Manchester, Tennessee
Manchester, Tennessee is a small city in Coffee County and it is about half way between Nashville and Chattanooga. This cute city offers Southern charm, local eateries and outdoor recreation. One of its coolest attractions is the Old Stone Fort Archeological State Park. Check out our guide for visiting this unique state park to get some ideas for your visit!
getting to Old Stone Fort
Manchester sits about half way between Nashville and Chattanooga so a perfect stop if you are road tripping between. From Nashville it is about 65 miles and about 1 hour 10 minutes and from Chattanooga it about 70 miles and about 1 hour and 15 minutes. It is also a great day trip from Huntsville, Alabama which is about 78 miles or 1.5 hours driving. It is ideal to have your own car for getting around the area.
Getting around
We got around by driving. You can also consider using taxi or uber in the area. There is free parking at the state park.
About the Old Stone Fort State Archaeological park
This state park allows visitors to explore scenic hiking trails and ancient Native American mounds. The area was built around 1,500 to 2,00 years ago and was used by the Native Americans for about 500 years. It was a ceremonial gathering place. There are some small waterfalls as well. There is camping and activities available. To learn more about the Old Stone Fort State Park.
Guide for Things to do while visiting old stone fort
Visitor Center and Museum
Start the day by checking out the visitor center and museum. Here you can grab a map of the park, check out some history or grab a souvenir in the gift shop. The museum is open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.
Hiking Trails
The Enclosure Trail is 1.4 miles and passes by Step Falls, Big Falls and Blue Hole Falls. It has some historic markers along the way. Other hiking trails include the Nature Trail 0.85 miles from the campground area, Backbone trail 1.25 miles around the Little Duck River, the Eagle trail 1.15 miles and the Chumley Woods trail 1.65 miles. You can pick up a park map at the visitor center.
See the waterfalls
There are three main waterfalls to see that are all accessible along the Enclosure Trail. These three main waterfalls include Step Falls, Big Falls and Blue Hole Falls.
Camping
Camping is available in Old Fort State Park. There are 5o campsites with water and electrical hookups. There are also grills, picnic tables and a dump station. Showers are available March-November. The maximum length stay is 2 weeks. You can reserve on the website for a $5 reservation fee that is non-refundable.
Our experience Manchester, Tennessee and old stone fort
We visited in Fall of 2021. We often visit the Nashville area for family and we planned a day trip from Nashville to Manchester to check it out. See our full one day guide HERE!
We spent the first half of the day enjoying nature and the surroundings and then relaxed at Common John Brewing Company before heading back home. The waterfalls are stunning and the area is very cute. I would recommend checking it out for a day or if passing through on a road trip.
