Explore The Best Things To Do In Townsend, TN- Local Tips On Food, Attractions, Hikes and Hidden Spots
As East Tennesseans, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is our backyard playground, with Townsend serving as its gateway town for easy adventures.
Located 45 minutes from downtown Knoxville and just minutes from the entrance to the Smoky Mountains, Townsend offers plenty of things to do despite its small size.
It is a great base camp to explore the Smokies for a weekend, stop by after a day hike, or even make it a destination on its own.
Townsend, TN seems delightfully stuck in time, which is a good thing especially when compared to the other busy side of the Smokies– Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg, TN.
You won’t find neon flashing signs or large amusement parks here, but you will find uniquely fun activities for the family, a surprisingly good food scene, and minimal traffic. The town boasts only one traffic light. How about that?
Here are 12 fun things to do in Townsend, TN for the whole family.
Also see our “Our Favorite Restaurants In Townsend” and “Favorite Hikes In the Smokies With Kids.
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Our Favorite Things To Do In Townsend, TN
You’ll find plenty of activities for the family in Townsend and nearby. Here is our list of favorite things to do in this small gateway town to the Smokies.
1. Visit Tuckaleechee Caverns
Escape the heat of the summer, the cold of the winter, or the rainy days of the year with a tour of the “Greatest Site Under the Smokies.”
Tuckaleechee Caverns have been carved over tens of thousands of years and are estimated to be between 20 and 30 million years old.
***P.S. Now is a good time to refresh yourself on “stalagmite” versus “stalactite”!
Explore the huge cave system on a tour that lasts about 90 minutes, walks 1.25 miles, and goes hundreds of feet underground. Discovering the tallest subterranean waterfall in the Eastern U.S. and sitting in a room so big you could fit a football stadium in will be a huge hit with the kids.
Make sure to look for the seismometer in the gift shop. Tuckaleechee hosts one of the most sensitive seismic stations on Earth (per their website) and has been covered by USA Today and NBC News.
They recorded the earthquake that caused the tsunami in Thailand as well as underground nuclear tests in North Korea.
Read more about the seismometer on their website, it is pretty cool.
Important! You need to be able to negotiate stairs to see everything.
Tips
- Wear good shoes – there is more walking than you might think and lots of stairs (did we say that yet?)
- Bring a jacket. The caverns hold a constant underground temperature of 58 degrees year round.
Details
- Closed Dec- Feb but open 7 days a week during the rest of the year.
- In March and November the caverns are open 10am – 5pm; April 1 – Oct 31: 10am – 6 pm
- Make sure to check their website for current hours
2. Little River Tubing In Townsend, TN
No summer trip to the Smokies for us is complete without a day tubing on the river. Floating down the cold Little River in Townsend on a hot summer day is a tradition here.
You’ll find several outfitters on the main drag in Townsend that provide tubes and shuttles, but we have always used Smoky Mountain River Rat. You can even rent a riverfront cabana for a full day of fun on the water.
Smoky Mountain River Rat offers two routes and you can go as many times as you’d like in a day. One route is better for smaller kids and one is a little more adventurous. Plan on about two hours to float depending on water levels.
Be sure to call or check their website for current water levels. It’s no fun to have to stand up and portage your tube through shallow water. Conversely, water levels could be high and fast, especially in spring and early summer or if it has rained a lot recently.
You can also bring your own tubes from home and play on a short section of the river. Float a short way and walk back on the greenway that runs along the main road in Townsend.
There are also some places in the national park where you can tube. You’ll find some pullouts on Tremont Road that work well for this or camp at Elkmont and run the river there. Make sure to check it from land first to make sure all spots look safe.
P.S. See our Complete Guide To Elkmont Campground.
Remember to wear water shoes, and keep in mind that some sections of the river are surprisingly deep so children and people who are not strong swimmers should always wear a life jacket.
People have gotten into trouble on the river because they think it is just waist deep everywhere. Use caution!
3. Little River Railroad And Museum
We like this museum because it’s rich in regional history and it is an excellent short stop for anyone still in their Thomas the Tank Engine phase. Plus, it’s free.
This quaint small museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the Little River Railroad and the Little River Lumber Company, which was founded in 1901 by W. B. Townsend. Sound familiar?
With indoor and outdoor exhibits featuring various artifacts, the museum paints a picture of what life was like in the Smokies before it became the most visited national park in the United States.
