How to Spend a Fun Weekend in Clarksville, TN: Your 3 Day Clarksville Itinerary
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Looking for an unexpected Southern getaway? Then you’ve got to see Clarksville, Tennessee! This small city is full of history, is home to a university, and I was blown away by the creativity of this city from the food to the art!
So here’s how you can spend a weekend exploring Clarksville! There’s a little bit of everything in this itinerary: some light outdoor adventure, some shopping, some history, and of course some great food!
Recommended Reading: Check out these books about Tennessee!
Thanks to Visit Clarksville for sponsoring this post! All opinions are, of course, my own.
Where is Clarksville?
Clarksville, Tennessee is located northwest of Nashville, just south of the Tennessee/Kentucky border. From Nashville, it’s about an hour drive.
Here are some other driving distances to help you:
- Nashville to Clarksville: 49 miles (about 55 minutes)
- Huntsville, AL to Clarksville: 158 miles (about 3 hours)
- Paducah, KY to Clarksville: 96 miles (about 1 hour, 35 minutes)
A Little Clarksville History
Clarksville was first settled because of it’s proximity to the Cumberland River, and was actually settled by disbanded Revolutionary War soldiers. And the nearby river made it an important hub.
Now of course, like so much of the South, before European settlers arrived the area was inhabited by Native Americans. And if you take the Dunbar Cave tour, you’ll get to see some evidences of that. One of the most interesting things (I thought) was the presence of evidence and artifacts from the Mississippians, which was the Native American group the pre-dated the more modern tribes we usually think of. (So we’re talking thousands of years of history here.)
Here are a few more interesting Clarksville facts:
- It’s the fifth most populous city in Tennessee.
- For most of the Civil War it was occupied by Union soldiers.
- Famous people from Clarksville include Wilma Rudolph (former Olympian), Pat Summitt (former Tennessee Women’s Basketball Coach), and Austin Peay (former Tennessee governor).
- Clarksville is home to Austin Peay State University.
When to Visit Clarksville
The best time to visit Clarksville is going to be during the summer. Even though it’s hot, lots of the best things to do in Clarksville are seasonal for the summer.
For example, Dunbar Cave is only open from May to September (and in 2024 they opened even later because of cave flooding). And the Saturday Farmers Market only takes place during the summer as well.
It’s also best to visit Clarksville on a weekend, because that is when most things will be open.
Day One: Friday Afternoon in Clarksville
Rotary Park
Location: 2308 Rotary Park Drive
Hours: Daily from 5 am to 9 pm
Admission: Free
Start out your first afternoon at one of my favorite spots: Rotary Park. This park is beautiful and so well-maintained and is such a great place to get outside in Clarksville.
There are 6 miles hiking trails, and 18-hole disc golf course, restrooms, picnic tables, a great playground, and pavilions.
I especially loved the ADA Creekside Trail for an easy afternoon stroll. It goes right along the stream, and it’s paved and fully accessible. And if the water is low (like it was when I visited) you can climb down into the stream for a little rock hopping (that part, of course, is not accessible).
Rotary Park is also home to the Wade Bourne Nature Center, which opened in 2020. It’s only open Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. But if you happen to be there when it’s open, it is especially a great place to visit with kids. There is an aquarium, some local animals you can see (like frogs and snakes), and great children’s play corner.
Miss Lucille’s Marketplace
Location: 2231 Madison Street, Suite L
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 am to 6 pm, Sunday 11 am to 5 pm
Miss Lucille’s is a HUGE vintage/antique/home/clothing shopping space not far from Rotary Park. And when I say HUGE I mean it. There are over 200 different vendor booths selling all kinds of things from antiques and vintage home items to boutique clothing and children’s toys.
I really loved walking through here to see everything that was for sale (and I actually ended up finding a new dress that I love!)
There really is something for everyone here. And while some antique markets can feel overcrowded with stuff, Miss Lucille’s has plenty of walking space and everything felt really neat and clean.
Pro Tip: There are dressing rooms at the very front by the restrooms!
Dinner at Old Glory Distilling
Location: 451 Alfred Thun Road
Hours: Their hours vary by day, but on Fridays the restaurant is open until midnight, the Tasting Room is open until 10 pm, and you can book tours up until 6 pm
While Old Glory Distilling is of course known as a distillery, it’s actually where you can also find some of the best food in Clarksville.
