Hotels in Tennessee

In Tennessee, music isn’t just in the blood; it’s in the mountains, rivers, and plains. From the banjo bluegrass of the Smoky Mountains, to the plaintive cry of the Memphis blues, and on to the heartfelt country twang of Nashville, Tennessee has helped define American music. The Civil War was fiercest here, leaving the state with many battlefield monuments. But this is also a state of undoubted natural beauty, as well as renowned Southern generosity.

Hotels in Tennessee

Many who come to the “Music State” are on a pilgrimage to the hallowed sites that have been so crucial in the history of popular music. This means the range of accommodation in Tennessee for the road trippers is impressive. There are colorful themed motels, there are roadside inns where the jukebox is king, and there are quality chain hotels offering some of the best in Tennessee hotel deals. From honkytonks to juke joints, you’ll also find several venues that combine live music with affordable lodgings, too. In the mountains you may stumble across remote cabin resorts, while many a secluded creek or lake is home to a Tennessee spa hotel.

Things to see in Tennessee

Tennessee is filled with sites connected to legendary musical figures. The Sun Studio at Memphis is perhaps the most renowned. It was here in 1953 that Elvis recorded “That’s All Right,” so starting the rock ’n’ roll revolution. If you prefer your music a deeper shade of blue, Beale Street in downtown Memphis is the place to head. It was the crucible of the Memphis Blues sound in the 1900s, and still hosts many blues clubs. The real home of country music, though, is in Nashville. The Grand Ole Opry was staged at the city's Ryman Auditorium for 30 years. For some outdoor adventure, head to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This 500,000 acres of river, wood, and mountain is ready-made for hiking, biking, and canoeing around. If you want a mix of musical entertainment and thrilling rides, Dollywood—an amusement park themed on country legend Dolly Parton—is hard to beat.

Where to stay in Tennessee

Blues-soaked Memphis has affordable accommodation to suit music fans on all budgets, while Nashville—the state capital and world capital of country music—is bigger and glitzier. With its expanding commercial center and swelling range of retail experiences, those coming for business or a shopping break are well catered for, too. Gatlinburg, gateway to the Smoky Mountains, is a good-value base for family holidays close to the outdoor fun of the National Park, while Knoxville has developed a lively nightlife scene that draws in the younger crowd.

How to get to Tennessee

In Tennessee it can sometimes seem that all roads lead to Nashville. It has 3 interstates linking it to the rest of the U.S.—I-65 running north to south, I-40 running from Memphis in the west to Knoxville in the east, and I-24, taking a northwest to southeast line, and linking Clarksville to Chattanooga. Knoxville is also something of a gateway to the east coast, with I-81 stretching down here from Washington D.C. Memphis and Nashville both have their own well-connected airports, with smaller airports at Knoxville and Chattanooga. There is also a limited Amtrak service to Memphis if you want to travel to Tennessee by train.