The company logged 100, 000 acres of this part of the Smokies and formed the logging camps at Elkmont and Tremont, important areas of the park today.
Kids will love climbing up the stairs to peek inside an old steam locomotive.
Check their website for current museum hours. The museum itself is closed during the winter season, but you can always walk around outside year round. Again, it is free but donations are welcome.
4. Look Rock Tower On The Foothills Parkway
Not technically located in Townsend proper, Look Rock Tower is located about 20 minutes from Townsend on the Foothills Parkway, which is a gorgeous drive just by itself.
This paved 1 mile roundtrip “hike” (it’s more of a short uphill walk) offers extraordinary views of the Smoky Mountains and the valley below.
On a clear day and especially during the fall and winter, the views are remarkable from the viewing platform.
*Pro Tip: Bring a set of binoculars for even more fun.
The trailhead itself is located a few yards east and across the street from the parking area on the left side of the Foothills Parkway when coming from Townsend.
Although it might be a bumpy ride, you could even bring a heavy duty stroller for the tiny tots.
See our blog Hike Look Rock Tower On The Foothills Parkway For Amazing Views for a full description with photos and maps.
5. Chestnut Tops Trail
The Chestnut Tops Trail is the closest hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Townsend as the trailhead is less than a mile from the edge of town.
Located right across the street from the popular “Townsend Y” swimming hole, this hike is an uphill climb with good winter views and excellent spring wildflowers. With a 1500’ elevation gain, it’s probably more suitable for older kids.
We usually hike about 2.5 miles up until it flattens out along the crest with views south to Thunderhead Mountain.
You can also continue on to the end of the trail marked by its intersection with Schoolhouse Gap for an 8.6 mile roundtrip hike. For its proximity to town, it’s a remarkably uncrowded trail.
Other Hikes In The Smokies
Townsend is the perfect gateway town to explore the many, many trails in the Smokies. In addition to the hikes listed above, some other favorites in the area include the Middle Prong Trail and Little Greenbrier School/Walker Sisters Trail.
See Favorite Hikes With Kids In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park for more of our favorite trail recommendations.
6. Townsend Visitor Center And Great Smokies Welcome Center
The Townsend Visitor Center is a great place to check out and not just for recommendations of where to stay and eat. They also have books about the history of the area as well as some by local authors. They often showcase local artisans too.
It’s also worth checking their website for upcoming festivals and events in Townsend like the Hot Air Balloon Festival or Old Timers Day.
Across the street from the Townsend Visitor Center is the brand new Great Smokies Welcome Center, an official welcome center for the national park that is run by Smokies Life (formerly the Great Smoky Mountains Association).
They have all the usual national park swag, plus you can get your required parking permits here for the park.
7. Biking In Townsend, TN
Townsend has a nice paved bike trail called the Townsend Historical Trail that runs the length of the town making a 10 mile loop. It is a fairly scenic ride, especially along the southern half of the trail, although much of the northern half is not much more than a sidewalk next to the road.
But there are excellent restaurants along the way, and the Little River is usually not far away, making for a nice ride overall.
Plus, you can make a few fun stops along the way. Along the trail, you can stop at the Visitor Center, the Little River Railroad Museum, the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum, the Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, and even check out Townsend’s covered bridge and swing bridge.
Read our blog about it What You Need To Know About The Townsend Historical Trail to find out all the details.
If you are into mountain biking, check out Vee Hollow. It is free to ride and has 14 miles of trail ranging from green to black. And they just opened a bike rental shop that carries e-mtn bikes, kids bikes, and greenway cruisers.
8. Fly Fishing In the Smokies
There are over 800 miles of fishable trout streams in Great Smoky Mountains National Park alone. Little River Outfitters in Townsend is a family-owned fly shop and school and can hook you up with all you need.
They even offer free fly fishing and fly tying classes. Check the schedule on their website.
9. Parkway Drive-In Movie Theater
For some good old-fashioned fun, head back towards Maryville to catch a double feature at the Parkway Drive-in. One admission gets you into both movies (if you can stay up that late- the second movie doesn’t start until midnight sometimes).
The drive-in only operates spring through fall and is one of the most fun ways to spend a Friday or Saturday night. See current movies on their website.
Gates generally open at 7pm and movies start about 40 minutes after sunset. Cars start lining up to enter before 7pm, so don’t be late. Bring a frisbee or book to hang out with before the movie starts.
