Things to Do in Smithville, TN: Big Fun in a Small Tennessee Town

Smithville, Tennessee is located about 9 miles south of Center Hill Lake and only 66 miles south east of Nashville, Tennessee. The town is the perfect lakeside day trip or lakeside weekend getaway. The town is part of the southern part of the Upper Cumberland region in Tennessee and is in DeKalb County, a rural county of over 20,000 residents.

Visitors flock to Smithville, Tennessee for lake activities on Center Hill Lake. You can find nearby lakehouses, boats and more to rent for a fun weekend or week-long vacation. The Smithville Fiddlers' Jamboree is held annually July 4th weekend and welcomes thousands each year. The Appalachian Center for Craft is Tennessee's largest craft institution and and the historic downtown is full of shopping and local restaurants.

• Center Hill Lake water activities
   
• Downtown dining and shopping
   
• Evins Mill
   
• Appalachian Center for Craft
   
• Local breweries like The Burlap Room
   
• Edgar Evins State Park

Drive about 20 miles north to Burgess Falls State Park to view the stunning, 103-foot Burgess Falls. Additionally, you can secure a day pass to Evins Mills' to see Carmac Falls that is located on the property.

With luxurious creek side accommodations, an historic mill and Smithville’s premier fine dining kitchen, Evins Mill is going to be one of your favorite lodging spots. This 40-acre property is ideal for romantic couple’s weekends, friend getaways and group retreats including weddings. From the covered decks and shaded walkways to the flowing creek, rest and relaxation can easily be found. Add the dining and you’ve got yourself a basecamp to enjoy all of Smithville and Center Hill Lake.

• Seasonal highlights: In the summer, enjoy waterfall picnicking and hiking, Bluegrass Cookout July 4th weekend, Labor Day Weekend cookout, and lawn games like corn hole and badminton
   
• Reservation details: Check in is at 4 p.m. and check out is noon. Evins Mill charges a cancellation fee of $25/room night regardless of how far in advance the cancellation is communicated.
   
• Accessibility options: The Solstice Lodge is approachable by car and features an ADA compliant suite. For full accessibility details, call Evins Mills staff at 615-269-3740.
   
• Parking: Ample parking is available onsite.

Another favored lodging spot is The Retreat at Center Hill, large enough to house visitors from individuals and families cruising in to take advantage of their private dock and water access to church and corporate groups looking to have a gorgeous lakeside space to convene. During the summer, the on-site Hickory Cafe serves all-you-can-eat barbecue dinners to folks who have come from all over the Southeast to boat, fish, hike, swim, canoe, kayak and otherwise enjoy the natural splendor surrounding this gorgeous 139-acre retreat.

• Seasonal highlights: Summer fun at The Retreat at Center Hill includes lake access, playground, jet skit and pontoon boat rentals, a pool, fire pit, hiking trails and boat dock.
   
• Parking information: Ample parking is available on site.
   
• Accessibility options: Buildings and lodging are wheelchair accessible. Upper floors are accessible by stairs only. For accessibility details, please contact the staff at 615-597-4298.
   
• Reservations: For booking, visit The Retreat at Center Hill's website.

Located right outside of town, Twisted Oaks is a great spot for lunch, dinner or late night. Now, the local debate goes like this: is Twisted Oaks a bar with good food, or a restaurant with a good bar? You be the judge. Either way, the restaurant has American classics while guests can shoot pool, watch a baseball game, play a life-sized Jenga and rock out to live music on Saturday nights.

• Hours of operation:
  11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday
  11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Friday-Saturday
  11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
   
• Parking information: Ample onsite parking available
   
• Age restrictions: Children under 10 eat free on Tuesdays
   
• Seasonal highlights: Karaoke Wednesday and Friday nights, jam sessions on Thursdays and live music Saturday nights

Step back in time to the 1950s for this classic pharmacy and soda fountain spot, Webb's Pharmacy, Gift Shop and Soda Fountain. Classic diner food with a real-deal soda fountain makes Webb’s a timeless piece of nostalgic Americana. Ice cream in waffle cones, grilled cheeses and hamburgers, your choice of soda floats and hearty soups are set against the backdrop of a small town pharmacy.

