The 10 Best Fall Weekend Getaways Near Knoxville, TN

It’s Fall Y’all! Check Out Beautiful Fall Colors And Fun Autumn Activities Like Hiking And Apple Picking In These 10 Destinations

Fall might just be my favorite time of year in East Tennessee. The mountains put on such a show of color and I love the crispness of a fall morning on a hike. Plus, mosquitoes go away so hurray!

I picked these 10 fall weekend getaway destinations out of a long list of places that we return to again and again because these spots are particularly good for fall. (Some are just great anytime of year.)

These destinations are the best fall weekend getaways near Knoxville because they have one or more of the following: spectacular drives to see fall colors, fun hikes through autumn leaves or to awesome overlooks, great campgrounds, cool scenic train rides, or fun fall activities like apple picking.

And they are all within a few hours drive (except the last one which is about 5 hours but well worth it!)

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10 Favorite Fall Getaways Near Knoxville

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

• 45 min- 1 hour from Knoxville

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was a “gimme” living in Knoxville. We are so lucky to have a national park right on our doorstep and one that does a pretty awesome fall show at that.

Fun Fall Things To Do In The Smokies

• Drive the Foothills Parkway to see terrific overlooks of the mountains and all their fall colors. Walk up to Look Rock Tower for a 360 view.

• Hike a trail with great views, such as Alum Cave or Mount LeConte, or just tromp through leaves on an easy trail like Middle Prong, Anthony Creek, or one of our other favorite hikes with kids in the Smokies.

• Camp at Elkmont, Smokemont, Deep Creek, or Cades Cove campgrounds and enjoy roasting marshmallows over a campfire when it’s not 90 degrees out.

• Go elk watching to see the fall rut at Oconaluftee or Cataloochee. Just remember to stay in your car and give the elk a wide berth!

See our Smokies webpage for all the things to see, easy hiking trails, campground reviews, and more!

2. Townsend, Tennessee

• 45 minutes from Knoxville

Townsend, TN, a quiet small town located right at one of the Tennessee entrances to the Smokies, Townsend is a great weekend destination in its own right.

Nicknamed the “Peaceful Side Of The Smokies,” it has just enough restaurants and lodgings to give you choices without being crowded or too touristy. Plus, easy access to one of the most beautiful areas of the park with amazing fall colors- Cades Cove.

Fall Things To Do In Townsend, TN

• Bike the Townsend Historical Trail, a 10 mile greenway through town, and enjoy the views of the mountains around you. Be sure to stop at the steam engine museum, cross the swinging bridges, and grab an ice cream from the Peaceful Side Creamery.

• Drive around Cades Cove. Situated at the entrance closest to Cades Cove, Townsend makes a great base for exploring this side of the park. Just make sure to give plenty of time as this is a popular activity and traffic can be bad on the one- way, 11 mile loop road. Get there at sunrise when the gates open to beat the traffic.

• Go for a fall hike. The best trails near Townsend are Walker Sisters Cabin, Schoolhouse Gap, Chestnut Top, Middle Prong, Spruce Flats Falls, Anthony Creek, or the short section of Rich Mountain Loop that leads between the entrance to Cades Cove and the John Oliver Cabin. Read the details in our Favorite Hikes With Kids in the Smokies.

• Check out the Fall Heritage Festival at the Townsend Event Center that covers all things Appalachia – bluegrass and mountain music, arts & crafts, clogging, square dancing, and more. This is a big festival that goes all day Friday & Sat.

• Eat at the outside patios at Peaceful Side Social or The Abbey to enjoy mountain views with your delicious meal at these yummy local favorites. Or get a fall cocktail at Company Distilling (a family-friendly place that also has a great patio).
• See our Where To Eat In Townsend for more info on our favorite places to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• For overnights, we love Dancing Bear Lodge. See our Best Places To Stay In Townsend for our hotel, cabin, and lodge “best picks.”

Townsend is a really fun destination! See our Local’s Guide To Townsend for all the fun things to do.

3. Cherohala Skyway

• 1 hr 10 min from Knoxville

One of the top scenic drives in the US, the Cherohala Skyway is a spectacular highway thru the Cherokee and Nantahala Forests (hence the name “Cherohala”). It has multiple gorgeous overlooks and several hikes just off the road that we love.

There is a wonderful, family-friendly campground called Indian Boundary along the Cherohala as well as a historic lodge not far away and several cabin rentals in the area also.

So lots of choices on lodging for any size family. And don’t miss a stop at Tellico Grains Bakery for lunch or to get food for a picnic.