It’s a bit out of the way (about 20 minutes from downtown Clarksville) but the food here is worth the drive! I actually visited from brunch and had the most amazing cinnamon roll, but I would LOVE to try their dinner menu too. They have selections like Prime Rib Egg Rolls, BBQ Chicken Quesadillas, and a Brisket Sandwich. And their Cinnamon Roll from breakfast is on their dinner dessert menu!
And of course, since it’s a distillery, they have a tasting room where you can sample and purchase their whiskey and moonshine. And if you’re especially interested in the distilling process you can book a tour.
Day Two: Saturday in Clarksville
Breakfast at The Amsterdam Local Cafe
Location: 518 Madison Street
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 7 am to 7 pm
Start your morning out by visiting The Amsterdam Local Cafe. This is a modern bakery and breakfast restaurant with some amazing food. I had a cinnamon roll fresh from the oven that was delectable. (Their baker really knocks it out of the park!)
Important note: Only the four spots directly in front of the restaurant are for the restaurant. The rest are for the apartment complex. There is also street parking around the corner on Academy Avenue.
Clarksville Downtown Market
Location: 1 Public Square
Hours: Saturday, Mid-May to Early October, 8 am to Noon
After breakfast, visit the Clarksville Downtown Market!
This is one of the largest open air markets in the Southeast and has vendors selling all kinds of things! There are around 80 booths usually.
Honestly though my favorite part was the Kids Market, which is a section put on entirely by kids! There are dozens of booths of kids selling arts and crafts they’ve made.
There’s also a small petting zoo which is fun to visit and some food trucks if you want to grab something to eat here.
Historic Collinsville
Location: 4711 Weakley Road, Southside, TN
Hours: April through October, Thursday-Saturday 10 am to 4 pm and Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm
Admission: $12 for ages 13 and up; $6 for kids ages 3-12
After the Farmers Market, head about 25 minutes south of Clarksville to Historic Collinsville. This is a collection of historic log homes and cabins along with antique items that were collected by a local couple, the Weakleys. Today it continues as a museum of sorts to teach visitors about the history of the area.
It’s really a cool place, and you can walk around the visit spots like a schoolhouse, a tobacco barn, and amazing dogtrot house. Tours are self-guided (except for the Weakley House Museum). And on Second Saturdays they also make visiting into an event, with historical interpreters, entertainment, refreshments, and more.
Historic Collinsville also recently opened the Weakley House Museum in 2024, which was the home of Glenn and JoAnn Weakley who founded the historic park. When they passed away in 2021, they had an amazing collection of antique items. Now you can take a guided tour through their home to see some of the historic pieces and the interested way they put their house together.
Lunch at the Mad Herbalist
Location: 1601 Madison Street
Hours: Thursday-Sunday, 11 am-3 pm
Lunch at the Mad Herbalist was may one of my favorite overall experiences in Clarksville!
The Mad Herbalist is an “eatery, tea lounge, + blending lab”, and they make custom loose leaf tea blends that are amazing!
At the table you’ll find samples of the herbs and spices inside the teas so you can smell them to decide what flavor you want. Since I was visiting in the summer, I got an iced tea flight which came with three small samples of tea flavors. They were all so good, but my favorite was the Blissful Berry. The teas change seasonally though, so you’ll find different options at different times of the year.
The food here is great too! I got the brisket grilled cheese with house made chips and loved it. The sandwich had just the right balance of cheese to brisket and was perfectly cooked.
All that to say, I HIGHLY recommend prioritizing a meal at the Mad Herbalist. Sometimes on weekends they can get busy, so you might want to make a reservation.
Customs House Museum
Location: 200 South 2nd Street
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am-5 pm and Sunday 1 pm-5 pm
Admission: $12 for adults, $5 for children ages 3-17
The Customs House Museum is Clarksville’s history museum with all kinds of exhibits and things to see! Part of the museum is housed in Clarksville’s original post office, which is an iconic downtown building.
Some exhibits are temporary and some are permanent. When I was visited there was a powerful art exhibit about endangered and extinct birds, more bird photography from a local Clarksville resident, and an exhibit about 40 years of the Customs House Museum.
But some of the permanent exhibits include the Postmasters Office, the Powers Family Log Home, an exhibit about the history of Clarksville, and an exhibit about Clarksville sports legends.
The Customs House Museum is also the BEST place to take young kids in Clarksville. Downstairs there is a huge interactive children’s museum area called Explorers Landing, with things like the Bubble Cave, the pretend market, and of course the model train.
