August 2, 2023 |
Tennessee State Parks offer some of the most memorable destinations for the fall season. With cabins, campgrounds, and lodges, you can enjoy all the incredible outdoor experiences fall has to offer. To help you plan your fall break vacation, we’ve categorized our parks by things to see and do: Mountains, waterfalls, lakes and rivers, and backpacking.
There's nothing like observing fall colors from up above. Crisp mountain air and awe-inspiring views await outside of cozy cabins and campsites nestled in the East Tennessee mountains.
You’ll find Roan Mountain at the highpoint of the Unaka Range of the Southern Appalachian Mountains where the Cherokee & Pisgah National Forests converge offering extreme elevations and panoramic views. Peak color viewing falls around early October making fall break the perfect time to visit.
For overnight accommodations nestled in the trees, reservations can be made at our cabins or RV and tent campsites.
Tennessee State Parks are home to more than eighty waterfalls, and the fall is a beautiful time to enjoy them. The captivating view of waterfalls framed by fall colors is a must-see. Our campgrounds and cabins are the perfect vacation base for hikes to waterfalls both in and around our parks.
Home to the tallest waterfall in the eastern United States, Fall Creek Falls is a destination known far and wide for its impressive views and waterfalls. This park is a highly sought after destination year-round and overnight accommodations go quick. If you’re looking for an alternative, check out nearby Cumberland Mountain State Park.
For overnight accommodations right on the lake, check out our fisherman cabins. For cabins with lake views check out our landside cabins. Rv and tent campsites are also available.
Parks like Fall Creek Falls and Rock Island can fill up quick year-round. If you were hoping to score a spot at one of these parks to view their impressive waterfalls check out Cumberland Mountain State Park less than an hour away. Ozone Falls, Stinging Fork Falls, and Piney Falls Natural Areas are also within an hour of the park.
For overnight accommodations offering lake views or tucked away in the woods, reservations can be made at our cabins or RV and tent campsites.
Waterside destinations shine just as bright in the fall as they do in the summer. Vibrant reflections of changing leaves bounce off calm lake waters. Riverbanks are covered in warm hues of leaves. Whether you’re looking to take your boat out for a cruise or hop on a Ranger-led pontoon tour, our waterside parks are for you.
This classic Tennessee State Park is known for its bald eagle sightings, towering cypress trees, and eye-opening pontoon tours. White Pelicans steal the show in the fall as they settle into the park during their annual fall migration. Visitors can explore the flooded forest by boat, fish off the docks, or take in the fall colors by the water.
The park offers premium lakeside cabins and RV and tent campsites.
Sitting on the banks of Pickwick Lake, the park is an excellent waterside retreat offering fishing, boating, and lakeside accommodations. The on-site marina offers a variety of boat rentals for those looking to take in the fall colors from the water.
The Lodge at Pickwick Landing offers an all in one vacation destination with private balconies overlooking Pickwick Lake and a restaurant and lounge. Lakeside cabins and RV and tent campsites are also available for reservation.
Chickasaw State Park is a beautiful destination just 20 minutes outside Jackson, Tennessee. A pedestrian bridge spanning Lake Placid provides a beautiful focal point and backdrop for the changing foliage and the stars of the night sky. The park offers lakeside hiking trails and access to nearby forest and wildlife management lands. There are even horseback trails you can access from the park.
Visitors can rent cabins or stay in their choice of several campgrounds. The tent campground overlooks the lake. The newly renovated RV campground and the wrangler campground (for those camping with horses) both offer unique camping experiences.
The ultimate remote destination awaits after a rewarding hike-in. Our backpacking sites offer an immersive experience that advanced adventurers will love. The cooler temperatures in the fall make the hike-in pleasant, while the changing leaves provide a beautiful backdrop to any backcountry site.
Rocky Fork State Park offers access to 2,076 acres of scenic wilderness in Unicoi County, in the southern Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee. The park, located near Johnson City, is 30 minutes removed from the more crowded destinations in Asheville, NC. The park even offers hiking access to the Appalachian Trail.
Backpacking sites are available at the park tucked into the wilderness of the mountains. These sites offer rewarding views for advanced hikers and an authentic state park experience.
The mountain splendor at Frozen Head State Park provides the perfect setting for a backpacking adventure. In the fall, the high elevation and rugged mountain terrain provide incredible views. Located just north of Crossville, this park is a great destination for backpackers coming from Nashville, Cookeville, or Knoxville.
Frozen Head State Park boasts over 50 miles of backpacking trails with designated backcountry campsites available for reservation.
Big Ridge State Park is located 30 minutes outside Knoxville in the Appalachian Ridge and Valley range. The park's diverse trails follow dry ridges, lush hollows, old roadbeds, lakeshores and remnants of early settlements. The backcountry sites require a 2 to 4-mile hike in.
Big Ridge State Park has over 15 miles of hiking trails with designated backcountry campsites available for reservation.
