Scenic Drives in Tennessee

Routes

Avg Distance

494 mi

Avg Drive

9h 8m

Destinations

Tennessee's scenic drives offer a diverse range of experiences, with 60 routes averaging 493 miles and nearly 9 hours. The drives here boast a drive score range from 7 to 8, with max elevations reaching up to 6806 feet. You'll encounter a mix of gently rolling terrain and high-altitude climbs, making for varied and engaging journeys across the state.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$4.24/gal

Diesel: $6.18/gal

Typical trip cost

$72–$278

One-way, ~494 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~173 kg

ICE vehicle, one-way average

Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-10-12

Climate through the year: Tennessee

Tennessee peaks at around 92°F in Jul and cools to 51°F / 33°F in Jan. Wettest month is Apr at ~5.9 in of rain.

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	51	33	4.1	0.9
Feb	56	37	4.6	1
Mar	64	44	5.7	0.5
Apr	73	53	5.9	—
May	82	62	5.3	—
Jun	89	70	4	—
Jul	92	74	4.8	—
Aug	92	73	3.4	—
Sep	86	66	3	—
Oct	75	54	4	—
Nov	63	43	4.7	0.1
Dec	53	36	5.5	0.2

Source: NOAA NCEI Monthly Climate Normals, 1991–2020 reference period. Sampled at the major-airport station for TN — microclimates along specific routes can vary significantly.

Planning Tips

Scenic routes often have fewer gas stations and services. Top off your tank before heading into mountainous or rural stretches.
Budget extra time for scenic drives — pulling over for views, photos, and short hikes is half the point.
Check weather conditions for mountain passes and high-elevation stretches, especially in shoulder seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

We rate routes on a 1-10 drive score based on elevation changes, road variety, and terrain diversity. The 60 routes listed here all score 7 or higher.

Current regular gas averages $4.24/gallon in Tennessee (week of 2026-10-12). Diesel: $6.18/gallon. A typical one-way trip on these routes costs between $72 and $278. Source: US Energy Information Administration.

Drive times and distances come from OSRM routing over real OpenStreetMap road networks. Fuel costs use weekly US Energy Information Administration state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. EV charging data is sourced from NREL. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI (1991–2020 reference period). Hazard data comes from FEMA and USGS public feeds.

Yes. Click any route to see its full trip page with turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost estimates, elevation profile, stop suggestions, weather conditions, and more.

Top Scenic Routes

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Tennessee Trips

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	51	33	4.1	0.9
Feb	56	37	4.6	1
Mar	64	44	5.7	0.5
Apr	73	53	5.9	—
May	82	62	5.3	—
Jun	89	70	4	—
Jul	92	74	4.8	—
Aug	92	73	3.4	—
Sep	86	66	3	—
Oct	75	54	4	—
Nov	63	43	4.7	0.1
Dec	53	36	5.5	0.2

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	51	33	4.1	0.9
Feb	56	37	4.6	1
Mar	64	44	5.7	0.5
Apr	73	53	5.9	—
May	82	62	5.3	—
Jun	89	70	4	—
Jul	92	74	4.8	—
Aug	92	73	3.4	—
Sep	86	66	3	—
Oct	75	54	4	—
Nov	63	43	4.7	0.1
Dec	53	36	5.5	0.2

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	51	33	4.1	0.9
Feb	56	37	4.6	1
Mar	64	44	5.7	0.5
Apr	73	53	5.9	—
May	82	62	5.3	—
Jun	89	70	4	—
Jul	92	74	4.8	—
Aug	92	73	3.4	—
Sep	86	66	3	—
Oct	75	54	4	—
Nov	63	43	4.7	0.1
Dec	53	36	5.5	0.2