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6 getaways · 8 hotels and cabins with a private tub · At a glance · FAQ
For a romantic getaway in Tennessee, couples head to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge in the Smokies, to Chattanooga for Lookout Mountain and the river, and to Nashville for a night at the Ryman. This guide covers 6 places across the state, among them Franklin and Reelfoot Lake. For each one you get what to do, when to go and hotels and cabins where the room has its own jacuzzi or hot tub.
| Getaway | Best for | Best time | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Gatlinburg | Smokies, heart-shaped tubs | Mid October to early November | About 45 miles from Knoxville airport |
| 2. Pigeon Forge and Sevierville | Winterfest lights, dinner shows | Early November to January | Under an hour from Knoxville airport |
| 3. Chattanooga | Lookout Mountain, river walks | Fall | |
| 4. Nashville | Live music, gardens | Late October to early November | |
| 5. Franklin and Leiper's Fork | Main Street, live music | Fall | 21 miles south of Nashville |
| 6. Reelfoot Lake | Bald eagles, cypress lake | January and February, or fall |
Gatlinburg sits right at an entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and its visitors bureau says more couples marry here than anywhere else in the South. The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail starts a few minutes from downtown and passes waterfalls, historic cabins and old Appalachian homesteads. Honeymoon Hills has cabins with red heart-shaped jetted tubs for two, and River Edge Inn has a king room with a gas fireplace and a two person jetted tub in the bathroom.
Luxury hotel with private Jacuzzi, free breakfast, and a seasonal pool, near the Gatlinburg Convention Center.
Cabin rentals with heart-shaped Jetted whirlpool tubs, pool and massage service in Gatlinburg.
Pigeon Forge and Sevierville are the Sevier County towns on the way into the Smokies. Pigeon Forge's tourism office publishes a three day couples retreat itinerary, and Visit Sevierville pitches the area for honeymoons and anniversaries. The Inn at Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge has suites with an in-room two person whirlpool, a gas fireplace and a private balcony or patio, and Blue Mountain Mist, a B&B in Sevierville, has a queen room with a two person Jacuzzi beside the bed.
Christmas-themed hotel with Jacuzzi in room, pool and free breakfast in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.
Victorian-style house with in-room Jacuzzi, pool and spa service, overlooking the Smoky Mountains.
Chattanooga sits on the Tennessee River with Lookout Mountain above the city, and Visit Chattanooga publishes its own 3-Day Romantic Getaway itinerary. The plan includes a walk through the gardens at Rock City, on top of Lookout Mountain, with more than 400 native plants and species and the Lover's Leap overlook. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chattanooga Downtown has king suites with a spa bath.
A full-service Hilton hotel with a hot tub in room, on-site restaurant, and an outdoor patio near Ruby Falls.
Nashville is the state capital on the Cumberland River, and for a date night you can see a show at the Ryman Auditorium, the Mother Church of Country Music. By day, the Ryman's own date guide sends couples to Cheekwood, a 55 acre historic estate with gardens and an art museum. Best Western Plus Belle Meade Inn & Suites has a king room with a jetted tub.
Highway Best Western hotel with hot breakfast, pool, and private Jacuzzi near Ryman Auditorium and downtown Nashville.
Franklin, in Williamson County, has a Main Street listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and Leiper's Fork, a short drive away, is an artsy village with galleries, antiques, local whiskey and live music at Fox & Locke. For the night, Hilton Garden Inn Nashville Franklin-Cool Springs lists a king room with a whirlpool tub.
This Hilton hotel has whirlpool suites, a well-equipped gym, and valet parking just a short drive from Nashville.
Reelfoot Lake, in the far northwest corner of the state, was created by a series of earthquakes in 1811 and 1812. In January and February it is home to thousands of American bald eagles. It is a quiet nature trip, and the nearest tub room is a short drive away in Union City, at Quality Inn Union City US 51, which has king rooms with a two person whirlpool.
This cozy hotel offers hot tub suites, truck-friendly parking, and complimentary breakfast near Union City Bowling Center.
Gatlinburg is a common pick. Its visitors bureau says more couples marry there than anywhere else in the South, and the town sits right at an entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Honeymoon Hills there has cabins with red heart-shaped jetted tubs for two.
Fall. Tennessee's tourism department says peak color moves across the state between mid October and mid November. Winter comes next in the Smokies, when Pigeon Forge's Winterfest lights shine early November through January 31.
The Smokies around Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. Visit Sevierville pitches the area for a honeymoon and for coming back year after year to celebrate your anniversary. The Inn at Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge has suites with a two person whirlpool and a gas fireplace, and Blue Mountain Mist in Sevierville has a queen room with a two person Jacuzzi beside the bed.
Chattanooga. Visit Chattanooga publishes a 3-Day Romantic Getaway itinerary with Rock City on Lookout Mountain, the Southern Belle Riverboat and a carriage ride downtown. Pigeon Forge's tourism office has a three day couples retreat as well.
Franklin, 21 miles south of Nashville. Spend the day on its historic Main Street, then drive out to Leiper's Fork for galleries and live music at Fox & Locke. Hilton Garden Inn Nashville Franklin-Cool Springs lists a king room with a whirlpool tub.
Where the facts on this page come from. Hotel details come from our own listings, checked as described in How we verify.