Fall Things To Do Along The Cherohala Skyway

• Drive the skyway (obvi) and ogle the tremendous views of the mountains decked out in yellows and reds. Learn the best stops here in our Guide to the Cherohala Skyway.

• Camp at Indian Boundary Recreation Area or stay at the nearby historic Tapoco Lodge. Other choices would be a cabin near Robbinsville at the NC end of the Cherohala Skyway.

• Take short hike up to Huckleberry Bald to get fantastic 360 views. People bring kites or blankets for a picnic and basically hang out for a few hours to enjoy the day.

• Stop in at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, one of the only stands of never-logged, old growth trees in Appalachia. You will marvel at the massive size of these trees and imagine that’s what all the Smokies used to look like.

To find out more about the Cherohala Skyway, including how long it takes to drive and all the stops along it that are worth making time for, check out our Complete Guide to the Cherohala Skyway.

4. Johnson City, TN

• 1 hr 35 min from Knoxville

Johnson City might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think “weekend getaway” from Knoxville, but it has a lot to offer, especially for families with younger kids.

Because ETSU (East Tennessee State University) is in Johnson City, you’ll find more restaurants downtown than you might think.

Its close proximity to the mountains means you’ll have plenty of chances to see fall colors as well as easy access to some hikes.

Fall Things To Do In Johnson City

• Hike along the Appalachian Trail from Carvers Gap to a bald with fabulous 360 views. This is probably the easiest hike to an amazing view that you can do in the Southeast.

• Go apple-picking at Jarrett’s Apple Orchard near Roan Mountain State Park. They also have a pumpkin patch where the kids can pick out their own Halloween pumpkin.

• Bike the Tweetsie Trail between Johnson City and Elizabethton, a rails-to-trails ride through forest and farmland, with bucolic views of Happy Valley.
• Stay at the Carnegie Hotel, a boutique hotel located about 1.5 miles from downtown shops and restaurants.

If you want more details like where to stay, best restaurants, and what section of the Tweetsie Trail is the best, check out our complete 3 day itinerary for a weekend in Johnson City

5. Big South Fork National River And Recreation Area

• 1 hr 30 min- 2 hours from Knoxville

Part of the national park service but far less well known than the nearby Smokies, Big South Fork is a wonderful place to get away from it all.

Full of impressive rock formations and waterfalls plus the gorge formed by the south fork of the Cumberland River (giving the park its name), this park is an excellent place to see spectacular views of fall colors and has some of my favorite hikes in the southeast.

Fall Things To Do In Big South Fork

• Drive to some of the best overlooks of the gorge and admire the views of miles of undeveloped hardwood forests in all their autumn glory. There are several in the park as well as a historic train trestle across the river at Blue Heron.

• Take a scenic train ride on the Big South Fork Scenic Railway train as it follows along its historic train line to the former mining camp of Blue Heron. Ranked by Southern Living as one of the top scenic train rides for spotting fall foliage, this is a kid and adult favorite.

• Camp in one of the 5 campgrounds found in Big South Fork and enjoy cooler fall temps around a big campfire with s’mores and ghost stories.

• Spend the night at the unique, hike-in Charit Creek Lodge. Only reachable by foot or by horse, this lodge provides comfy beds, bathrooms, and delicious food, all by candlelight and solar lanterns. There is no electricity and I promise you won’t miss it! (* This is probably one of my favorite things to do in Big South Fork and I go every year.)

• Hike one of the fabulous trails, ranging from easy beginner level to long, multi-day hikes. Twin Arches Loop and the Blue Heron Loop are two of my favorite hikes in Big South Fork.

• Go horseback riding in this very horse- friendly park. A couple of the campgrounds are set up specifically for horses and many of the trails are horse- friendly. If you don’t have your own 4 legged ride, a couple of stables in the area offer guided treks.

If you think Big South Fork sounds right up your alley, then check out these blogs to get lots more information about the park.

• 11 Things To Do In Big South Fork
• Find Out Why Charit Creek Is An Unforgettable Family Adventure
• 12 Of Our Favorite Big South Fork Hiking Trails
• Find Your Perfect Vacation Cabin Rental In Big South Fork
• Camping In Big South Fork- 5 Campgrounds To Choose From
• Exploring Echoes Of The Past In Fascinating Blue Heron, Kentucky

If Big South Fork doesn’t work out, you can also try Pickett State Park which is adjacent to Big South Fork and has cozy historic CCC cabins you can rent. Or Frozen Head State Park, which is an hour south of the park and has a great fire tower you can hike to for tremendous views as well as a fascinating historic prison you can tour.

