Waterfalls in Middle Tennessee: What to See and Where to Stay
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A cascading waterfall drops into a shallow pool surrounded by green trees

Tennessee is home to hundreds of waterfalls, and some of the most picturesque are located within state parks in middle Tennessee. To help you plan your waterfall-chasing adventure, we've listed where to spend the night when visiting eight of the most popular waterfalls.

Tips for Visiting

Visiting waterfalls can be an amazing experience, but it's crucial to prioritize safety and preserve the natural beauty for everyone to enjoy. We kindly ask that you keep these tips in mind during your visit:

  • Stay on developed trails and don’t stray from observation decks and platforms.
  • Follow all posted signage.
  • Pack out everything you bring in with you.
  • Wear appropriate water shoes and watch for slick rocks.
  • Children and weak swimmers should wear a personal floatation device.
  • Do not jump off waterfalls or dive into plunge pools.
Cascading waterfall in a lush, shadowy forest setting.

Machine Falls

The crisp and photogenic Machine Falls is a secluded 60-foot waterfall one hour from Nashville inside Short Springs State Natural Area. The scenic hike to the falls is a 5-mile loop with plenty of spur trails along the way for extra exploration. There is a viewing platform above the falls and an option to hike to the base where you'll find crystal-clear water swirlling in shallow pools.

Where to stay when visiting Machine Falls? 

  • Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park

    Distance: 20 minutes 
    Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park offers 50 campsites for RVs and tents with water and electric hookups. During your stay, hike, chase waterfalls, enjoy a picnic, and learn about the area’s history. 

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  • Tims Ford State Park

    Distance: 30 minutes 
    Tims Ford State Park offers campsites for RVs and tents. During your stay, enjoy boating, paddling, hiking, and golfing.

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Aerial view of a waterfall cascading into a river within a lush green forest.

Burgess Falls

Located on the Falling Water River inside Burgess Falls State Park, the hike to Burgess Falls provides views of four waterfalls that cascade down from over 250 feet in elevation. The last of these falls, Burgess Falls, is the most spectacular, plunging more than 130 feet into the gorge. The park’s River Trail will lead you to the top of the falls, where you can explore and dip your feet in the crisp river waters. If you’re looking to reach the base of the waterfall, you’ll have to paddle in. During the warmer months, the park offers a few guided kayaking trips that can be reserved using the park's upcoming event calendar. You can also rent kayaks through local outfitters or put in your kayak at a nearby access point.  

Where to stay when visiting Burgess Falls?

  • Edgar Evins State Park

    Distance: 35 minutes
    Edgar Evins State Park sits on the shores of Center Hill Lake, offering unique wooden platform campsites for RVs and tents, as well as cozy cabins. The park also offers hiking, mountain biking, boating, fishing, and easy access to paddling outfitters on the Caney Fork River.  

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  • Rock Island State Park

    Distance: 30 minutes
    Ten beautiful cabins sit on a quiet loop inside Rock Island State Park, surrounded by multiple waterfalls such as Twin Falls and Great Falls. Their inviting porches and spacious split-level interiors make visitors feel right at home. Each cabin offers three bedrooms, making them ideal for family vacations. The park also offers campsites for RVs and tent-only campsites.

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Autumn waterfall cascading over layered rocky cliffs into a serene pool.

Cummins Falls

Cummins Falls is the eighth-largest waterfall in Tennessee, standing 75 feet tall inside Cummins Falls State Park. You can observe the falls from above or obtain a Gorge Access Permit and make the strenuous hike to the base, where you can explore the falls up close and take a dip in the refreshing swimming hole.

Where to stay when visiting Cummins Falls?

  • Edgar Evins State Park

    Distance: 35 minutes
    Edgar Evins State Park sits on the shores of Center Hill Lake, offering cozy cabins and unique wooden platform campsites for RVs and tents. The park also offers hiking, mountain biking, boating, fishing, and easy access to paddling outfitters on the Caney Fork River.

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  • Standing Stone State Park

    Distance: 30 minutes
    Standing Stone is a smaller state park known for its beautiful scenery, spring wildflowers, and family-friendly layout. The park offers cabins that can accommodate multiple group sizes and campsites for RVs and tents. During your stay, enjoy paddling, fishing, and hiking.

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Autumn waterfall cascading into a serene pond surrounded by rocky cliffs and colorful leaves.

Ozone Falls

Ozone Falls plunges 110 feet over a sandstone cap rock into a deep, rock-strewn pool inside Ozone Falls State Natural Area. The falls then disappear underground, re-emerging several yards downstream. An impressive rock house “amphitheater” provides the backdrop for the falls. Because of its picturesque beauty and easy access, Ozone Falls was selected for filming scenes for the movie “Jungle Book.” 

Where to stay when visiting Ozone Falls?

Cumberland Mountain State Park


Distance: 20 minutes
Cumberland Mountain State Park offers cabins of various sizes, camping for RVs and tents, and an on-site restaurant. During your stay, you can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and paddling. 


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Aerial view of twin waterfalls cascading into a rocky pond surrounded by lush greenery.

Fall Creek Falls

Fall Creek Falls is the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi, standing 250 feet tall inside Fall Creek Falls State Park. Its impressive size and beauty draw millions of visitors to the park every year from across the world. You can observe the falls from an overlook or hike the nearly 300-foot descent to the base on the Base of Fall Creek Falls Trail. If you’d like to take the scenic route, hop on the Woodland Trail starting at the Betty Dunn Nature Center and follow it all the way to the base. Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to take a refreshing dip in the plunge pool beneath Cane Creek Cascades before crossing a suspension bridge to continue your hike.  

