7 Small Towns to Visit in Tennessee This Fall

Featured in this Article:

Jonesborough
Rugby
Erwin
Springfield
Linden
Collierville
Paris
 

If you want a fall getaway that reminds you of ‘Gilmore Girls’ look no further than Jonesborough.

• Tennessee’s oldest town rich with history

• Jonesborough is the Storytelling Capital of the World

• Get acquainted with the town by taking a guided historic walking tour with a costumed tour guide who will share stories and little known facts about the town.

• International Storytelling Center

  • Hosts highly acclaimed National Storytelling Festival where world-renowned storytellers weave tales every October

  • Teller-in-Residence - 26 of America’s best storytellers spend a week telling stories daily during daily matinees and special concerts every Tuesday through Saturday from May through October.

• Main Street Cafe & Catering

  • Delicious lunch options

  • Fresh salads, burgers, Southern chicken salad and much more

  • Located on Jonesborough's charming Main Street

  • Parking: Metered street parking, nearby parking lots and garages

• Downtown Shopping

  • Local boutiques line Main Street, which can easily fill your day with fun

  • Crafty Peddler, housed in an 1888 saloon, carries unique crafts and gifts 

  • If you love the holidays, Gabriel's Christmas is your one-stop shop for all things festive, Christmas decor, collectibles and more

  • Mauk's of Jonesborough is the exclusive dealer of Ekornes Stressless chairs and sofas as well as other high-end home decor lines like Howard Miller clocks, Lampe Berger fragrance lamps and oils and much more

  • Mill Spring Makers Market - home to over 40 local artists featuring handmade goods from cards to leather goods, pottery and quilts

Originally founded in 1880 by British author Thomas Hughes, Rugby is a charming village in Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau.

• This small town in Tennessee preserves its historic heritage which is evident when you take a history walking tour Thursdays through Sundays including the 1882 Thomas Hughes Free Public Library; 1880 Kingstone Lisle, 1887 Christ Church Episcopal and the 1907 Schoolhouse

• Sign up for one of the After Dark Tours – the Haunted Village Lantern Tour or the Haunted North Village & Cemetery Tour offered five nights weekly

• Commissary Museum Store

  • Shop for Appalachian crafts, vintage and antique items as well

• R.M. Brooks Store

  • A beloved local spot since the 1920s

  • Serves daily meals until 5 p.m. except Sundays

  • Award-winning bologna sandwiches, barbecue, sandwiches and ice cream

• 19th Century Print Shop

  • Free tours available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

• Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

  • 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau

  • Scenic gorges, sandstone bluffs and amazing rock formations like Twin Arches

  • Ranger-led programs and events

  • Abundant outdoor adventure including whitewater rafting, rock climbing, horseback riding trails and hiking

If you love the outdoors, Erwin, Tennessee is your paradise. Take in stunning fall views in Erwin – this country town in Tennessee is near the Nolichucky River and tucked within the Cherokee National Forest.

• Cherokee National Forest

  • Go leaf-peeping along scenic driving routes like Cherohala Skyway, Hiwassee River Road and the Ocoee Scenic Byway

  • Waterfall hikes to Benton Falls and Bald River Falls

  • Mountain biking trails

• ​​​Whiskey River Dry Goods Company

  • Boutique offering a Build Your Own Hat Bar

  • Artisan jewelry

  • home goods

  • Boho western wear

  • Gifts

  • Brands include Unode 50 Artisan Jewelry, Gunpowder 'N Gloss Makeup and Double D Ranch 

• Valley Beautiful Antique Mall

  • Shop for a wide array of vintage pottery and glassware

• Hunter Bleu + Mercantile

  • Shop for gifts, accessories, bump-friendly clothes and more

• The Groovy Smoothie

  • Cafe with healthy options

  • Menu includes smoothies, garden salads, protein shakes, Redbull smoothies, smoothie bowls and more

• Steam Whistle Bakery

  • delicious baked goods

• Whistle Stop Deli

  • Diner classics like pastrami sandwiches, cheeseburgers, barbecue brisket

  • Daily specials include fried chicken, steak n' gravy and more

Springfield, one of the best small towns in Tennessee, is the ideal fall escape in Tennessee.

• Just 30 minutes north of Nashville

• the town is full of boutiques, art, history and farm fun.

• The Square downtown is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• Enjoy art in the Park in September at J Travis Price Park which features fine and folk arts like metalwork, pottery, jewelry and wood artisans.

• Honeysuckle Hill Farm

  • Enjoy the annual corn maze and pumpkin patch

  • Your kids will love the carousel, shows, giant slides and tractor playground

• Take a scenic drive to see smoking tobacco barns. Enjoy the fall views on beautiful two-lane roads that wind you through the area farms. You’ll see tractors hauling cut tobacco from the fields and carrying it to the barns.

• Snap a picture with the downtown mural as your backdrop

• BS Brew Works

  • Brewpub located on Springfield's Main Street

  • Local, hand-crafted beer 

  • Bar-style food such as flatbread pizzas, wings and sliders

• Deja Moo

  • Local coffee

  • Lunch options include wraps, sandwiches and salads

  • Breakfast menu has burritos, Nutella waffles and specialties like the loaded tater cake, breakfast bagels, avocado toast, and a waffle slider with eggs, pepper jack cheese, sausage or bacon and warm maple syrup

  • Ice cream flights, sandwiches, Affogato with Tennessee Toffee ice cream, hot fudge nachos and skillet cookies

• Historic Perk

  • Locally roasted coffee

  • Main espresso bean comes from Papau New GUinea

  • House-made syrups and milk from local family-owned dairy farm

  • Sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches and parfaits, salads and paninis round out the menu

Stroll Linden's historic Main Street to see restored historic buildings, quaint shops and restaurants.

• Commodore Hotel

  • Award-winning

  • Historic hotel

  • Hosts live music

  • Speakeasy lounge

  • The town is situated along the Buffalo River, perfect for a kayaking adventure

• Mousetail Landing State Park

  • Ideal for hiking

  • Take in stunning fall views from the bluffs

Find relaxation in the small town of Collierville.

• This small town near Memphis, TN is known for its charming train history

• Climb aboard the trains on historic Collierville Town Square and learn more about the town’s history inside the Morton Museum of Collierville History

• Enjoy nature along the boardwalk at Peterson Lake Nature Center

• Dine at local restaurants and shop at boutiques, antique shops and more

• You can’t leave Collierville without an Instagram-worthy photo taken at the picturesque gazebo located in the middle of the square

Soak in picturesque, fall views while exploring Paris, Tennessee, a small town near Memphis, TN. 

• You'll find a replica of the Eiffel Tower at Eiffel Tower Park

• Historic district with boutiques full of great shopping and antique stores

• Paris Landing State Park

  • Kayak

  • Hiking

  • Boating

  • Golfing

  • Fishing

• Southside Cafe

  • Casual family restaurant

  • Serves amazing fried catfish

  • Meat and three plates

  • Shrimp baskets

Explore even more Tennessee small towns on your next vacation:

Take a Day Trip to These 9 Tennessee Towns

Tennessee's Hidden Gem Towns You Should Visit

Travel Solo in These Tennessee Towns

Explore the Small Towns of West Tennessee

10 Small Town Day Trips from Nashville

Plan Your Perfect Day Trip from Chattanooga