Tennessee State Parks

1. Andrew Johnson National Historic Site

The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in Greeneville that honors Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States. One of the many historical national park sites honoring President Johnson, the park spans 16 acres and features three sections, namely the Andrew Johnson Homestead showcasing his two homes, the Andrew Johnson Visitor Complex, and the Andrew Johnson National Cemetery, where he is buried.

The Andrew Johnson Visitor Complex has a modern visitor's center and museum, and the President’s tailor shop and visitors can watch a show movie about his time in Greeneville. Johnson became president after Lincoln was assassinated and ran the country from 1865 to 1869, during which time he attempted to reunify a nation torn by civil war.

Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, 101 N College St, Greeneville, TN 37743, Phone: 423-638-3551

2. Chickasaw State Park

Surrounded by over 14,000 acres of state forest, Chickasaw State Park is a 1,280-acre state park located in Chester County that includes Lake Placid. Named for the Chickasaw Indians who once called West Tennessee and North Mississippi home, Chickasaw State Park is situated on some of the highest ground in west Tennessee and offers a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy, including over four miles of easy to moderate hiking trails, mountain biking trails and bicycle-friendly roads, and boating on Lake Placid. The park has several historical lodging options for overnight stays, as well as an RV campground equipped with water and electrical hookups, a 29-site tent campground, and a wrangler campground for visitors traveling with horses. All the campsites have amenities such as modern bathhouses with hot showers and restroom facilities, picnic tables and grills, and a playground for children.

Chickasaw State Park, 4128, 20 Cabin Ln, Henderson, TN 38340, Phone: 731-989-5141

3. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

The Cumberland Gap National Historical Park was established to preserve the Cumberland Gap, a famous pass through the Cumberland Mountains where the borders of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia meet. Eroded by wind and water, the Cumberland Gap forms a significant break in the formidable Appalachian Mountain chain, and its breathtaking beauty has been immortalized by artists, poets, novelists, historians, and songwriters throughout the ages. The Gap was first used by large game animals in their migratory journeys, followed by Native Americans, and finally by the settlers of the nation when it saw more than 300,000 people cross between 1775 and 1810.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, 91 Bartlett Park Road, Middlesboro, KY 40965, Phone: 606-248-2817

4. Cumberland Mountain State Park

Cumberland Mountain State Park is a 1,720-acre state park in Cumberland County that is situated around the man-made Byrd Lake, which was created by the impoundment of Byrd Creek in the 1930s. Located on the Cumberland Plateau, Cumberland Mountain State Park was first established in 1938 to provide a recreational area for over 250 families that were given land to homestead on the Cumberland Plateau. Today, the park still offers a wealth of recreational activities, including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, boating, swimming, picnicking and interpretive nature programs. Cumberland Mountain State Park has several overnight accommodation options, ranging from camping to fully-furnished cabins, and features a favorite area restaurant and separate recreation hall that can accommodate up to 250 people.

Cumberland Mountain State Park, 1125, 24 Office Dr, Crossville, TN 38555, Phone: 931-484-6138

5. Cummins Falls State Park

Cummins Falls State Park is peaceful, rugged 282-acre day-use park located northwest of Cookeville in Jackson County that is home to Cummins Falls, Tennessee’s eighth largest waterfall which is set on the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River on the Eastern Highland Rim and is 75-foot high. Located in the Cordell Hull Watershed, the park offers a variety of outdoor recreational activities such as swimming, picnicking, and hiking on trail routes to the gorge and base of the waterfall. The river provides good wade and bank fishing for bass and Bluegill, and the park has a primitive picnic area located across the road from the parking lot.

Cummins Falls State Park, 390 Cummins Falls Lane, Cookeville, TN 38501, Phone: 931-520-6691