Tennessee Spring Break Road Trip Itinerary for Families
Is Tennessee on your radar as a spring break destination? This post will share our family’s 1 week itinerary for a Tennessee road trip in March or April.
We’ve had some pretty exciting spring break trips: The Florida Keys, Puerto Rico, Las Vegas + Death Valley National Park, and a road trip through Washington State. This year we wanted to keep our spring break trip on a budget, so we decided to pick a destination within driving distance of our home in Wisconsin.
We ended up deciding on Tennessee. We’ve visited Tennessee multiple times before, but the kids were really young the last time we were there, so we thought it would be fun to revisit some destinations now that the kids are a little older!
Our two main destinations on this road trip were Nashville and Gatlinburg, with a stop in Louisville, KY on the way home.
I’ll share our spring break itinerary, and I’ll also link my blog posts with travel guides to each individual city. I’ll also share recommendations for places you could add to your road trip if you have more time!
Related: Here are ALL of my spring break destination ideas and articles in one place!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Drive to Nashville
Day 2: Sightseeing in Nashville (Broadway, Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium)
Day 3: Morning in Nashville, then drive to Gatlinburg
Day 4: Sightseeing in Gatlinburg (Anakeesta, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, SkyPark)
Day 5: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg sightseeing
Day 6: Drive from Gatlinburg to Louisville, KY, Visit Churchill Downs
Day 7: Louisville Slugger Museum, drive home
This itinerary is adaptable, so if you want more or less time in a destination, you can do that! You could also switching Louisville with another city, or skip a 3rd city altogether and add an extra day in Nashville.
As always, do what works best for your family in whatever age or stage you’re in!
7-Day Tennessee Road Trip with Kids (Nashville + Gatlinburg)
Day 1: Drive to Nashville
Stay: Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Downtown - We love staying at Drury Hotels because they offer free breakfast, free popcorn in the afternoons, and a free 5:30 p.m. Kickback which as hot food and cold drinks for dinner. It saves us so much money on food! The Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Downtown is in a great location within walking distance of all the best attractions in Nashville!
The drive to Nashville from Wisconsin is around 8 hours, so my original plan was to get an early start, arrive in Nashville in the afternoon, check into the hotel, and do some sightseeing or go out for dinner.
The weather had other plans. We were coming off my daughter’s weekend volleyball tournament, so the plan was to get an early start Monday morning, but unfortunately, the midwest was hit with a giant blizzard overnight and into Monday morning.
We had chosen to rent a car for this road trip, since both of our cars are paid off but old, and we’re trying to extend their life for as long as we can. We had to drive to the airport to pick up the rental car, and we used that opportunity to see how the roads were.
We made the choice to delay the start of our drive until late morning with the hope that the roads would be clear by the time we started driving. This was especially important because another wrench in our plan was that my husband was on a 40th birthday trip with his dad in Florida, and was meeting us in Nashville a few days later, so I was driving by myself with 4 kids.
The plan worked, and by the time we hit the road at 11, the snow was all but gone. We still dealt with strong winds blowing the snow around, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as the morning commute had been!
The drive went smoothly, and we arrived in Nashville by around 8 p.m. We checked into our hotel, and went to bed right away.
Check rates for the Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Downtown here!
Day 2: Sightseeing in Nashville
Country Music Hall of Fame
Honky Tonk on Broadway
Ryman Auditorium
GooGoo Clusters
Our second day was busy since we only planned one full day in Nashville. If you want to read more about what to do in Nashville than what I covered on this particular visit, check out my Nashville Travel Guide for families!
We started our morning with free breakfast at the Drury, then walked over to the Country Music Hall of Fame. This museum is for all ages, but I found it most enjoyable with older kids, since there are many displays with signs to read, but not a ton of interactive exhibits young children would enjoy. We have visited with kids at every age and stage, though, and it’s totally doable and still fun.
Next we strolled a few block to the infamous Broadway lined with Honky Tonks, rooftop bars, souvenir shops, and historic sights. We wanted to grab lunch at a Honky Tonk, but it just so happened to be noon on St. Patrick’s Day, so every Honky Tonk was packed with people. As a group of 5 with 4 very hungry kids, I knew waiting in a small bar with loud live music before we even had a chance to get a seat much less order food would NOT be a good idea, so we ended up eating at Jason Aldean’s restaurant. Not the most historic or “authentic” but they had a kids’ menu and plenty of space for our family, so we were happy with it!
After lunch we walked over to the Ryman Auditorium and bought same-day guided tour tickets. You can purchase these online ahead of time, but I was winging it on this trip, and it just so happened to work out for us! We got discounted same day tickets! While we were waiting for our scheduled tour time, we walked back to Broadway and did some window shopping for cowboy boots and hats.
