Tennessee (Clarksville / Dunbar Cave State Park / Land Between the Lakes)
Trip Summary
First, I know what you are thinking! Clarksville? Where’s that? Is there anything to do there? And the answer is yes, many times over! Whenever my husband and I head west on a road trip, Clarksville is usually our first overnight stop, so we have been there several times. And I used to live there as a kid (Fort Campbell), so it has always been a fun place to go back to for nostalgia’s sake.
The city is on the small side, but there is still plenty to do–both in the area and nearby! There is also no shortage of places to stay as the area has a strong military community with families always coming and going, so the hotels are plentiful–and ones that are cheaper, too! On our most recent trip during Spring Break, we had our dogs with us, so we were limited to hotels that allowed pets, so we stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Clarksville. We also wanted to stay at a place near the interstate (we would head into Kentucky the next day), so this hotel fit the bill for what we needed in terms of location, cost, and pet policies.
The hotel isn’t glamorous by any means, and although the rooms were a bit rundown with beds not super comfortable, they were clean and quiet, and for the cost, it couldn’t be beat. The staff was also friendly, and there were a number of bars and restaurants nearby which made it convenient to get something to eat/drink. The hotel also has a gym and breakfast available, so all in all, not bad! Again, no fancy frills or anything, but for a quick stop with pups in tow, it was fine.
Hilton Garden Inn Clarksville: B+
With the city being right next to a military base, the area is very patriotic, so bars like the Star Spangled Brewing Company are popular–and you guessed it, dog-friendly! So we decided to hang out there for the evening, and it was a fun place to sit and enjoy live music. There are also lots of drink availabilities, the staff was friendly, and the seating options were plentiful.
The place was a little hard to find initially as parking is limited and the building looks like a warehouse (not a brewery), but all in all, it was a fitting place to spend the evening, and we were glad that we did!
Star Spangled Brewing Company: A-
If you have some time free during the day, definitely venture out to the nature spots nearby! My husband and I like to hike and do activities that break up the drive, so we decided to head to Dunbar Cave State Park. By the time we got there, it was cold and rainy and later in the day, so we ended up having most of the place to ourselves, but it was a nice solitary hike.
There are several trails that you can take, and we decided to walk all around the park. You can take a big loop around the water, and the caves are toward the left. Unfortunately, the caves themselves are only open in the summer (we went during Spring Break), so we didn’t get a chance to see the inside, but if you get the chance, they have several tours available, and they all look like a lot of fun!
So for its trails and the caves, it’s a good stop if you are in the area! Just go in the summer when you have more options, and the trip will be even better!
Dunbar Cave State Park: A-
Okay, I saved the best for last! Last time we passed through Clarksville, I really wanted to see the Land Between the Lakes, but we just didn’t have time, so I made sure that it was a priority on our most recent visit! And it was worth it!
Land Between the Lakes is a cool area to camp, ride horses, hunt, fish, and just enjoy nature. There is even a wildlife reserve called the Elk and Bison Prairie, and this is what I really wanted to see. So before heading farther west, my husband and I got up early in the morning and hit up the spot to see what it was all about!
There is a small fee to get in, but once you enter, you can drive the loop as many times as you’d like. Initially, I was worried about going in the morning as I had heard that dusk was the best time to go and see the animals, but dawn ended up being just as good! Not only that, we were the only ones there, so we had the whole place to ourselves!
The elk and bison are very plentiful, and they curiously watch you as you drive past. There are animals of all ages there, so you can even see some younger ones/babies if you are lucky! The whole experience was so fun that we actually ended up doing the loop twice! Such an amazing time with such great pics, too! Highly recommend!
Elk and Bison Prairie: A+
So there you have it! Of course, I will probably update this blog post every time we visit as we always find something new to enjoy, so stay tuned for that! Otherwise, enjoy the area and all it has to offer! It is not far from Nashville, is very close to Kentucky, and is right off the interstate, so it is the perfect road trip stop–it always is for us!
Favorite Experiences
Oh, you can guess–definitely the Elk and Bison Prairie! Land Between the Lakes is a northwest of Clarksville, but it is totally worth the drive. If we had gone in the summer, it would have been fun to camp there as there are lots of campgrounds (including some primitive ones which we like!). I was so happy that the animals were out and about when we visited as I knew things were iffy with out timing, but the day ended up perfect!
What I Wish I Knew
Well, we couldn’t do anything about the timing of the trip, otherwise, we would have gone in the summer (to see the caves when they were open and camp at Land Between the Lakes). However, if you have some freedom as far as time, definitely go in the summer, enjoy the nature, and enjoy the area to its fullest!
Kentucky is super close, the Army base is fun to explore (I used to live at Fort Campbell), and Nashville is nearby as well! There more suggestions on what to see and do here and here.
I also post reels and TikToks regularly of all the places I’ve reviewed on here, so if you want to see some videos of what to expect, check out my social media here:
TikTok: @touristyteacher
Instagram: @touristyteacher
Facebook: @touristyteacher
Happy travels!
