While hiking opportunities abound in Tennessee’s state parks, waterfalls in those parks give you the opportunity to explore nature in a different way. These waterfall destinations near Nashville hold their own against natural wonders in more exotic spots like Costa Rica or Puerto Rico. Big plus: You don’t need a passport to visit them.

There are many wonderful waterfalls to explore within just a two-hour drive from the city. Pack up your hiking shoes and snacks to head out on a day trip to one (or more) of the best waterfalls near Nashville. 

Burgess Falls

Burgess Falls

Driving distance from Nashville: 1 hour, 35 minutes

Not for faint-of-heart hikers, Burgess Falls in Putnam County is a tougher hike with climbing sections ranging from moderate to very strenuous. The payoff is worth it, though, when you reach cascading Burgess Falls. If you ever get tired of looking at the falls, you can also enjoy bird-watching and fishing.

While visitors can view the main Burgess Falls from the overlook, the stairs down to the falls are closed after a serious 2016 storm that damaged the stairway. To check out the park’s three waterfalls up close, the River Trail/Service Loop Road presents a meandering day hike. 

Cummins Falls

Cummins Falls

Driving distance from Nashville: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Take a quick trip to Cookeville in c and visit Cummins Falls. This is another challenging (and often muddy) hike to the falls, so don’t forget to take along shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty—a stunning waterfall means lots of mud, too. There’s also the added fun of a swimming hole for cooling off once you’re done hiking and waterfall watching.

Fall Creek Falls

Fall Creek Falls

Driving distance from Nashville: 2 hours

Fall in love with Fall Creek Falls at Tennessee’s largest state park, Fall Creek Falls State Park, just two hours from Nashville in Pikeville. You can’t swim in Fall Creek Falls, but this waterfall boasts a 256-foot plunge and the title of highest waterfall in the eastern United States. This park also offers up three spectacular falls plus Cane Creek Gorge, a swinging suspension bridge and wide range of hiking trails and camping options.

Fancher Falls

Fancher Falls photo courtesy of toyman011

Driving distance from Nashville: 1 hour, 45 minutes

Most waterfalls in Tennessee State Parks only require your feet to find them. But Fancher Falls is the exception to the park hiking pathways—reaching the falls is only accessible by a short boat ride around Center Hill Lake. This nature adventure is in Sparta, Tennessee, just a short trip from Nashville.

Foster Falls

Foster Falls

Driving distance from Nashville: 1 hour, 45 minutes

An hour away from Nashville in Sequatchie, Foster Falls of South Cumberland State Park features two Instagram-worthy waterfalls with easier hikes and popular climbing paths along with camping and swimming options (Blue Hole) and the infamous Fiery Grizzard Tale that meanders through the park.

Ozone Falls

Ozone Falls photo courtesy of pulaw

Driving distance from Nashville: 1 hour, 50 minutes

If you’re looking for an escape to nature, the short drive to Crossville is rewarded with a view of Ozone Falls. Like many of the other waterfall destinations, Ozone Falls is surrounded by a cooling waterhole for swimming after waterfall watching. Hiking to the bottom can take a little effort, so plan ahead with the right footwear and enough time to complete the hike. Even Disney thinks this is a destination spot—it filmed parts of their live action “Jungle Book” movie at Ozone Falls.

Twin Falls

Twin Falls

Driving distance from Nashville: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Not all waterfalls in Tennessee were naturally created. Twin Falls in Rock Island State Park’s Rock Island are the stunning by-product of a 1925 damming of the Caney Fork River causing this waterfall to flow out of the park’s rocks, instead of over them like most Tennessee waterfalls.

When you visit Rock Island State Park, also check out Great Falls, which once powered a cotton textile plant. Because both of these falls are tied to the dam operation, don’t forget to check and make sure they aren’t closed for dam operations. And remember: There’s no swimming in the waters surrounding the falls.