Knoxville is a wonderful place to call home, blending natural beauty, rich culture, and small-town charm. However, one of the best things about living in Knoxville is how close it is to a wide variety of weekend destinations. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures, romantic escapes, or family fun, you can find it all within a few hours' drive. For Knoxville residents and visitors alike, the surrounding region offers countless opportunities to explore and unwind without the hassle of long travel.
Here’s your guide to some of the best weekend trips from Knoxville, each offering its own unique flavor and experience.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Distance from Knoxville: 45 minutes
The Great Smoky Mountains are one of the most iconic natural destinations in the country, and luckily for Knoxville residents, they’re practically in your backyard. Spend your weekend hiking scenic trails, visiting waterfalls like Laurel Falls or Grotto Falls, or driving along Cades Cove Loop Road to spot wildlife and historic cabins.
The Great Smoky Mountains are one of the most iconic natural destinations in the country, and luckily for Knoxville residents, they’re practically in your backyard. Spend your weekend hiking scenic trails, visiting waterfalls like Laurel Falls or Grotto Falls, or driving along Cades Cove Loop Road to spot wildlife and historic cabins.
The towns of Gatlinburg and Townsend provide charming accommodations, great dining, and access to the park’s best spots. For a relaxing weekend, consider staying in a rustic cabin with mountain views and a hot tub. If you're feeling adventurous, try zip-lining, whitewater rafting, or horseback riding.
Asheville, North Carolina
Distance from Knoxville: 2 hours
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is a vibrant city known for its artsy vibe, craft beer scene, and stunning mountain views. A weekend in Asheville offers the perfect mix of outdoor beauty and cultural richness. Explore the Biltmore Estate, take a stroll through the River Arts District, or enjoy a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is a vibrant city known for its artsy vibe, craft beer scene, and stunning mountain views. A weekend in Asheville offers the perfect mix of outdoor beauty and cultural richness. Explore the Biltmore Estate, take a stroll through the River Arts District, or enjoy a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Foodies will love the local farm-to-table restaurants and coffee shops, and music lovers can catch live performances nearly every night. Asheville’s walkable downtown is packed with unique boutiques, galleries, and breweries, making it an ideal getaway for couples or friends looking to relax and explore.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Distance from Knoxville: 1 hour 45 minutes
Chattanooga is a riverfront city with a thriving downtown, stunning scenery, and family-friendly attractions. Start your visit with a ride on the Incline Railway up Lookout Mountain, then explore Rock City or Ruby Falls for breathtaking views and natural wonders.
Chattanooga is a riverfront city with a thriving downtown, stunning scenery, and family-friendly attractions. Start your visit with a ride on the Incline Railway up Lookout Mountain, then explore Rock City or Ruby Falls for breathtaking views and natural wonders.
Downtown Chattanooga offers riverfront walking paths, an excellent aquarium, and a range of restaurants and shops. For art lovers, the Bluff View Art District is home to museums and sculpture gardens. Chattanooga is also great for kids, with interactive exhibits at the Creative Discovery Museum and boat rides on the Tennessee River.
Nashville, Tennessee
Distance from Knoxville: 2 hours 45 minutes
Nashville makes for an exciting weekend destination if you’re in the mood for live music, nightlife, and Southern hospitality. Whether you’re catching a concert at the Ryman Auditorium, exploring the Country Music Hall of Fame, or enjoying a Honky Tonk on Broadway, there’s never a dull moment.
Nashville makes for an exciting weekend destination if you’re in the mood for live music, nightlife, and Southern hospitality. Whether you’re catching a concert at the Ryman Auditorium, exploring the Country Music Hall of Fame, or enjoying a Honky Tonk on Broadway, there’s never a dull moment.
Beyond the music, Nashville offers world-class dining, unique shopping in areas like 12 South and The Gulch, and scenic spots like Centennial Park and Radnor Lake. Stay in a trendy boutique hotel and enjoy a packed weekend of music, food, and fun.
Highlands, North Carolina
Distance from Knoxville: 3 hours
For a quieter and more refined mountain escape, head to Highlands, a picturesque town perched in the western North Carolina mountains. This area is perfect for a romantic getaway or a peaceful retreat, offering luxurious inns, upscale restaurants, and gorgeous waterfalls.