Where to stay when visiting Fall Creek Falls?

  • Fall Creek Falls State Park

    A resort-style lodge, lakefront cabins, and cozy campsites are available at Fall Creek Falls State Park to fit any traveler’s style. The Lodge offers spacious hotel rooms, an on-site restaurant, and a heated outdoor pool. Fisherman Cabins on the lake and Landside Cabins in the woods are also available and are within walking distance of the restaurant and lodge pool. The park’s RV and tent campsites are plentiful, and over 90 sites offer full hookups.  

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  • Rock Island State Park

    Distance: 40 minutes 
    Ten beautiful cabins sit on a quiet loop inside Rock Island State Park. Their inviting porches and spacious split-level interiors make visitors feel right at home. Each cabin offers three bedrooms, making them ideal for family vacations. The park also offers campsites for RVs and tent-only campsites.

    Learn More

  • Cumberland Mountain State Park

    Distance: 50 minutes 
    Cumberland Mountain State Park offers cabins of various sizes, camping for RVs and tents, and an on-site restaurant. During your stay, you can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and paddling.

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Lush waterfall cascading into a serene pool with a single swimmer.

Greeter Falls

Greeter Falls is a highly visited waterfall destination and swimming hole in Savage Gulf State Park. It drops over a 15-foot upper ledge and then plummets over a 50-foot lower ledge into a cold, clear plunge pool. You can explore the upper falls area, where you'll find large boulders to lounge on while enjoying the rushing river sounds. At the lower falls, you can swim and enjoy waterfall views. 

Where to stay when visiting Greeter Falls?

  • Savage Gulf State Park

    While Savage Gulf State Park offers nine backcountry campsites throughout the park, they should only be reserved by those with the experience to reach them safely. Hiking is required to reach all campgrounds within Savage Gulf. That means you can’t drive your car to the campsite and must carry all of your camping gear to the site. Also, water must be filtered from natural sources or packed in.  

    If you have the gear and experience to reach the backcountry sites at Savage Gulf, we recommend reserving a campsite at Alum Gap Campground, as it is the closest campground to Greeter Falls. Reservations are required and can be made online.  

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  • Fiery Gizzard State Park

    Distance: 15 - 35 minutes  
    If you’re looking for a drive-up campsite, Foster Falls Campground at Fiery Gizzard State Park is for you. This campground offers sites for tents and a bathhouse with hot showers. There is no electricity or water at these campsites. The park also offers opportunities to chase waterfalls, rock climb, and swim. 

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Waterfall cascading into a serene forest pond surrounded by rocky cliffs.

Foster Falls

Foster Falls is a spectacular 60-foot waterfall located in Fiery Gizzard State Park. In the warmer months, visitors flock to the deep pool below the falls to cool off with a swim. The best time to catch the falls at their full potential is during the wetter months of winter and spring. 

Where to stay when visiting Foster Falls?

  • Fiery Gizzard State Park

    The Foster Falls Campground at Fiery Gizzard State Park offers drive-up sites for tents and a bathhouse with hot showers. There is no electricity or water at these campsites.  

    The park also offers three backcountry campgrounds. Hiking is required to reach each backcountry campsite at the park, meaning you can’t drive your car to the site and must carry in all camping gear. Also, water must be filtered from natural sources or carried in. If you have the gear and experience to reach the backcountry sites safely, we recommend reserving a campsite at Father Adamz Campground, as it is the closest campground to Foster Falls. Reservations are required and can be made online.

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  • Tims Ford State Park

    Distance: 1 hour  
    Tims Ford State Park offers campsites for RVs and tents. During your stay, enjoy boating, paddling, hiking, and golfing.

    Learn More
Lush waterfall cascading over rocky ledges into a serene river.

Twin Falls

Twin Falls is a massive waterfall, the size of which can only be realized when standing beside it and hearing its incredible roar. It is the largest waterfall at Rock Island State Park, standing 80 feet tall. You can view the waterfall from a distance at the parking lot at the end of Powerhouse Road or take the Downstream Trail to the base. When the water levels are low, a bank of rocks in front of the falls is accessible, allowing you to get up close and feel the cool mist. You can also kayak to the base of Twin Falls by putting in at the park’s beach launch. 

While you’re at the park, you’ll also want to check out Great Falls, a horseshoe-shaped waterfall that looks like a smaller Niagara Falls. You can view Great Falls from an overlook at the Mill House parking lot or hike into the Caney Fork River Gorge and rock hop to the base.  

Where to stay when visiting Twin Falls?

  • Rock Island State Park

    Ten beautiful cabins sit on a quiet loop inside Rock Island State Park. Their inviting porches and spacious split-level interiors make visitors feel right at home. Each cabin offers three bedrooms, making them ideal for family vacations. The park also offers campsites for RVs and tent-only campsites.

    Learn More

  • Fall Creek Falls State Park

    Distance: 40 minutes  
    A resort-style lodge, lakefront cabins, and cozy campsites are available at Fall Creek Falls State Park to fit any traveler’s style. The Lodge offers spacious hotel rooms, an on-site restaurant, and a heated outdoor pool. Fisherman Cabins on the lake and Landside Cabins in the woods are also available and are within walking distance of the restaurant and lodge pool. The park’s RV and tent campsites are plentiful, and over 90 sites offer full hookups. While you’re at the park, hike to the base of the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi, kayak among playful otters, and watch the sunset from a secluded overlook.

    Learn More

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