12 Tennessee Adventures You Can Enjoy For Under $20
A great day out in Tennessee doesn’t have to come with a high price tag. Some of the most memorable experiences are surprisingly affordable, offering just as much excitement, scenery, and charm as pricier outings.
Across the state, there are places where a small budget still goes a long way, turning simple plans into something worth talking about. A scenic walk, an engaging museum, or a unique local attraction can easily fill an afternoon without stretching your wallet.
The best part is how effortless it feels to enjoy these moments without overthinking the cost. A little planning can open the door to experiences that feel rich, rewarding, and perfectly suited for a laid-back spring adventure.
1. Parthenon (Nashville)
Standing in front of Nashville’s Parthenon for the first time genuinely stops you in your tracks. Built in 1897 as part of Tennessee’s Centennial Exposition, this full-scale replica of the ancient Greek Parthenon sits right inside Centennial Park and looks almost impossibly real.
For around $10 per adult, you get access to the building and the art museum housed inside.
The museum features a rotating collection of American paintings and, most famously, a 42-foot-tall statue of the goddess Athena, which is the largest indoor statue in the Western Hemisphere. That detail alone makes the trip worth it.
You’ll want to spend at least an hour just walking around and taking it all in.
Centennial Park itself is free to explore, so you can pair your visit with a picnic or a walk around the lake before or after. It’s located at 2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203.
Weekdays tend to be quieter, which means more breathing room around the exhibits and better photo opportunities outside the building.
Disclaimer: The Parthenon in Nashville is temporarily closed starting March 1, 2026, for scheduled building upgrades, including a full HVAC system replacement to help preserve the structure and its exhibits. The interior is not accessible during this period, though the exterior in Centennial Park remains open to visitors.
Reopening is expected in late June 2026, but dates may shift slightly depending on construction progress.
2. Tennessee State Museum (Nashville)
Free admission at a world-class museum sounds too good to be true, but the Tennessee State Museum makes it happen. Located at 1000 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208, this modern facility opened in its current space in 2018 and immediately became one of the most impressive free attractions in the entire Southeast.
The permanent galleries cover everything from prehistoric Tennessee to the Civil Rights era.
You can spend hours exploring exhibits on Native American cultures, frontier life, Civil War battles, and the stories of everyday Tennesseans who shaped the state. The museum does offer special paid exhibits from time to time, but even those tend to stay within a very reasonable budget.
The quality of the storytelling and the interactive displays rival museums that charge three times as much.
Parking nearby can cost a few dollars, so factor that into your planning. Visiting on a weekday morning gives you the most space to move through the galleries at your own pace.
Honestly, this spot is a must-see whether you’re a history lover or just looking for a cool, air-conditioned afternoon adventure.
3. Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Grounds Pass (Nashville)
History comes alive when you’re walking the same ground where Andrew Jackson, the seventh U.S. president, once roamed. The Hermitage estate at 4580 Rachels Ln, Nashville, TN 37076 offers a grounds-only pass option that lets you explore the gardens, historic outbuildings, and outdoor spaces without paying for full mansion access.
That budget-friendly option makes the experience far more accessible for families and solo travelers alike.
The grounds themselves are genuinely beautiful, especially in spring and early summer when the gardens are in full bloom. You can see the original smokehouse, log cabins, and the family cemetery where Jackson and his wife Rachel are buried.
Each structure tells a different part of the story of life on a working plantation in early 19th-century Tennessee.
Guided outdoor programs are sometimes available, so check the website before your visit to see what’s scheduled. The property spans over 1,000 acres, so comfortable walking shoes are a smart choice.
Even without stepping inside the mansion, you leave with a genuine sense of the history and scale of one of the most significant presidential homes in American history.
4. Cheekwood Estate & Gardens (Discount Days)
Few places in Nashville feel as genuinely magical as Cheekwood Estate and Gardens on a warm spring morning. Located at 1200 Forrest Park Dr, Nashville, TN 37205, this stunning botanical garden and art museum sits on 55 acres of beautifully maintained grounds.
During seasonal discount days and promotional periods, admission can drop to the $15 to $20 range, making it a budget-friendly luxury experience.
Spring is the absolute peak time to visit, when thousands of tulips, daffodils, and other blooms transform the landscape into something that looks straight out of a painting. The art exhibits inside the historic mansion add another layer of culture to the visit, featuring both permanent collections and rotating shows.
