're craving a burst of adrenaline, why not reserve a spot in Michigan's famed Saugatuck Dune Rides? The activity's charmingly dated website is a great indication of its word-of-mouth notoriety and timeless appeal. Over in Arizona, you might be surprised to find that it's not just the Grand Canyon that tempts travelers to its desert landscape—it's also one-of-a-kind venues like the Musical Instrument Museum, where music enthusiasts can find over 7,500 instruments from 200 countries around the world.

Indeed, even if you've lived in Tennessee your whole life, you might be surprised by just how many top-rated things you've yet to cross off your list. From architectural wonders and picturesque views to historical museums and other must-see sights, you'll find your appreciation for Tennessee reignited just by reading through this list of top-rated things to do.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated things to do in Tennessee using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 15, 2025.

Whether you're a family of five traveling in a recreational vehicle or a duo of friends looking for a quick getaway in Tennessee, read on for a list of sights you could easily plan a trip around.

1 / 30
Tripadvisor

#30. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,898 reviews)
- City: Chattanooga
- Read more on Tripadvisor

2 / 30
Tripadvisor

#29. Tuckaleechee Caverns

- Rating: 4.7/5 (3,013 reviews)
- City: Townsend
- Read more on Tripadvisor

3 / 30
Tripadvisor

#28. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,636 reviews)
- City: Gatlinburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

4 / 30
Tripadvisor

#27. Kuwohi

- Rating: 4.7/5 (3,170 reviews)
- City: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Read more on Tripadvisor

5 / 30
Tripadvisor

#26. Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster

- Rating: 4.7/5 (5,433 reviews)
- City: Pigeon Forge
- Read more on Tripadvisor

6 / 30
Tripadvisor

#25. RCA Studio B

- Rating: 4.7/5 (4,381 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

7 / 30
Tripadvisor

#24. Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

- Rating: 4.8/5 (3,158 reviews)
- City: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Read more on Tripadvisor

8 / 30
Tripadvisor

#23. Raccoon Mountain Caverns

- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,016 reviews)
- City: Chattanooga
- Read more on Tripadvisor

9 / 30
Tripadvisor

#22. The Johnny Cash Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (7,197 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

10 / 30
Tripadvisor

#21. National Civil Rights Museum - Lorraine Motel

- Rating: 4.8/5 (9,253 reviews)
- City: Memphis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

11 / 30
Tripadvisor

#20. Andrew Jackson's Hermitage

- Rating: 4.6/5 (5,906 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

12 / 30
Tripadvisor

#19. Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine

- Rating: 4.9/5 (8,328 reviews)
- City: Pigeon Forge
- Read more on Tripadvisor

13 / 30
Tripadvisor

#18. Belle Meade Historic Site & Winery

- Rating: 4.6/5 (8,257 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

14 / 30
Tripadvisor

#17. Tennessee Aquarium

- Rating: 4.6/5 (7,137 reviews)
- City: Chattanooga
- Read more on Tripadvisor

15 / 30
Tripadvisor

#16. Gatlinburg SkyLift Park

- Rating: 4.3/5 (7,172 reviews)
- City: Gatlinburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#15. Lookout Mountain

- Rating: 4.6/5 (4,380 reviews)
- City: Chattanooga
- Read more on Tripadvisor

17 / 30
Tripadvisor

#14. Gaylord Opryland Garden Conservatory

- Rating: 4.5/5 (6,169 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

18 / 30
Tripadvisor

#13. Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

- Rating: 4.5/5 (15,184 reviews)
- City: Gatlinburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

19 / 30
Tripadvisor

#12. Titanic Museum Attraction

- Rating: 4.6/5 (11,284 reviews)
- City: Pigeon Forge
- Read more on Tripadvisor

20 / 30
Tripadvisor

#11. Sun Studio

- Rating: 4.8/5 (12,934 reviews)
- City: Memphis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

21 / 30
Tripadvisor

#10. Ryman Auditorium

- Rating: 4.7/5 (13,911 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

22 / 30
Tripadvisor

#9. The Island in Pigeon Forge

- Rating: 4.5/5 (12,356 reviews)
- City: Pigeon Forge
- Read more on Tripadvisor

23 / 30
Tripadvisor

#8. Parrot Mountain & Gardens

- Rating: 4.8/5 (6,455 reviews)
- City: Pigeon Forge
- Read more on Tripadvisor

24 / 30
Tripadvisor

#7. Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (15,737 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

25 / 30
Tripadvisor

#6. Sugarlands Distilling Company

- Rating: 4.9/5 (30,460 reviews)
- City: Gatlinburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#5. Ole Smoky Distillery "6th & Peabody"

- Rating: 5.0/5 (6,896 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

27 / 30
Tripadvisor

#4. Ole Smoky Distillery - The Holler

- Rating: 4.8/5 (15,971 reviews)
- City: Gatlinburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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Tripadvisor

#3. Graceland

- Rating: 4.5/5 (20,560 reviews)
- City: Memphis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

29 / 30
Tripadvisor

#2. Dollywood

- Rating: 4.3/5 (19,162 reviews)
- City: Pigeon Forge
- Read more on Tripadvisor

30 / 30
Tripadvisor

#1. Grand Ole Opry

- Rating: 4.6/5 (14,591 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
- Read more on Tripadvisor

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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