Highest-rated free things to do in Tennessee, according to Tripadvisor
Highest-rated free things to do in Tennessee, according to Tripadvisor
It is incredibly expensive to be an American. While workers in the United States have seen an 80% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2024 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1970 and 2022, the national consumer price index increased by over 500%, while wages only grew by 80%.
That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. The number of cost-burdened households in the U.S. reached an 11-year record in 2022, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. In June 2024, Redfin reported that the median U.S. home sale price hit an all-time high of $394,000.
It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Tennessee.
Think about the most common items on a vacation getaway itinerary: sightseeing, touring landmarks, or completing a nature walk. Or, maybe you're just aiming to relax and want some peace and quiet. Whether you're a history buff or aching to dip your toes in some cool water, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.
To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free 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 June 12, 2024.
Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!
#30. Tennessee Legend Distillery - Winfield Dunn Parkway
- Rating: 5/5 (922 reviews)
- Address: 870 Winfield Dunn Pkwy Sevierville, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#29. Centennial Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,187 reviews)
- Address: 2500 West End Ave. Nashville, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#28. Tanger Outlets Sevierville
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,511 reviews)
- Address: 1645 Parkway Ste 960 Sevierville, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#27. Laurel Falls Trailhead
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,607 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#26. Tennessee Shine Company - Pigeon Forge
- Rating: 5/5 (945 reviews)
- Address: 3435 Teaster Lane Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#25. Tennessee Legend Distillery
- Rating: 5/5 (1,384 reviews)
- Address: 2874 Newport Hwy Sevierville, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#24. Mill Bridge Hard Cider Company
- Rating: 5/5 (1,435 reviews)
- Address: 3331 South River Road Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#23. Tennessee Cider Company
- Rating: 5/5 (2,733 reviews)
- Address: 611 Parkway Gatlinburg, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#22. Junction 35 Spirits
- Rating: 5/5 (1,470 reviews)
- Address: 2655 Teaster Lane Suite 280 Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#21. Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,798 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#20. Walnut Street Bridge
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,954 reviews)
- Address: 200 Frazier Ave. Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#19. Market Square
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,987 reviews)
- Address: Knoxville, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#18. The Peabody Ducks
- Rating: 4/5 (6,389 reviews)
- Address: 149 Union Ave. The Peabody Memphis Memphis, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#17. Tennessee Shine Company - Gatlinburg
- Rating: 5/5 (2,437 reviews)
- Address: 519 Parkway Gatlinburg, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#16. Beale Street
- Rating: 4/5 (8,856 reviews)
- Address: Memphis, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#15. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Rating: 5/5 (2,580 reviews)
- Address: 107 Park Headquarters Road Gatlinburg, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#14. Hillside Winery
- Rating: 5/5 (2,733 reviews)
- Address: 229 Collier Drive Sevierville, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#13. Clingmans Dome
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,138 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#12. Sugarland Cellars
- Rating: 5/5 (3,542 reviews)
- Address: 1133 Parkway Gatlinburg, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#11. Cades Cove
- Rating: 4.5/5 (5,607 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#10. Mountain Valley Winery
- Rating: 5/5 (2,792 reviews)
- Address: 2174 Parkway Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#9. Gaylord Opryland Garden Conservatory
- Rating: 4.5/5 (6,148 reviews)
- Address: 2800 Opryland Drive Nashville, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#8. Tennessee Homemade Wines
- Rating: 5/5 (7,019 reviews)
- Address: 643 Parkway Gatlinburg, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#7. Downtown Nashville
- Rating: 4.5/5 (10,118 reviews)
- Address: Nashville, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#6. Ole Smoky Whiskey Barrelhouse
- Rating: 5/5 (5,661 reviews)
- Address: 650 Parkway Gatlinburg, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#5. The Island in Pigeon Forge
- Rating: 4.5/5 (12,232 reviews)
- Address: 131 The Island Drive Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#4. Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine
- Rating: 5/5 (7,833 reviews)
- Address: 131 Island Drive Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#3. Ole Smoky Distillery & Yee-Haw Brewery
- Rating: 5/5 (5,908 reviews)
- Address: 423 6th Ave. South Nashville, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#2. Ole Smoky
- Rating: 4.5/5 (14,989 reviews)
- Address: 903 Parkway Unit 128 Gatlinburg, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#1. Sugarlands Distilling Company
- Rating: 5/5 (30,314 reviews)
- Address: 805 Parkway Gatlinburg, Tennessee
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Zuri White-Gibson, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.
