Get ready for an unforgettable road trip packed with mountain views, fascinating history, scenic drives, charming small towns, and exciting cities as you travel from Maryland to Tennessee.
This route is filled with famous landmarks, beautiful national parks, winding roads with incredible overlooks, and plenty of chances to discover places you might never have considered visiting.
Along the way, you can tour historic sites, enjoy local food, listen to live music, and experience some of the most memorable scenery in the eastern United States.
1. Baltimore, Maryland
We’re starting off in Baltimore, famous for its historic waterfront, colorful neighborhoods, and one of the busiest seaports in the United States.
Start at the Inner Harbor, where you can explore the National Aquarium with more than 20,000 animals, tour the historic USS Constellation, or hop aboard a sightseeing cruise for great skyline views.
History comes alive at Fort McHenry National Monument, the 1814 battle site that inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner,” while nearby Fells Point is packed with cobblestone streets, local seafood restaurants, and waterfront shops.
Before you hit the road, grab a classic Maryland crab cake, snap photos of the Domino Sugars sign, and stroll the brick paths around Harborplace for one last look at the sparkling harbor.
2. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Leave the city behind and head to Harpers Ferry, a small West Virginia town where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet, surrounded by steep forested hills and some of the most important Civil War history in the country.
Walk through Harpers Ferry National Historical Park to see preserved 1800s buildings, visit John Brown’s Fort where the famous 1859 raid took place, and browse museums that explain the town’s role in the Civil War and the abolition movement.
If you want to stretch your legs, hike part of the 2,190+ mile Appalachian Trail or climb the 4.5- to 6.5-mile Maryland Heights Trail for sweeping views over the rivers, railroad bridge, and historic downtown below.
With charming brick streets, scenic overlooks, and outfitters offering river tubing and kayaking, Harpers Ferry makes an unforgettable stop before continuing deeper into the mountains.
3. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
From Harpers Ferry, it’s about a 1-hour drive to Shenandoah National Park, where 105 miles of Skyline Drive winds along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains with dozens of overlooks that make it easy to stop for incredible views.
Choose from more than 500 miles of hiking trails, including the 1.6-mile round-trip Stony Man Trail or the 1.4-mile round-trip Dark Hollow Falls Trail, which leads to one of the park’s most popular waterfalls.
Keep an eye out for white-tailed deer, black bears, wild turkeys, and colorful songbirds as you travel through forests filled with oak and hickory trees.
Whether you visit for the spring wildflowers, lush summer scenery, brilliant fall foliage, or peaceful winter landscapes, this national park delivers unforgettable mountain views around every bend.
4. Roanoke, Virginia
As Skyline Drive comes to an end, Roanoke welcomes you with mountain scenery, a lively downtown, and a prime location in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains along the famous Blue Ridge Parkway.
Drive the Mill Mountain Star and Park access road to see the world’s largest freestanding illuminated man-made star, standing 88.5 feet tall, then enjoy sweeping views over the city from the nearby overlook.
Spend time exploring the Taubman Museum of Art, browsing the City Market that has served shoppers since 1882, or walking a section of the scenic Roanoke River Greenway.
If you have extra time, drive a short distance to McAfee Knob, one of the most photographed spots on the 2,190+ mile Appalachian Trail, where an 8-mile round trip hike rewards you with unforgettable mountain views.
5. Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia/North Carolina
From Roanoke, stay on the Blue Ridge Parkway as it winds 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina, connecting Shenandoah National Park with Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
This stretch of road takes you across some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the eastern United States.
Pull over at overlooks like Mabry Mill, one of the parkway’s most photographed landmarks, or hike the 3-mile round-trip Sharp Top Trail near Bedford for panoramic views stretching across the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Keep your camera ready for rolling ridges, historic mountain cabins, colorful wildflowers, and wildlife including white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and black bears that are often spotted along the route.
With no commercial traffic, a lower speed limit, and countless picnic areas, short hiking trails, and scenic pullouts, this drive turns the journey itself into one of the most memorable parts of your road trip.
6. Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia
As the Blue Ridge Parkway adventure wraps up, Bristol welcomes you right on the Tennessee and Virginia state line, where one downtown street places you in two states at the same time.
Snap a photo with the famous State Street sign marking the border, then visit the Birthplace of Country Music Museum to learn how the landmark 1927 Bristol Sessions helped launch the careers of Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family.
Catch a race or tour at Bristol Motor Speedway, a legendary short track known as “The Last Great Colosseum,” where tens of thousands of fans pack the grandstands for NASCAR weekends.
With live music filling downtown, locally owned restaurants, craft breweries, and the chance to stand with one foot in Tennessee and the other in Virginia, Bristol is a fun and memorable gateway to the Volunteer State.
7. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
From Bristol, take the nearly 2-hour drive to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the United States, where more than 800 miles of hiking trails wind through misty peaks, rushing streams, and old-growth forests.
Drive the 11-mile one-way Cades Cove Loop Road to spot black bears, white-tailed deer, and historic cabins, or hike the 4.6-mile round-trip Alum Cave Trail to reach incredible mountain views and unique rock formations.
For even bigger scenery, climb the 45-foot observation tower at Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the park at 6,643 feet, with panoramic views stretching across Tennessee and North Carolina on clear days.
From cascading waterfalls like Laurel Falls to preserved log homes dating back to early Appalachian settlers, every mile gives you another reason to slow down and enjoy one of America’s most spectacular mountain landscapes
Please note: At the time of writing, the Laurel Falls Trail is fully closed for an 18-month rehabilitation project starting January 2025, so be sure to check for updates online before planning your visit.
8. Nashville, Tennessee
After soaking up the mountain scenery, continue on a 3-hour drive to Nashville, Tennessee’s lively capital, where legendary music venues, historic landmarks, and southern food take center stage from morning until late at night.
Walk down Broadway to hear live country music pouring out of famous honky tonks like Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and The Stage.
For even more musical attractions, tour the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum or step inside the historic Ryman Auditorium, known as the Mother Church of Country Music.
If you want something beyond music, visit Centennial Park to see the full-scale replica of the ancient Parthenon, explore the Johnny Cash Museum, or sample Nashville hot chicken at Prince’s Hot Chicken or Hattie B’s.
With murals, rooftop bars, local boutiques, and nonstop live performances around nearly every corner, Nashville is the perfect place to celebrate reaching the final stop on your Maryland to Tennessee road trip.
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