Highest-rated free things to do in Tennessee by visitors

Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Tennessee.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Tennessee using data from . Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

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#30. Downtown Franklin

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,472 reviews)
- City: Franklin
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#29. Tanger Outlets Sevierville

- Rating: 4.4/5 (2,520 reviews)
- City: Sevierville
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#28. Laurel Falls Trailhead

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,617 reviews)
- City: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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#27. Grotto Falls Trail

- Rating: 4.6/5 (956 reviews)
- City: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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#26. Hillside Winery

- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,855 reviews)
- City: Sevierville
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#25. Ijams Nature Center

- Rating: 4.7/5 (876 reviews)
- City: Knoxville
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#24. Centennial Park

- Rating: 4.4/5 (2,196 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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#23. Opry Mills

- Rating: 4.2/5 (1,498 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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#22. Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,387 reviews)
- City: Gatlinburg
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#21. Alum Cave Trail

- Rating: 4.8/5 (480 reviews)
- City: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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#20. The Village Shops

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,012 reviews)
- City: Gatlinburg
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#19. Walnut Street Bridge

- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,959 reviews)
- City: Chattanooga
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#18. Burgess Falls State Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (514 reviews)
- City: Sparta
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#17. Mountain Valley Winery

- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,853 reviews)
- City: Pigeon Forge
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#16. Tennessee Homemade Wines

- Rating: 5.0/5 (7,042 reviews)
- City: Gatlinburg
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#15. Ole Smoky Distillery - The Barrelhouse

- Rating: 4.9/5 (6,043 reviews)
- City: Gatlinburg
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#14. The Peabody Ducks

- Rating: 4.2/5 (6,426 reviews)
- City: Memphis
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#13. Beale Street

- Rating: 4.0/5 (8,901 reviews)
- City: Memphis
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#12. Market Square

- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,994 reviews)
- City: Knoxville
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#11. Kuwohi

- Rating: 4.7/5 (3,170 reviews)
- City: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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#10. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,636 reviews)
- City: Gatlinburg
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#9. Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

- Rating: 4.8/5 (3,159 reviews)
- City: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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#8. Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine

- Rating: 4.9/5 (8,328 reviews)
- City: Pigeon Forge
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#7. Cades Cove

- Rating: 4.5/5 (5,677 reviews)
- City: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
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#6. Downtown Nashville

- Rating: 4.4/5 (10,140 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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#5. Gaylord Opryland Garden Conservatory

- Rating: 4.5/5 (6,169 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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#4. The Island in Pigeon Forge

- Rating: 4.5/5 (12,358 reviews)
- City: Pigeon Forge
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#3. Sugarlands Distilling Company

- Rating: 4.9/5 (30,460 reviews)
- City: Gatlinburg
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#2. Ole Smoky Distillery "6th & Peabody"

- Rating: 5.0/5 (6,896 reviews)
- City: Nashville Davidson County
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#1. Ole Smoky Distillery - The Holler

- Rating: 4.8/5 (15,971 reviews)
- City: Gatlinburg
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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