Looking for a meaningful way to spend Valentine's Day together? Tennessee State Parks offer a variety of ways to celebrate, from discounted overnight lodge getaways to unique gifts and thoughtfully prepared dinners set against some os the state's most scenic backdrops.

You don’t have to go far from Nashville to disconnect from your daily routines. These three parks offer different backpacking experiences all within 100 miles of Nashville. Whether you’re looking for proximity to town, overlooks and waterfalls, or long stretches of forested trail, these parks can satisfy your need to step away from it all and reconnect.

It is hard not to stand in awe and amazement at the base of a 256-foot waterfall. With spectacular cliffs surrounding you, and gallons of water pouring over the rock face, the magnitude of the situation is hard to deny. Fall Creek Falls is just one of a dozen waterfalls within an hour of Cookeville, Tennessee. Let’s take a look at ten of our favorites.

“If I have done anything in life worth attention, I feel sure that I inherited the disposition from my mother.” — Booker T. Washington Mother's Day is the perfect time to celebrate all of the moms (and mother figures) in your life. And what does mom want most? To spend more time with you, her favorite child (we won't tell anyone else that you're the favorite)! What's the easiest way to treat mom on Mother's Day? Take her for a meal at her favorite Tennessee state park on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11th. Many of our restaurants will host a special Mother's Day Meal for you and the whole family, full of favorites like ham, turkey, and strawberry shortcake!

Tennessee State Parks is entering an exciting chapter in park history, breaking ground on new lodges at both Henry Horton State Park and Natchez Trace State Park. Each lodge will give visitors more opportunities to extend their stay and experience each park’s activities through thoughtful design that incorporates the best views and unique personality of each park.

To help you plan your spring vacation, we’ve put together a list of five family-friendly getaways. Each experience offers a variety of crowd-pleasing activities and overnight accommodations that suit families' needs.

July 16, 2024 | FRANKLIN COUNTY – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) today announced a grant of $217,060 for Tims Ford State Park from the state’s Tire Environmental Act Program.

November 17, 2025 | NASHVILLE – Tennessee State Parks today announced the installation of signs at several parks across the state giving visitors detailed information developed from the use of new technology on the conditions expected on park trails. The new park signage is another example of how Tennessee has the most accessible state park system in the nation.

NASHVILLE – For the third year, Tennessee State Parks and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) are joining the Tennessee chapter of the American Canoe Association (ACA) to offer low-cost kayaking instruction Saturday, May 18.

September 4, 2025 | NASHVILLE – Tennessee State Parks today announced the number of parks with colorblind viewfinders is expanding to 12 to include T.O. Fuller State Park in Memphis and Roan Mountain State Park in Roan Mountain, making it possible for more visitors of all abilities to fully enjoy the beauty of the parks. The announcement comes at the start of International Colorblindness Awareness Month.

September 6, 2024 | NASHVILLE – Tennessee State Parks will join First Lady Maria Lee’s Tennessee Serves initiative Sept. 19-29 with volunteer work events at parks across the state. The volunteer opportunities coincide with National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 28.

October 31, 2025 | SEWANEE – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and Tennessee State Parks today celebrated the dedication of Head of the Crow State Park at a ceremony with local leaders from Franklin County and nearby University of the South.