Fall Family Getaways at Tennessee State Parks

Just one hour east of Nashville, Edgar Evins is a hot spot for incredible fall foliage views. It surrounds the stunning waters of Center Hill Lake and is just a short drive from scenic kayaking adventures on the Caney Fork River.

Inside the Park

Climb the spiral staircase to top of the lookout tower at the park visitor center. At the top, you’ll enjoy a stunning view of the golden tree tops and sparkling lake waters in the distance. Take some time to explore the unique products in the gift shop, then chat with a friendly staff member at the front desk for more information on the park and surrounding activities.

The park offers multiple miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. The trails climb high ridges and dip down to the lakeshore. There’s even a .5-mile storybook trail featuring larger-than-life book panels that children can read while they hike.

Excursions

Just outside the park you’ll find multiple paddling outfitters that offer kayaking rentals and shuttle services on the Caney Fork River. You can also bring your own kayak or canoe and put in at one of the many spots along the river. The Caney is a Class I river, meaning you won’t find any rapids, just a peaceful paddle surrounded by bluffs covered in fall foliage. It is also a perfect spot for trout fishing since the river is stocked annually with Rainbow and Brown Trout.

Near the park, you'll also find state parks with impressive waterfalls: Burgess Falls, Cummins Falls, Rock Island, and Fall Creek Falls. If you visited all four of those parks, you would have the potential to see at least 15 unique waterfalls!

You’ll find lots of unique restaurants and shops in Cookeville, about 30 minutes east of Edgar Evins. Dive into the local eateries to get your fix of “Tennessee’s Best Donut” at Ralph’s, or discover treasures at the local antique shops and boutiques.

Overnight Accommodations

The park offers two options for overnight adventures: cabins and campsites. The cabins sit on a hill above Center Hill Lake. They have a split-level design with the kitchen and living area on the upper level, the bedroom on the lower level, and the bathroom by the entrance foyer. These cabins are great for couples and families. Each can accommodate six adults with two double beds in the bedroom and a sofa sleeper in the living room. 

RV and tent campers can enjoy the unique wooden-platform campsites that provide water and electric hookups. Some sites are nestled in the trees, while others hover over the lakeshore with incredible water views. There are also nine primitive campsites without water or electricity, nestled in the woods with some sites offering lake views. All the campsites have access to one of two bathhouses with hot showers.

This unique park offers a private wilderness experience with family-friendly amenities such as an on-site food truck, boat rentals, and a camp store. The 48,000-acre area is located halfway between Nashville and Memphis on I-40.

Inside the Park

Watch fall colors dance on the waters of Pin Oak Lake, cruise the shaded park streets from the seat of a bicycle, or enjoy the cool temperatures while hiking a portion of the park’s 40 miles of trail. The park offers fall color pontoon tours throughout the season and a variety of other family-friendly educational programs led by park staff. Most of these events are free or low-cost and offer online registration in advance.

Excursions

Take a day trip to Pinson Mounds State Archeological Park, 40 minutes southwest of the Natchez Trace right outside of Jackson. The park is home to the largest collection of Native American Middle Woodland Period mounds in the United States, including the 70 foot Sauls Mound. Grab a bite to eat in Jackson and explore the heart of the music highway. 

Along the bank of the Tennessee River, just 15 minutes from Natchez Trace, you’ll find more opportunities for boating and fishing at Mousetail Landing State Park.

Hunters will want to take advantage of easy access to nearby wildlife management land during their stay. There are also opportunities for ATV riding on designated trails in surrounding forestry land. *Hunting and ATV riding is prohibited inside the state park.

Overnight Accommodations

Let the crisp autumn air and the fresh smell of pine surround you from the porch of a remote Natchez Trace cabin or the fireside seat at your campsite. The deluxe cabins are two stories and can sleep up to six, perfect for families with teens who need their own space. Camping cabins are an affordable option for families who want the feel of camping without the need for equipment. The park also offers traditional campsites for tents and RVs.

Chickasaw State Park is located just south of Jackson and offers incredible hiking, fishing, horseback riding, and even hunting and ATV riding opportunities on over 14,000 acres of nearby forestry land.

Inside the Park

The park has on-site riding stables that offer horse rentals and guided tours. You can explore five miles of horse trails inside the park that wind through gorgeous pine trees and provide impressive elevation.

Those who own kayaks, canoes, or stand-up paddle boards will enjoy exploring the calm waters on Lake Placid. Anglers can cast a line from the shore or access the middle of the lake from the pedestrian bridge. There are also lots of peaceful picnic tables and benches surrounding the lake where you can kick back with a book, enjoy a picnic, or hang your hammock.