Even the walking paths through the sculpture garden feel like a mini adventure.
Check the Cheekwood website for discount days, member preview events, or seasonal promotions before booking. Early morning visits on weekdays are the calmest and most photogenic times to explore.
Bringing your own water bottle and snacks helps stretch your budget further since the on-site cafe, while lovely, can add up quickly if you’re trying to keep costs low.
5. Chattanooga Zoo
Don’t let the word “compact” fool you because the Chattanooga Zoo packs a serious amount of fun into a very manageable space. Situated at 301 N Holtzclaw Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37404, this zoo charges around $15 to $20 for adult admission and consistently earns strong reviews from visitors of all ages.
You can realistically see everything in two to three hours, which makes it perfect for a half-day outing.
The zoo is home to a variety of animals including jaguars, red pandas, gibbons, and Komodo dragons, among others. The exhibits are thoughtfully designed with natural habitats that give you a close-up look at the animals without feeling like you’re crowding them.
Kids absolutely love the interactive areas, but adults find themselves just as captivated by the wildlife.
Chattanooga itself has a ton of other affordable attractions nearby, so you can easily build a full day around the zoo visit. Arrive early to catch the animals when they’re most active, usually in the morning hours before the afternoon heat sets in.
Weekends can get busy during summer, so a weekday trip gives you a calmer and more enjoyable experience overall.
6. Tennessee Aquarium (River Journey Ticket)
The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga is one of the most acclaimed freshwater aquariums in the entire country, and you can experience a significant chunk of it for under $20. The single-building River Journey ticket costs around $19.95 and gives you access to one of the two main aquarium buildings, which follows the path of a river from its mountain source all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.
It’s genuinely immersive storytelling through aquatic life.
Inside, you’ll encounter otters, sturgeon, alligators, and hundreds of species of fish in exhibits that feel far more expansive than their price tag suggests. The freshwater focus makes this aquarium stand out from typical ocean-themed spots, giving visitors a deeper appreciation for the rivers and wildlife of the American South.
The exhibits are well-labeled and educational without feeling like homework.
Located at 1 Broad St, Chattanooga, TN 37402, the aquarium sits right on the waterfront, so the surrounding area is worth exploring too. If you want to upgrade and see the Ocean Journey building as well, the combo ticket costs more but is still reasonable.
Booking tickets online in advance can sometimes save you a little extra money at the gate.
7. Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum
Music changed the world, and a huge part of that change happened right here in Memphis. The Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum at 191 Beale St, Memphis, TN 38103 is a Smithsonian-affiliated institution that tells the full story of how Memphis music shaped American culture, from the sharecropper fields of the Mississippi Delta all the way to the global stage.
At around $15 for adult admission, it’s one of the best value cultural experiences in the entire state.
The self-guided audio tour is genuinely excellent, walking you through seven galleries filled with original costumes, instruments, and memorabilia from legendary artists. You’ll hear stories about the birth of blues, soul, rock and roll, and R&B through the voices of the people who lived them.
The museum doesn’t just list facts; it makes you feel the music in a way that sticks with you long after you leave.
Being right on Beale Street means you can extend your visit into the surrounding neighborhood, which has its own rich musical atmosphere, especially on weekends. The museum typically takes one to two hours to complete, making it a perfect anchor for a Memphis afternoon.
Go on a weekday to avoid the heaviest tourist crowds.
8. Memphis Botanic Garden
Sometimes the most restorative thing you can do on a trip is slow down and walk through something beautiful, and the Memphis Botanic Garden delivers exactly that. Located at 750 Cherry Rd, Memphis, TN 38117, this 96-acre garden features more than 20 specialty garden areas, including a Japanese garden, a sensory garden, and a stunning wildflower meadow.
Adult admission runs around $10, making it one of the most affordable and relaxing stops on this entire list.
Spring is the showstopper season here, when azaleas, irises, and dogwoods burst into color across the grounds. But honestly, every season offers something worth seeing, from summer perennials to fall foliage and even winter plantings that keep the garden looking alive year-round.
The walking paths are well-maintained and easy to navigate at your own pace.
The garden also hosts seasonal events and art installations throughout the year, so it’s worth checking their calendar before your visit to see what’s happening during your trip. Photography enthusiasts will find no shortage of gorgeous spots to shoot.
