Manchester, Tennessee
Manchester, Tennessee is a small city in Coffee County and it is about half way between Nashville and Chattanooga. It is best known for the Bonnaroo Music Festival but is a great place to visit year round. This cute city offers Southern charm, local eateries and outdoor recreation. Check out our one day trip to Manchester to get some ideas for your visit!
getting to Manchester for your one day trip
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 to the various waterfalls and to the brewery we stopped at. You can also consider using taxi or uber in the area. Once were we at certain spots, we were able to park and hike!
What we did on our one day trip
Rutledge Falls
Rutledge Falls is a 40-foot waterfall. It is on private land and open from dawn to dusk. It is a 0.3 mile round-trip hike with a bit of rocky terrain. We were wearing hiking shoes. There is a cute barn near the start of the small hike. Dogs are welcome.
Machine Falls
Machine Falls is part of the Machine Falls Loop Trail in the Short Springs Natural Area. It is a moderate 3.2 mile loop hike that offers views of Busby and Machine Falls. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete. There is a viewing platform but I highly recommend hiking to the bottom for some epic pictures. It is dog friendly. Parking is limited and located near a water tower.
Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park
This state park allows visitors to explore scenic hiking trails and ancient Native American mounds. There is a small waterfall as well. There is camping and activities available. To learn more about the Old Stone Fort State Park.
After hiking Refreshments
After all that outdoor hiking and enjoyment you will want to find a place to eat or drink in the area and there are so many to choose from
The booze
For brewery you can check out Common John Brewing Co– they have a small food menu including hot dogs and pizza and a huge list of their beers and rotating beer list. They have both a large indoor and outdoor area for seating.
For winery you can check out Beans Creek Winery. This winery is open daily and offers tours and wine tastings.
If distilleries are your jam, then you will have to drive a little bit away to either the Jack Daniels Distillery or the George Dickel Distillery. You can grab a tour at these incredible places.
Our experience Manchester, Tennessee
When 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. 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.