For a quieter and more refined mountain escape, head to Highlands, a picturesque town perched in the western North Carolina mountains. This area is perfect for a romantic getaway or a peaceful retreat, offering luxurious inns, upscale restaurants, and gorgeous waterfalls.
Hike to Dry Falls, take in views from Whiteside Mountain, or enjoy shopping for antiques and art downtown. Highlands is especially beautiful in the fall, when the surrounding foliage puts on a dazzling show of reds, oranges, and golds.
Lexington, Kentucky
Distance from Knoxville: 3 hours
Lexington is best known as the heart of Kentucky’s horse country, but it’s also a charming destination with rolling hills, bourbon distilleries, and historic appeal. Spend your weekend touring a horse farm, visiting the Kentucky Horse Park, or exploring the area’s famous bourbon trail.
Lexington is best known as the heart of Kentucky’s horse country, but it’s also a charming destination with rolling hills, bourbon distilleries, and historic appeal. Spend your weekend touring a horse farm, visiting the Kentucky Horse Park, or exploring the area’s famous bourbon trail.
Downtown Lexington offers great restaurants, art galleries, and music venues. The city is also home to several historic homes and scenic drives through the Bluegrass countryside. For a relaxed and picturesque weekend, Lexington has plenty to offer.
Blue Ridge, Georgia
Distance from Knoxville: 2.5 hours
Blue Ridge is a cozy North Georgia mountain town that’s perfect for a weekend filled with outdoor activities and small-town charm. Take a ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, enjoy trout fishing in the Toccoa River, or hike to Fall Branch Falls.
Blue Ridge is a cozy North Georgia mountain town that’s perfect for a weekend filled with outdoor activities and small-town charm. Take a ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, enjoy trout fishing in the Toccoa River, or hike to Fall Branch Falls.
The downtown area features boutique shops, art galleries, and restaurants serving Southern comfort food. Blue Ridge is also known for its cabin rentals, many of which come with fireplaces, decks, and mountain views—ideal for a romantic or relaxing weekend escape.
Louisville, Kentucky
Distance from Knoxville: 4 hours
For those willing to go a bit farther, Louisville offers a fun blend of history, culture, and food. Explore the city’s unique museums like the Muhammad Ali Center or the Louisville Slugger Museum. Take a walk through the historic Old Louisville neighborhood or visit Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.
For those willing to go a bit farther, Louisville offers a fun blend of history, culture, and food. Explore the city’s unique museums like the Muhammad Ali Center or the Louisville Slugger Museum. Take a walk through the historic Old Louisville neighborhood or visit Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.
Louisville’s food scene is diverse and impressive, with everything from upscale dining to inventive takes on Southern staples. Whether you’re into bourbon tasting or riverfront strolls, Louisville makes for a memorable weekend away.
Roan Mountain, Tennessee
Distance from Knoxville: 2 hours
For a truly outdoorsy escape, Roan Mountain is a lesser-known treasure that offers stunning views, high-elevation hiking, and colorful blooms in the spring and summer. The Roan Highlands are part of the Appalachian Trail and are considered one of the most scenic sections on the entire trail.
For a truly outdoorsy escape, Roan Mountain is a lesser-known treasure that offers stunning views, high-elevation hiking, and colorful blooms in the spring and summer. The Roan Highlands are part of the Appalachian Trail and are considered one of the most scenic sections on the entire trail.
You can also explore Roan Mountain State Park, which offers cabins, campgrounds, and plenty of trails for all skill levels. It’s the perfect place to unplug, reconnect with nature, and breathe in the fresh mountain air.
Let Bessie Whiteside Help You Find Your Home Base in Knoxville
Weekend trips like these are just one more reason why living in Knoxville is such a rewarding experience. You get the comfort and community of a charming city while enjoying easy access to countless getaways that fit every mood and season.
If you’re thinking about making Knoxville your home, working with a knowledgeable and local real estate agent makes all the difference. Bessie Whiteside is your go-to expert for buying or selling homes in the Knoxville area. She knows the neighborhoods, understands the market, and genuinely cares about helping her clients find the perfect place to settle in East Tennessee.
Whether you’re looking for a downtown condo, a suburban family home, or a quiet property with mountain views, Bessie can guide you every step of the way.
Contact Bessie today to learn more or to start your Knoxville home search. Your next weekend getaway—and your perfect home—are just around the corner.
*Header photo courtesy of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