Excursions

Pinson Mounds is a scenic 20-minute drive northeast of the park. This park is a national historic landmark, home to at least 15 Native American mounds. This is the largest collection of Native American Middle Woodland Period mounds in the United States. Sauls Mound is 70 feet tall and visitors can climb up to the top for incredible views. The on-site museum is designed to replicate a Native American mound and tells the story of the Middle Woodland Period through exhibits, an archaeological library, an 80-seat theater, and a ‘Discovery Room’. The park also offers hiking trails and peaceful spots for a picnic.

Overnight Accommodations

Chickasaw State Park offers cabins in addition to tent, RV, and wrangler (equipped for campers with horses) campgrounds. Both the standard and rustic cabins at the park were renovated in 2021. The rustic one-bedroom cabins were built by the Works Progress Administration and are steeped in history. The renovations have given new life to these cabins and provide guests with comfortable, modern amenities while allowing them to enjoy the history. The standard two-bedroom cabins were built in 1948 and have also gained a new vibrance from the recent renovations. Both cabin types are nestled beneath the tall pines and located within easy access to Lake Placid.

Located just North of Knoxville, Norris Dam State Park is a great place for lakeside adventures, hiking, photography, and much more.

Inside the Park

Norris Dam is full of history that’s ready to be explored at the Lenoir Museum and the picturesque Grist Mill. The museum offers a collection of Appalachian artifacts and panels detailing the story of the area’s development, including images of the dam’s construction. 

The park offers 15 different trails that traverse ridge tops, valleys, hollows, and lakeshore. The park even allows mountain biking and horseback riding on certain trails. The trails are also the best places to take in the full glory of the changing leaves. Norris Dam even makes the list of top parks for fall colors in Tennessee. 

Explore the lake on a Fall Color Cruise offered by the park and led by rangers. You’ll get a good look at all of the incredible foliage while learning about the natural, cultural, and historic elements of the park. You can view upcoming fall color cruises and register by visiting the Norris Dam State Park Upcoming Events Calendar.

Excursions

Immerse yourself in the living history exhibits at the Museum of Appalachia. This pioneer mountain farm village lends a voice to the people of Southern Appalachia through the artifacts and stories they left behind. Self-guided tours are offered seven days a week.

Cove Lake State Park is located 30 minutes from Norris Dam in a beautiful mountain valley. Explore scenic nature trails that lead through a diversity of wetlands and woodlands or spend the day fishing surrounded by the picturesque vista Cove Lake offers.

Overnight Accommodations

Norris Dam State Park has a large quantity of camping and cabin options. The newer, standard cabins are some of the most popular in the entire park system, and the rustic cabins are steeped in history and known for their uniqueness. They were originally constructed in the 1930s by the CCC and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While they are historic, they received a renovation in 2020 with modern finishes, kitchen appliances, showers, etc.

The beauty of the Cumberland Plateau shines through every corner of Cumberland Mountain State Park in Crossville, TN. Plenty of outdoor recreation is available within the park, in addition to comforts like an on-site restaurant, camp store, and cozy cabins.

Inside the Park

As a result of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal after the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the park. Visitors can engage with park history throughout their visit inside the CCC museum and through the architecture found throughout the park.

Byrd Lake offers fishing, paddling rentals, and prime picnic spots. The iconic CCC bridge serves as a dam for the lake and creates a gorgeous waterfall and area for wading. The hiking trails at the park wind past the lakeshore and creeks with fun features along the way like a swinging bridge and storybook trail. An 18-hole Bear Trace golf course and four miles of mountain bike trails also await the adventurous.

Excursions

It’s well worth the one-hour drive to Fall Creek Falls State Park , one of the most popular parks in Tennessee and home to the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi. The park offers a variety of hiking trails that show off waterfalls, cascades, and impressive overlooks. In addition, there is also a lake, golf course, snack bar, and nature center.

Ozone Falls State Natural Area is home to another impressive waterfall, located 20 minutes from the park. The hike to the base of the falls is moderate and short, ¾ mile long. Surrounding the 110-foot waterfall is an incredible rock house amphitheater. The area is so beautiful it was a filming location for the 1994 Jungle Book movie.

Spend some time checking out portions of Cumberland Trail near the park. Areas such as Devilstep Hollow Cave at the Head of Sequatchie or Black Mountain make great day trips and allow you to see more of the rugged beauty on the Cumberland Plateau.

Overnight Accommodations

The park offers a variety of cabin types to accommodate families of all sizes. The recently renovated historic CCC cabins have one king bed in the common area and one twin bed in a separate room. For larger families, the Deluxe two-bedroom cabins or Timber Lodge three-bedroom cabins are a great choice.

The campground offers 145 tent and RV sites equipped with water and electric hookups.