Free Adventures in East Tennessee

So you are looking for some FREE adventures?? I have you covered! Whether your kids are on a school break or you are a homeschool family looking for “field trips,” there are so many free adventures in East TN! We love any opportunity for fun and memory making, but just can’t afford to pay for them all! I have compiled a list of some of our favorite FREE adventures in the area and some that are on our bucket list!

FREE Adventures in East TN

State Parks-There are 6 state parks in East TN! Two of our personal favorites are Panther Creek in Morristown and Warriors Path in Kingsport!
Hiking-East TN has SO much hiking to offer! I could NEVER list all of the family friendly trails in the area. Great Smoky Mountain National Park offers tons of family friendly hiking. Hen Wallow Falls in the Cosby area is a fun one! And just outside of the Smoky Mountains is Max Patch and Mouse Creek Falls which are perfect for families!
Swimming Holes-While there are more than just these two, the Greenbrier area just east of Gatlinburg and Midnight Hole on the Mouse Creek Falls trail are two great ones!
Splash Pads-In the summertime, you can’t beat a good splash pad! I put together a list of all I could find in East TN (not including Knoxville).
Bush Bean Museum-Located in Dandridge, this museum is SO fun! We have gone several times and TJ loves it! Make sure to pick up the activity sheet as you enter the museum and then fill it out along the way for a prize! Be prepared to find out your weight in beans, take a FREE family photo with Duke and learn all about how Bush’s Baked Beans get from the field to your home!
Elrod Falls-This is a new favorite of ours! Located just south of Sneedville, TN, these falls are just a quarter of a mile from the parking area. The falls are gorgeous and there are several fun pools to swim in and explore. Elrod Falls can easily be found following directions from your map app on your phone.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park-Having a FREE National Park in our backyard is AMAZING by itself! Some fun and free activities in the park besides hiking and swimming include a stop at Sugarlands Visitor Center, a drive through Cades Cove or the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, and a trip up to Clingmans Dome.
Greenways-Take a walk, jog, or bike ride on the many Greenways in Knox Co., Anderson Co., and Sullivan Co.
Farmers Markets-Farmers Markets are a great way to learn what your area offers. They are also a great place to get some tasty treats or local crafts and goods.
Andrew Johnson National Historical Site-This site is located in Greeneville. It is totally FREE but does require getting a ticket for a specified tour time. The tour includes Andrew Johnson’s early home, homestead, cemetery and a visitor center.
Knoxville-Just a handful of fun FREE things in Knoxville include exploring nature at Ijams Nature Center, learning more about art and doing some hands on activities at Knoxville Museum of Art and learning more about history at McClung Museum.