6. Brevard, North Carolina

• 2 hr 20 min from Knoxville

A cute mountain town that seems to be off the radar for most people, Brevard’s claim to fame is being the filming site for some of the Hunger Games movies’ most famous scenes.

You can hike to several of the spots you’ll recognize from the movies, making it interesting for kids that loved the movies.

Besides movie fame, Brevard also has great hiking, a quaint downtown with cute stores and restaurants, and lots of mountain biking nearby as well.

Fall Things To Do In Brevard

• Explore nearby Dupont State Forest, the site of the Hunger Games filming, with a fall hike to Triple Falls and High Falls. There is also a very picturesque covered bridge crying out to be photographed with autumn leaves behind it.

• Go for a drive on the breath-taking Blue Ridge Parkway, just 30 min from Brevard. Be sure to stop at the Art Loeb trail and hike to Black Balsam Knob for spectacular views from that bald.

• Spend the afternoon at family-friendly Sierra Nevada Brewing sampling some of their tasty fall brews, playing bocce ball, hanging out around the firepit, or enjoying the free live music on Saturday and Sunday afternoons while eating a meal.

• Take more photographs and appreciate possibly the most scenic chapel venue in the US with a visit to Symmes Chapel, just 30 minutes from Brevard.
• Vacation rentals downtown put you within walking distance to shops and restaurants, while cozy mountain cabins near DuPont State Forest are close to easy waterfall hikes.

If a visit to Brevard sounds right up your alley, then check out our blog post about a Weekend Getaway To Brevard. It has detailed information about all the things mentioned above, plus where to stay and where to eat.

7. Asheville, North Carolina

• 1 hr 45 min from Knoxville

If a bigger city that still has great access to fall scenery is more what you are looking for, then Asheville is your place.

You can explore downtown Asheville with its interesting shops, tasty restaurants, unique art galleries, and famous craft breweries for days on end (trust us, we have done this), but the mountains are only minutes away too.

Hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway less than 7 miles out of town for access to scenic views and great hikes.

Fall Things To Do In Asheville

• Go for a scenic drive on the epic Blue Ridge Parkway. Get on south or west of town (it’s less than 7 miles either away) and head in either direction for as long as you want.

• Go for a fall hike through the leaves that also takes in scenic views. There are fantastic short hikes at Craggy Gardens (about 45 min away on the Blue Ridge Parkway) or at Mount Mitchell, the tallest point east of the Mississippi (an hour away on the Blue Ridge Parkway). Hiking up to Fryingpan Lookout Tower (40 minutes away on the Parkway) is another great place to see 360 views of the mountains.

• Go elk-watching in Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (about an hour away). Fall is a great time to see the elk rut in the beautiful valley of Cataloochee, one of the less crowded areas of the park.

• Tour Biltmore Estate. While not cheap (tickets can run $90 or more), the house is truly gorgeous and the enormous gardens and surrounding 8,000 acres are impressively landscaped. There are 20+ miles of hiking and biking trails through the grounds so you could easily spend a day here exploring. And you can bet it will be luxuriously decorated for fall.

• Go apple-picking. There are quite a few to choose from around Asheville but these are a few of our favorites and are all less than 40 minutes from town: Stepp Apples, Justus Orchard, and Skytop Orchard.
• Aloft Hotel downtown is our first choice, and and Renaissance Asheville is usually my “go to” for price point.

For more detailed information about Asheville, check out our 3 day itinerary to this fun city. We’ve got recommendations for our favorite restaurants, places to stay, and things to do so all you have to do is book and go.

8. Abingdon, Virginia

• 2 hr 15 min from Knoxville

The big draw in Abingdon is the Virginia Creeper Trail, a 34 mile, gorgeous rails-to-trails project that is very popular because the first half is completely downhill. No joke, you will rarely have to pedal. The kiddos love it.

But Abingdon itself is worth a visit too. It has a quaint Main Street with brick sidewalks, some terrific restaurants, and the historic Barter Theater. A stay at the The Martha Washington Inn is a worthy splurge.

And even better, the wild ponies and beautiful scenery of Grayson Highlands State Park is not far away as well.