• Hours of operation: 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday
   
• Parking: Paved parking is available onsite.
   
• Accessibility options: Webb's Pharmacy is wheelchair accessible.

The Twisted Oar, located at Hurricane Marina, is your lakeside hangout for the summer. After a day on Center Hill Lake, grab a table on the patio. Dig in to chili cheese fries, fish tacos, pizza and wings and grilled salmon.

• Hours of operation
  11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday
  11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
   
• Parking information: Ample parking is available onsite.
   
• Seasonal highlights: Enjoy tacos and tequila Tuesdays all day long. All taco plates are $9.50, house margarita or a tequila shot are $5 and a house margarita pitcher is $20. Fresh Fish Friday features a different type of fish every week caught and flown in the same day. Market price and served all day until it runs out. Prime rib starts at 5 p.m. Fridays.

Directly across Nashville Highway from Twisted Oaks is the Bert Driver Nursery, which is a surprising spot for a beer garden and tap house. The Burlap Room at Bert Driver Nursery is also in a former drive-in theater. This spot is a hangout with a local selection of craft brews, an air-conditioned tap room and an excellent fire pit in the beer garden.

• Hours of operation: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday-Friday
   
• Parking information: Ample parking is available onsite.
   
• Pet-friendly note: The Burlap Room is pet-friendly with outdoor seating available for dogs to enjoy.
   
• Seasonal highlights: Enjoy outdoor seating, a sandbox and children's play area during the summer. Hang out at the fire pits while enjoying local craft beers in the fall.

The Appalachian Center for Craft is an art, design and craft school within the Tennessee Tech University College of Fine Arts. Students, makers and artists-in-residence display their works on these grounds. Art exhibitions and workshops ranging from blacksmithing, glass blowing, clay and wood are just a few examples of the artistic talents found here.

• Hours of operation: The Craft Center Gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
   
• Parking information: Onsite parking is available.
   
• Accessibility options: There are ADA parking spots and a wheelchair ramp in front.
   
• Ticketing information: The gallery is free and open to the public. Some special events throughout the year may be ticketed. Check the website for specific ticket details.

Button Willow General Store & Coffee Shop is as unique as its name. Located right off of Smithville’s downtown square, you can go to the counter for a latte before shopping for special gifts. Fans of unique finds should swing by as soon as possible. With baby clothes to wall art, candles to handbags and just about everything in between, you’ll have to visit many times to see what all they’ve got along these walls.

• Hours of operation: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday
   
• Parking information: Street parking is available in front of the store and throughout downtown Smithville.
   
• Accessibility: Accessibility amenities include a wheelchair accessible restroom, entrance, seating and ADA parking throughout downtown Smithville.

Pack a picnic lunch and head out to Burgess Falls State Park, located 19 miles east of downtown Smithville. Follow the waterfall hiking trail to the overlook where you can witness the thundering waterfall and its 103-foot cascades.

• Distance from downtown Smithville: 19 miles east
   
• Seasonal highlights: Peak flow of Burgess Falls is spring and early summer when heavy rains are likely, making the falls most impressive. A fall foliage hike to the falls is picturesque as well. For a less-crowded trail, hike the Ridgetop Trail, especially after a heavy rain when Falling Water River rages and mist creates rainbows.
   
• Parking: The Burgess Falls Trailhead has designated parking spots. The weekends are usually heavy traffic times. It's recommended to go early in the morning and during week days.

Rugged scenic beauty is on full display at Rock Island State Park. Enjoy a hike to Twin Falls and Great Falls to see the amazing power of the cascading water. 

• Distance from downtown Smithville: 22 miles
   
• Seasonal highlights: Great Falls and Twin Falls are the main attractions, but you can also experience dramatic bluffs, hidden grottoes and hiking trails that range from easy to strenuous. It's a beloved state park enjoyed in all seasons. 
   
• Parking: Parking is available at the Visitor Center, beach, Nature Center and picnic areas. Check out the map for more details.