More than just great music, Nashville is a terrific base for exploring nature and adventure!

3 Epic Nashville Trip Ideas for Nature and Adventure Lovers

Are you looking for epic Nashville trip ideas that incorporate nature and adventure? If so, you’re in luck! There are plenty of great places to explore near Nashville. In this blog post, we will talk about three of our favorite spots for nature and adventure lovers. Whether you are going to Music City by plane, car, or getting a Nashville camper rental, all these places are great options to consider adding to your travel itinerary!

Montgomery Bell State Park

Montgomery Bell State Park is only 40 minutes from downtown Nashville, in Dickson County. The park used to be the hub of Middle Tennessee’s iron industry. Montgomery Bell, whom the park was named after, started one of the biggest iron businesses in Tennessee. At one point in history, iron was worth more than gold, and producing it was an extremely profitable business.

This park is a natural oasis for people who live in the city and a place for a quiet vacation. The recently updated Lodge inside Montgomery Bell offers a rustic getaway, or you can camp on their campground. In the 3,850-acre park, there are three lakes with swimming beaches and calm water where you can paddle in your canoe, kayak, or even a flat-bottom fishing boat rental. or just relax in the sun.

Two activities in this park worth a special mention are mountain biking and golfing. The Montgomery Bell Golf Course is one of Tennessee’s best-kept secrets. It was built in 1973 and then changed by designer Gary Roger Baird in 1988. It has beautiful hardwoods and gentle hills. With Champion Bermuda greens and 419 Bermuda fairways, this is a great place to play golf all year. You can also see different wildlife here, such as wild turkeys, deer, and geese.

For mountain bikers, there are approximately 23 miles of dirt trails specifically for bikes that wind through the thickly forested hills in the northern part of the park. The trails range from easy to difficult, so all levels can enjoy them.

Bledsoe Creek State Park

Bledsoe Creek State Park is only 45 minutes from downtown Nashville and boasts a rich history. The Shawnee, Creek, Cherokee, and Chickamauga Native American tribes once used it as their hunting ground. Along with other surrounding historical sites, the area is home to a rich Native American heritage. In 1973, the area around Bledsoe Creek was designated as a Tennessee State Park.

Hikers of all levels will find trails to enjoy at this park. On the 6 miles of hiking trails here, you can really feel like you’re in the woods. Although most of the trails are dirt, you will find some short paved trails as well. These trails will bring you to some pretty incredible places, from towering forested ridges to bridges that cross over babbling creeks, and along the edge of a huge lake where there are campsites, playgrounds, and big herons’ habitat.

Tennessee doesn’t get as cold in the winter as most of the rest of the country, so most of the activities like fishing, hiking, and birding in Bledsoe Creek State Park can be done all year round. There are 76 spacious campsites here that are perfect for RV camping. If you want to relax by the Old Hickory Lakeshore or have some fun in the thick Tennessee forest of oaks and pines, this is the place to do it!

Cumberland Mountain State Park

Just a 2-hour drive from Nashville, you will find Cumberland Mountain State Park in Crossville, Tennessee. This is a really special place that is on the Cumberland Plateau, which is part of the Great Upland that stretches from western New York to central Alabama. It is said to be the biggest wooded plateau in the United States. This 1,720-acre park was bought in 1938 to give the 250 families who were chosen to live on the Cumberland Plateau space for their recreation.

The main attraction at the park is Byrd Lake, and it does not disappoint. You can fill your days with mountain biking, fishing, hiking, kayaking, and golfing on a Jack Nicklaus signature course. This park is also an excellent starting point for additional local experiences like rock climbing at Black Mountain or waterfall chasing at Ozone Falls.

After a long day of adventuring, you can relax in style at one of the rustic cabins in the park that overlook Byrd Lake. Cumberland Mountain provides visitors with the opportunity to camp in both developed RV sites and more naturalistic backcountry settings. No matter how you choose to spend your time there, Cumberland Mountain State Park is sure to give you an unforgettable experience.

So what are you waiting for? Get your hiking boots and bike helmets ready, because the great outdoors are waiting just outside of the city limits. No matter what your interests are, we hope these Nashville trip ideas have given you some thoughts on how to mix nature and adventure into your next trip to Music City. 

FAQs

How far is Montgomery Bell State Park from Nashville?

Montgomery Bell State Park is only 35 miles or 40 minutes from downtown Nashville, in Dickson County. If you’re looking for a place to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of city life, this park is the perfect spot.

When is the best time to go to Bledsoe Creek State Park?

Bledsoe Creek State Park is a beautiful place to visit any time of year. However, the best time to go might be in the spring or fall. During these seasons, the weather is milder and the leaves are changing color, making for a picturesque setting.

Is Cumberland Mountain State Park good for families?

Yes, Cumberland Mountain State Park is good for families, as there are plenty of things to do for everyone. There are hiking trails, a swimming pool, and a playground. The park also offers interpretive programs throughout the year.