9 days in Tennessee Itinerary
9 days in Tennessee Itinerary
Created using Inspirock Tennessee vacation planner
Start: Chicago
Fly
1
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
— 2 nights
Drive
2
Gatlinburg
— 2 nights
Drive
3
Knoxville
— 1 night
Drive
4
Chattanooga
— 1 night
Drive
5
Nashville
— 2 nights
Fly
End: Chicago
Fri, Mar 19 - Sat, Mar 27
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See full calendar
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
— 2 nights
©
A Wondrous Diversity of Life
Great Smoky Mountains National Park contains some of the highest mountains east of the Mississippi River, but it's the ease of access that makes this national park the United States' most visited.Escape the urban bustle at Cades Cove and Mount LeConte. And it doesn't end there: take a memorable drive along Little River Road, admire all the interesting features of Foothills Parkway Southwest Parking, trek along Alum Cave Trail, and admire the sheer force of Laurel Falls.
To see traveler tips, where to stay, and more tourist information, you can read our Great Smoky Mountains National Park trip planner.
Chicago to Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an approximately 4.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of bus and subway. You'll lose 1 hour traveling from Chicago to Great Smoky Mountains National Park due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Chicago in March, expect Great Smoky Mountains National Park to be a bit warmer, temps between 60°F and 39°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 21st (Sun) so you can travel to Gatlinburg.
Things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Find places to stay Mar 19 — 21:
Highlights from your trip
Gatlinburg
— 2 nights
The Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains
Nestled in the lush, wooded forests of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg is Tennessee’s premier mountain resort destination.On the 22nd (Mon), laugh and play at Rocky Top Mountain Coaster, see the interesting displays at Titanic Museum Attraction, then find something for the whole family at Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster, and finally take a leisurely stroll along The Island in Pigeon Forge. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: observe the fascinating underwater world at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, stop by Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen at The Village, then admire the natural beauty at Parrot Mountain & Gardens, and finally take a memorable tour with Tours.
To find maps, more things to do, traveler tips, and other tourist information, you can read our Gatlinburg trip planning website.
Gatlinburg is very close to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In March, daytime highs in Gatlinburg are 60°F, while nighttime lows are 39°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 23rd (Tue) early enough to go by car to Knoxville.
Things to do in Gatlinburg
Side Trip
Find places to stay Mar 21 — 23:
Highlights from your trip
Knoxville
— 1 night
©
Marble City
A gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Knoxville embraces music culture.Start off your visit on the 24th (Wed): take an in-depth tour of East Tennesse Historical Society, then identify plant and animal life at Ijams Nature Center, and then enjoy some diversion at Lakeshore Park.
Find out how to plan Knoxville trip without stress by asking Inspirock to help create an itinerary.
Traveling by car from Gatlinburg to Knoxville takes 1.5 hours. Expect a daytime high around 60°F in March, and nighttime lows around 39°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 24th (Wed) so you can drive to Chattanooga.
Things to do in Knoxville
Find places to stay Mar 23 — 24:
Highlights from your trip
Chattanooga
— 1 night
©
Dynamo of Dixie
Once saddled with the reputation of being one of the country's dirtiest cities, Chattanooga now boasts a pedestrian-friendly downtown with a network of leafy waterfront trails and free electric shuttles.On the 25th (Thu), meet the residents at Tennessee Aquarium, get interesting insight from Tours, and then Head underground at Ruby Falls.
Plan trip to Chattanooga with our itinerary maker to find out where to go and what to do.
Drive from Knoxville to Chattanooga in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and bus. In March, daily temperatures in Chattanooga can reach 63°F, while at night they dip to 42°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 25th (Thu) so you can drive to Nashville.
Things to do in Chattanooga
Find places to stay Mar 24 — 25:
Highlights from your trip
Nashville
— 2 nights
©
Music City U.S.A.
Known as the capital of country music, the thriving city of Nashville combines old-world southern charm with a progressive urban flair.On the 26th (Fri), visit Downtown Nashville, see a show at Grand Ole Opry, and then examine the collection at The Johnny Cash Museum & Cafe. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: examine the collection at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, take in the history at Lotz House Museum, and then contemplate the waterfront views at Radnor Lake State Park.
To see where to stay, photos, other places to visit, and other tourist information, you can read our Nashville itinerary planner.
Traveling by car from Chattanooga to Nashville takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. The time zone difference moving from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Central Standard Time (CST) is minus 1 hour. In March in Nashville, expect temperatures between 61°F during the day and 39°F at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 27th (Sat) so you can travel back home.
Things to do in Nashville
Side Trip
Find places to stay Mar 25 — 27:
Highlights from your trip
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Tennessee travel guide
The Volunteer State
Divided by law, geography, and custom into three major regions, represented by the three stars on state's flag, Tennessee boasts a distinctive musical heritage that includes elements of bluegrass, country-western, and blues. With a countryside as diverse as its people, Tennessee includes landscapes ranging from a mountainous region in the east to the lowlands of the west, with gently rolling hills in the middle. For a well-rounded vacation, you can hike remote mountain trails in the morning and explore the crowded bars of Nashville in the evening. Visit the urban attractions, such as Elvis Presley's former residence in Memphis, but don't miss a chance to spend some time in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, situated in the eastern part of the state.
