With summer vacation plans in overdrive, a road trip through Tennessee might be just the thing you need. Being able to come and go as you choose offers true freedom and flexibility. Imagine cruising the highways and back roads through the Great Smoky Mountains and small towns or zipping through city streets behind the wheel of a 2021 Lincoln Corsair or Rolls-Royce Ghost for a great combination of automotive luxury and comfort. But even if you’ll be taking the family car packed to the rims with kids and luggage, there’s plenty of fun to be had.
Knoxville
Get a hotel room at The Tennessean for easy access to all that Knoxville has to offer, including fine dining, Wake Foot Sanctuary which is out of this world, shopping, breweries, hiking and biking trails, and more. Explore local culture at Historic Westwood, where history comes to life in an 1890s mansion and the Knoxville Museum of Art. Stroll through the UT Botanical Garden for some of the most beautiful specimens of plants and flowers in the area.
Gatlinburg
The Getaway Society’s Splash Mansion in Laurel Estates in Gatlinburg is where you’ll want to be, with an indoor pool, home theater, pool table, and four bedrooms in a secluded rustic home with all of the modern conveniences you could want. Visit Anakeesta for scenic Smoky Mountain views and ziplines for the adventurous, plus shopping and outdoor dining experiences. Add SkyLift Park to your itinerary for more outdoor fun. Drive around the area to explore shopping opportunities at Ronel Raicsics Bespoke Jewelers, Jim Gray Gallery, Cliff Dwellers Art Gallery, and the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community, where you’ll find Appalachian art, handicrafts, housewares, and more. Book tables at Sevier Distilling Co. or The Appalachian for stand-out meals that include locally sourced ingredients, accompanied by the best wine, spirits, and brews.
Skylift Park 
Anakeesta 
Splash Mountain
Pigeon Forge
Find fun for the whole family at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort. With plenty of children’s activities, pools, and theme park fun for the kids plus shopping, dining, and spa services for the adults, everyone can let the stresses of the past year slide away. This area is also home to the famous Titanic Museum and The Island at Pigeon Forge, an action-packed opportunity to shop, play, and dine all in one place.
Nashville
Thompson Nashville offers hotel guests modern and luxurious accommodations, plus amenities like a rooftop bar and the on-site Marsh House restaurant serving up “Gulf-to-Gulch” dishes offering creative combinations expertly prepared for maximum flavor. Ole Smoky Distillery & Yee-Haw Brewery hosts tastings and live music while you enjoy food and drinks in a comfortable and casual setting. Get what might be the hottest chicken in Nashville (both in popularity and spiciness) at Party Fowl Donelson. And for delicious breakfasts, visit Yeast Nashville, where the biscuits and specialty baked goods are legendary. Book a lunch or dinner cruise on the General Jackson Showboat for entertainment and a satisfying meal while gently cruising the Cumberland River in a paddle-wheel boat.
Ole Smoky Distillery & Yee-Haw Brewery 
Thompson Nashville
Memphis
At Big Cypress Lodge in Memphis, part of the Bass Pro Shop Pyramid, guest rooms offer a rustic log cabin ambiance. Learn about local history at the Withers Collection Museum and Gallery or take in a performance at the Levitt Shell, one of the first places that Elvis Presley took the stage.
Start the day off right in Memphis at Gibson’s Donuts, where you get your pick of dozens of styles and flavors. The legendary slow-smoked ribs and pulled pork sandwiches at Central BBQ are worth the trip. Flight Restaurant and Wine Bar offers an upscale experience with creative meals served with innovative wine flight selections curated specifically to bring out the best in each dish and glass.
Big Cypress Lodge
Whether you’re lucky enough to be exploring Tennessee in a powerful 2021 Lincoln Corsair or a refined Rolls-Royce Ghost, or your own vehicle, a road trip can be the best way to take in all of the natural beauty, exciting shopping, and dynamic attractions that this state offers to visitors. Nearly every hotel, restaurant, and business is taking their cue from federal, state, and local public health officials to ensure that common sense cleaning and sanitizing keep everyone’s travel plans on track, so you can vacation with confidence.