Most movies cost $10 per adult and $5 kids 4-12 for first run movies. If they are showing old movies, like a Halloween fright night, they often charge by the car. Entrance tickets are cash only so be prepared.
They do have a concession stand with burgers, hot dogs, candy, popcorn, fountain drinks, etc and the concession stand accepts credit and debit cards. It is just the front gate that only takes cash.
Located at 2909 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy, 20 minutes from Townsend.
10. Eat At Peaceful Side Social
The great outdoors always makes us hungry! If you’ve just finished a hike in the park or just want to hang out with good food, drinks, and views, Peaceful Side Social is our favorite place to go.
With a fantastic patio, tv’s to watch UT Football games, and even a play area for the little ones, the Peaceful Side Social Brewery and Craft Kitchen is our go to spot in Townsend for family meals. And the food is terrific!
We often stop in for their nice selection of appetizers like the Appalachian Trail charcuterie board or truffle fries along with a cold beer or glass of wine. But they also offer plenty of entrees to enjoy a tasty meal.
The main restaurant is known for their fantastic pizzas but offers plenty of other options including one of my favorites- the half-roasted chicken with herb-roasted potatoes. The pop-up taco bar outside on the patio has more limited hours so be sure to check their website for current hours.
They’ve also recently opened the Peaceful Side Creamery next door if you want to cap off your dining experience with an ice cream cone. Doesn’t get any better!
See our blog “Where To Eat in Townsend” for more of our favorite restaurants.
11. Walk Across All Of The Pedestrian Bridges In Townsend
This is a bit of an unusual one but always a popular one in our family. There are two swinging bridges and one covered bridge in Townsend and each one is fun to explore.
There is a swinging bridge by the Townsend Abbey and another just as you come into town on Hwy 321.
The covered bridge (which is called Sunshine after the community on that side of the bridge) is also near the entrance to town and is located right at the start of the Townsend Historical Trail.
12. Explore The Townsend River Walk & Arboretum
If flowers are your thing or you enjoy a quiet walk in the woods, then stop by the lovely Townsend River Walk & Arboretum. You can walk the short trail along the Little River that takes you through the arboretum with its signed trees and detour over to the bluebell trail if you are here in spring to see those gorgeous flowers.
There is also an azalea garden, a pollinator garden, a roadside garden, and my favorite, a fairy garden for children to play in that has become quite the community project.
How to get to the River Walk: Park at Tuckaleechee Campground Church and walk to the nearest pedestrian tunnel under the roadway to get to the River Walk. You then walk a loop using the Greenway along the road to see the top half and then walk through the arboretum along the river. See the map below in the gallery.
Need Help Planning Your Trip To The Smokies?
Check out our Smokies page to see all of our favorite places in the park we love so much – best hikes, favorite campgrounds, biking Cades Cove, lodging, and more!
Check out our guide on Amazon for lodging, hiking recommendations, and more fun activities for the family: Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Kids: A Local’s Guide.
I hope you have a great time exploring Townsend and the Smoky Mountains! Happy Trails – Amy
We was wondering if there is something to do for fun for handicap people. I myself am on a electric mobile scooter.
And we was wondering if you can recommend a area or hotels that where we can stay that are handicap accessible and where we can leave our car at night and just walk and ride mobility scooter go out for dinner.
Thank you,
Michael Durr.
Hi! Yes, I can recommend some places that are handicap accessible. In fact there is a handicap accessible park along the river in Townsend, called the Special People’s Park. It has a ramp down to the water but I heard it was closed at the end of April because flood waters had damaged it and I have not heard yet if it has been repaired but you can still visit the top part I believe. Other things I would think about doing are visiting Cades Cove for a drive around to see its natural beauty. I would go at 8am or in the late afternoon to avoid the worst of the crowds. The Smoky Mountain Heritage Center would be a worth a visit and I believe they are ADA compliant (but again I would call to make sure). The Heritage Center also does a guided tour of Cades Cove on their bus which I have heard is very good.
The covered bridge in Townsend is very picturesque and there are no stairs to access it.
As far as places to stay, the Highland Manor Inn mentions that it is ADA compliant on its website so I would contact them. From there it is about 0.7 mile to Peaceful Side Social, a terrific restaurant, along the greenway and there is a pedestrian tunnel under Hwy 321.
I hope that helps! If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thanks!- Amanda