The Ryman Auditorium Tour was wonderful! Our guide took us backstage and shared stories about the history of the Ryman and the artists who performed there.
We finished our day at GooGoo Clusters where each of the kids designed their own candy bar. GooGoo Clusters were invented in Nashville, and they were the first chocolate candy bar to add mix-ins like peanuts and mashmallows.
Day 3: Nashville to Gatlinburg
Family Photo on the Pedestrian Bridge
Wanna Spoon Cereal Bar
Drive to Gatlinburg
Check into the Drury Plaza Hotel Pigeon Forge
On our 3rd day we checked out of our Drury Plaza Hotel in Nashville. My husband met up with us on this morning, catching an early flight into Nashville and taking an Uber to meet us at the hotel. It was so nice to finally have another adult with me!
We had one more thing we wanted to do in downtown Nashville, and that was walking on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge which stretches over the Cumberland River. We had walked this bridge on our trip in 2019, and it was the perfect spot for a skyline view of the city. We brought a trip and took a quick family photo here!
After that we picked up the rental car from the hotel and drove a bit outside the downtown area to get to Wanna Spoon Cereal Bar. It’s such a fun themed restaurant, and each of our kids chose a cereal for lunch, what type of milk they wanted, and then we also got some coffee and a shake along with it.
Don’t forget to check out my Nashville Family Travel Guide!
We had a 3 hour and 40 minute drive to Gatlinburg, so by the time we arrived it was time to check into our hotel and get our free dinner at the 5:30 p.m. Kickback.
Check rates for the Drury Plaza Pigeon Forge here!
Day 4: Sightseeing in Gatlinburg (Aquarium, SkyPark, Anakeesta, Pizza + Ice Cream)
Anakeesta
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Gatlinburg SkyPark
Best Italian for lunch (great pizza + affordable)
Gatlin’s Mini Golf
Shopping
The Crazy Mason (for giant ice cream creations!)
Anakeesta
On our first full day in Gatlinburg, we had a lot on our itinerary. The first thing we wanted to do was visit Anakeesta, but unfortunately it was closed on the day we wanted to visit. It also ended up being sold out on our 2nd day, so we missed out on visiting Anakeesta this time around.
Anakeesta is one of the coolest things to do in Gatlinburg, so I would recommend prioritizing it on your visit, AND buying your tickets online in advance.
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Since we couldn’t go to Anakeesta, we changed plans and headed across the street to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. We remembered it from our previous visit, and wanted to see if the Shark Lagoon tunnel was as cool as we remembered it.
Good news - it was! You get to walk through a long underwater tunnel to see sharks, sawfish, eels, sea turtles, and more. That’s just one of many great exhibits, plus a 2-story playground that younger kids will love.
Gatlinburg SkyPark
We got to walk across the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America with amazing views of the Smoky Mountains! You get to the park via chairlift, then you can enjoy the bridge, walking trails, and a viewing deck with food and beverages.
Best Italian
We grabbed lunch here, and loved it! It’s an affordable family-friendly restaurant with pizza and Italian food.
Gatlin’s Mini Golf
There are so many great places to mini golf in Gatlinburg, and this time we did Gatlin’s Mini Golf! It’s your quintessential putt-putt course, and we had so much fun competing as a family.
One of my kids got 3 holes-in-one in a row, and I don’t know if we’ll ever hear the end of it.
The Village Shops
We strolled through the Village Shops to check out some souvenirs and local shops, and we loved how quaint and tucked away this area felt in comparison to the rest of Gatlinburg with bustling crowds. It reminded us of some of the cute villages we visited on the Romantic Road in Germany!
The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar
We ordered 3 giant milkshakes here and shared them. We tried the Gatlinburg signature shake “Meet Me in the Mountains” which was a salted caramel shake with chocolate Teddy Grahams, a Rice Krispy Treat on top in the shape of a mountain, a moon pie, and whipped cream.
We also ordered the “Have Your Cake and Eat It Too” and the “Crazy Cookie Dreams.” We loved all 3!
Day 5: Great Smoky Mountains National Park + Ober Mountain
On our second full day in Gatlinburg the plan was to spend most of the day hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Gatlinburg is a gateway city to one of the most amazing and FREE national parks, so definitely take advantage of it!
Unfortunately, many of the roads in the park were still closed for winter, so we didn’t have access to most of the spots we wanted to visit. That was a lack of research and preparation on our part, so definitely keep that in mind if you’re visiting in spring like we did!
We settled on stopping at the Sugarlands Visitor Center where we stopped and asked the park rangers for some good hikes and scenic viewpoints we could do in spring. They suggested starting with an easy .7 mile hike called Cataract Falls. The trailhead is at the Visitor Center, so you can just park, explore the Visitor Center, and then head out directly on this hike which ends at a small waterfall before turning around.