Fall Things To Do In Abingdon

• Bike the Virginia Creeper Trail. Most people drive over to Damascus to rent bikes and catch a shuttle up to Whitetop, VA and coast back down to Damascus on that 17 mile, all downhill stretch of trail. But you can also rent bikes in Abingdon and ride through the more rolling farmland between Abingdon and Damascus. Or rent in Abingdon, catch a shuttle up to Whitetop, and ride the whole 34 miles back to Abingdon. Any way you go, it is a fantastic ride.

• Drive over to Grayson Highlands State Park (an hour away) to hike with the wild ponies and enjoy the fall colors from some terrific overlooks. There are great easy hikes in this state park that we love to do, and staying in yurt there is a blast. (see our review).

• Go for a short hike to fantastic views at Buzzard Rock in the Mount Rogers Recreation Area. You can do a 6.6 mile roundtrip hike or shorten it to 2 miles up to this beautiful mountain bald where you get awesome views of the fall colors.

If Abingdon sounds like a neat place that you’d love to explore more, check out our Abingdon Guide that has all detailed information about the activities mentioned above that you could want. Maps, hotel recommendations, where to eat, biking the Virginia Creeper Trail, etc.

9. Bryson City, NC

• 2 hr 30 min from Knoxville

Bryson City is an outdoor adventure paradise and perfect for a fall weekend getaway. It has a lovely downtown area to explore with brick buildings and lots of shops, art galleries, restaurants, and cafes. Bryson City is also right on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park so hiking trails are less than 30 minutes away.

The Nantahala Outdoor Center is close by, with mountain biking, and a zipline and ropes course, and even rafting down the famous Nantahala River. (until October and definitely take them up on the wetsuit offer!)

The famous Blue Ridge Parkway is less than 30 minutes away, there is the scenic Smoky Mountain Railway in town, and you can rent a boat to explore nearby Fontana Lake. Like I said, Bryson City is an outdoor mecca!

Fun Fall Things To Do In Bryson City

• Go for a fall hike in the Smokies. The Deep Creek area has a great 3 waterfall loop that’s perfect for families with younger kids or anyone that likes waterfalls. The “Road To Nowhere” is a famous site in the Smokies with a meaningful history to the locals in the area. Kids will just love the giant tunnel they can walk though.

• Ride the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Making their way through either the Nantahala Gorge or along the Tuckaseegee River, any of the train trips offered are perfect opportunities to view fall colors. The station is right in the middle of downtown Bryson City and kids will love to watch the train come through town throughout your stay.

• Spend the day at the NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center). Right on the banks of the Nantahala River, the NOC is an incredibly scenic spot to just hang out by the river nut they also offer lots of outdoor fun – like river rafting, zipline and adventure ropes course, and guided mountain bike rides.

• Go for a hayride or explore the corn maze at Darnell Farms. This family owned farm has lots going on during the fall season, like a bluegrass festival or a haunted corn maze, on top of their everyday hayrides, regular corn maze, and pumpkin patch.

• Go for a fall drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I know I have mentioned the parkway in a lot of these destinations but it truly is a gorgeous drive when you hit it at the peak of fall colors. You’ll be pulling off at every overlook to take pictures. The southern end of the parkway is located just 25 min away, on the other side of Cherokee, NC.

• Go look for elk at Oconaluftee Visitor Center. The field next to the Visitor Center and Farm Museum is one of the elk herd’s favorite places to hang out in the the Smokies (the other being Cataloochee Valley). I have had good luck spotting them here but remember to keep a safe distance as fall is the rut and they can get aggressive.
• Try the Aloft in the Smokies, Calhoun House Inn & Suites, or the Historic Hazel House – Downtown Bryson City for downtown convenience. 

Bryson City is one of our main go-to weekend getaway spots for all the reasons mentioned above and many more that we cover in our 3 day itinerary. It has maps of trails, where to stay recommendations (including our favorites from years of staying here), and the best places to eat in town.

10. Shenandoah National Park

• 5 hr – 5 hr 45 min from Knoxville

At 5+ hours away, Shenandoah is definitely the farthest destination on my list but I promise you it is well worth it.

I love this national park for its spectacular Skyline Drive through the park and I think it has the easiest trails to astounding views of almost any park I have been to.

You can camp here, stay in a historic lodge, go hiking, just drive through the park, or visit some of the area farms for fresh apples or pick out a pumpkin. It is a beautiful area that I love to spend a weekend visiting.

I hope you get a chance to take a quick weekend getaway with the family this fall and explore one of these fantastic destinations. We love visiting each of these places as they all have something different to offer, especially during fall. The mountains are at their best during this season so why not get out there and enjoy it! Happy Trails! – Amanda