Bring comfortable shoes, a reusable water bottle, and maybe a light jacket in the morning since the shaded areas can stay cool even on warm days.
9. Knoxville Museum Of Art
Art doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and the Knoxville Museum of Art proves that point beautifully. Admission is free, though donations are warmly encouraged, and the museum sits at 1050 World’s Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916 in one of the most pleasant outdoor settings you’ll find in any Tennessee city.
The building itself is architecturally striking, clad in Tennessee marble and designed to complement the surrounding park.
Inside, you’ll find rotating exhibits that cover everything from contemporary painting and sculpture to photography and regional folk art. The museum’s Great Hall is particularly impressive, with soaring ceilings and natural light that make even the act of walking through feel like an event.
Permanent collections highlight Appalachian artists and Tennessee-based creators, giving the museum a strong sense of regional identity.
World’s Fair Park right outside the museum is free to explore and features open lawns, fountains, and the iconic Sunsphere tower from the 1982 World’s Fair. Combining the museum with a walk through the park makes for a full and satisfying afternoon that costs almost nothing.
Knoxville’s Market Square and Old City neighborhoods are also nearby if you want to grab a bite afterward and keep the good vibes going.
10. Muse Knoxville
Muse Knoxville is the kind of place that makes you wish more museums were built this way. Located at 516 N Beaman St, Knoxville, TN 37914, this interactive science and outdoor museum blends hands-on indoor exhibits with a nature-based outdoor exploration area, all for around $15 per person.
Adults who visit expecting something just for kids often end up being the most entertained people in the building.
The exhibits cover topics like physics, biology, engineering, and environmental science, but they do it through play and discovery rather than dry information boards. You can build structures, experiment with water flow, investigate ecosystems, and even get your hands dirty in the outdoor nature zone.
The outdoor area alone is worth the price of admission, with climbing structures, garden beds, and spaces designed to spark curiosity about the natural world.
Muse Knoxville is a fantastic stop even if you’re traveling without kids because the experience is genuinely engaging for all ages. Check their website for any special programming or themed event days happening during your visit.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, so plan accordingly if you’re visiting mid-week to make sure it fits your schedule.
11. Discovery Park Of America (Discount/Local Days)
Most people outside of West Tennessee have never heard of Discovery Park of America, and that’s honestly their loss. Sitting at 830 Everett Blvd, Union City, TN 38261, this massive interactive museum complex covers science, history, art, and natural history across more than 100,000 square feet of indoor space plus outdoor heritage park areas.
On promotional or local discount days, admission can fall into the $15 to $20 range, which is an absolute steal for what you get.
The exhibits here are on par with much larger, more expensive museums in major cities. You’ll find everything from a real military aircraft to a full-scale replica of a Native American village, fossils, space exploration displays, and rotating art installations.
The sheer variety means there’s genuinely something for every type of curiosity, whether you’re into science, culture, or history.
Union City is a small town, but Discovery Park makes the drive absolutely worthwhile. Plan to spend at least three to four hours if you want to do it justice.
Check their website and social media pages regularly for discount days, which are often tied to local events, holidays, or community appreciation programs that offer reduced admission for Tennessee residents.
12. Oaklands Mansion Grounds Tour (Murfreesboro)
History has a way of hitting differently when you’re standing in a room where real events unfolded, and Oaklands Mansion delivers that feeling with impressive depth. Located at 900 N Maney Ave, Murfreesboro, TN 37130, this beautifully preserved antebellum home charges around $15 for a guided tour that covers both the interior and the surrounding grounds.
The mansion served as a Confederate headquarters during the Civil War and was even the site of a visit from Confederate President Jefferson Davis in 1862.
Guides here are knowledgeable and engaging, weaving personal stories and historical context into every room they walk you through. The furnishings inside are largely original or period-accurate, which gives the experience an authenticity that you don’t always find at historic home tours.
The grounds themselves are peaceful and photogenic, with mature trees and a layout that reflects 19th-century Southern estate design.
Murfreesboro is located just south of Nashville, making Oaklands an easy addition to a Nashville-area itinerary without much extra driving. The tour typically runs about 45 minutes to an hour, leaving you plenty of time to explore the rest of the city afterward.
Check their seasonal schedule, as special events and holiday tours are offered throughout the year at similarly affordable prices.