We then drove to the Newfound Gap Overlook where you can find the Tennessee/North Carolina state line as well as some beautiful views of the park. It’s essentially just a parking lot with a small path and platform for viewing, but it’s a worthwhile stop. (I will say that the view was much more beautiful in summer when the trees were green and flowers were in bloom, but the mountains are beautiful no matter what).
Finally, we hiked the Noah “Bud” Ogle Place Nature Trail, a .8 mile loop trail with some rocky terrain and a few small streams to cross. You can the Ogle cabin from the 1880s, so there’s a little history involved, too. The kids enjoyed climbing over the boulders on this trail!
Ober Mountain Gatlinburg
After spending the morning exploring the national park, we made one last stop in Gatlinburg: Ober Mountain. It’s a mountaintop amusement park with a tram that takes you to the top of the mountain and back, a wildlife habitat, ice bumper cars, ice skating, a mountain coaster, a mountain bobsled, a carousel, and more.
There are different levels of tickets you can buy, and the lowest level (the Fun Pass) does not include the mountain coaster or the alpine bobsled. If those are the activities you had your heart set on, be sure to buy the Adventure Pass which includes everything.
We enjoyed the Smoky Mountain Bobsled, but there was a 90 minute wait for the mountain coaster, so we didn’t end up doing that.
If you’re choosing between Ober Mountain and Anakeesta, I would strongly recommend Anakessta.
Day 6: Gatlinburg to Louisville, KY
Check out of the Drury Plaza Hotel Pigeon Forge
Drive the 4.5 Hours to Louisville, KY
Kentucky Derby Museum + Churchill Downs
On day 6 we started the journey back home, making an overnight pitstop in Louisville, Kentucky. The main reason for our stop there was because my kids had been begging to visit the Louisville Slugger Museum, and since it was on our way we decided to make an overnight stop out of it.
We also wanted to see Churchill Downs on our trip, and after a bit of research we realized Churchill Downs didn’t open until 1 p.m. the next day, and we were hoping to get an early start on the last leg of our drive home. That’s why we decided to do the Kentucky Derby Museum on our first night, and the Louisville Slugger Museum on the last morning.
The Kentucky Derby Museum far exceeded my expectations. Before our visit, I had no interest in horse racing. I left with a burning desire to attend the Kentucky Derby and with a new appreciation for what goes into horse racing!
If you’re heading to Kentucky Derby Museum, here’s what you need to know before you go:
The Kentucky Derby Museum is located right at Churchill Downs . Admission includes access to interactive exhibits, an 18-minute 360° immersive film about race day, and a guided tour of Churchill Downs - buy tickets online ahead of time to select your tour time!
The museum is super kid-friendly and surprisingly engaging, even if your family isn’t into horse racing. There are lots of interactive exhibits!
You can learn about Derby fashion, traditions, and the history behind “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.” Our kids liked the VR race game where you can pretend to be a jockey, and the exhibit that teaches about betting on horse racing.
After our visit to the museum, we checked into our hotel, The Drury Inn & Suites Louisville North. Not to repeat myself too much, but Drury Hotels are incredible options for families with the free 5:30 p.m. Kickback (hot food + cold drinks for dinner), and a free breakfast, plus popcorn in the lobby every afternoon! We arrived just in time for the Kickback!
Day 7: Louisville Slugger Museum + Drive Home
Louisville Slugger Museum
Drive Home
On our last morning we checked out of the The Drury Inn & Suites Louisville North after grabbing one last Drury breakfast.
We had purchased tickets online in advance for the Louisville Slugger Museum. Tickets include a factory tour, a free souvenir mini bat after the tour, and access to the museum.
In the museum you can hold a bat that was used by a baseball legend, learn about baseball heroes who have used Louisville Slugger bats, see what a 90 MPH fastball actually looks like, and see a bat branding demonstration.
We also stopped in the bat vault, and paid a little extra to use the batting cages. Be sure to take a picture by the giant bat (outside) and the giant glove!
We really enjoyed our short time in Louisville, and would LOVE to go back and spend a few days there exploring the city!
More Spring Break Fun!
Looking for MORE ideas for your family’s next spring break trip? I’ve got you covered! I’m sharing our family’s personal spring break destinations and itineraries HERE, along with packing lists and budgets for our trips!
DON’T FORGET IT! PIN IT!
Emily Krause is a Florida-based travel blogger who writes about exploring the world with kids. On A Mom Explores you’ll find best family travel destinations, Disney World tips, and how to make travel with babies and toddlers a little easier.
Emily believes that exploring starts in our own backyards, and adventure can happen anywhere with the right mindset.