Huff & Puff Express is the model train in the museum. It only runs on select days and select hours (check the times here), but it’s still really amazing to visit even when it’s not running because the scenery that’s built around it is so great. AND they’ve made it interactive for the down time too: There are buttons you can push in each section of the train’s “town” that make different things light up or move!
Downtown Clarksville Shopping
Downtown Clarksville is super walkable because it’s just a radius of a few blocks, but it’s also super cute and has several fun shops and boutiques. Here are a few places you can spend the afternoon shopping:
- Hudabum Book Traders – A small bookshop at 110 Franklin Street. They have a selection of both newer releases and backlist. I was especially impressed with their collection of graphic novels, and I saw some backlist titles in here I’ve never seen in other bookstores!
- AndVinyl – A huge record store with a large selection!
- Pups Plants + Goods – An adorable house plant store that also sells some select home goods and gift items.
You can also stop by some photo ops in downtown Clarksville:
- Children’s Fountain – The Strawberry Alley Children’s Fountain is an iconic fountain in Clarksville and meant to convey how important it is to care of the children of the community.
- Tennessee Triumph Women’s Suffrage Monument – Tennessee played an important part in women’s suffrage. They were the last state needed for ratification of the 19th Amendment and voted it into law. This monument dedicated in 2020 celebrates that history.
- Downtown Commons – A central park and gathering place for Clarksville. It’s home to events like Downtown @ Sundown concerts and movie nights, and it’s also just a great place to hang out. (There’s a really cool water feature here too that kids love!)
Downtown Clarksville for Dinner
There are lots of great options for places to eat dinner in downtown Clarksville! Here are a few options:
- Strawberry Alley Ale Works – A brewery, tap room, and restaurant with great food. I had the Bourbon Burger and loved it!
- The Mailroom – Probably the most popular spot for dinner in Clarksville! (Definitely make a reservation!) Housed in the old post office, it now serves up Southern food and has a great outdoor area too!
- Blackhorse Pub & Brewery – A brewery that serves weekend brunch plus lunch and dinner, with items included burgers, pizzas, and more.
- Pinky’s Up – Have afternoon tea in this very pink and very Instagrammable tea room!
Day Three: Sunday in Clarksville
Breakfast at Parlor Doughnuts
Location: 1764 Madison Street
Hours: Monday-Saturday 6:30 am to 6:30 pm, Sunday 6:30 am to 2 pm
Grab some doughnuts at Parlor Doughnuts this morning! These doughnuts are extreme and so so good with flavors like French Toast, Cookies n’ Cream, Churro and more.
Dunbar Cave State Park
Location: 401 Old Dunbar Cave Road
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset (but Dunbar Cave is only open May through September and tours are at set times that vary by day)
Admission: $18 for adults, $13 for children ages 5-12
You can’t go to Clarksville without visiting Dunbar Cave! So before you head home on Sunday afternoon, spend the morning here.
This is probably the most unique thing to do in Clarksville and I thought it was SO fascinating!
Dunbar Cave has a super interesting history. For a long time, the area was used as a resort. There was a hotel on the property and guests could take cave tours and participate in other resort activities. And the large floor leading to the cave was a dance floor.
Before that though, which you learn when you go on a tour, the cave was used by Native Americans and historians believe it was a sacred space for them.
One of the coolest parts of the cave tour (I took the “Enter the Underworld” tour) was the chance to see some Mississippian cave art. It’s 800 years old and its presence is why many experts believe this was a sacred space. (This is also why you are not allowed to take videos and photos in the cave.)
A few tips for visiting:
- Wear long pants and closed toed shoes. You also might want to bring a jacket, as the cave stays at 57 degrees year-round
- The cave is only open for tours (and you MUST be on a tour to enter) May through September. During the summer they are open daily, but in May and September tours are only offered on weekends.
- Bring a flashlight!!! If you don’t have one you can buy one at the gift shop, but the cave it not lit so you will need your own light!
- There are a couple spaces where you will need to crouch down a bit and the terrain can be a little tricky. So be aware of that. But I took the tour with a slightly injured knee and was still fine….I was just careful with my steps.
Where to Stay in Clarksville, Tennessee
Of course I have to recommend where I stayed because it was MAGICAL! I stayed at the Storybook Cottage and loved it so much. Each room here is like if a fairytale character grew up and designed the space themselves. There is a Snow White bedroom, a Cinderella living room, and a Little Mermaid kitchen. I HIGHLY recommend it.
The same owners of the Storybook Cottage also have another nearby rental: The Pink House. Here, every room is pink, but it’s not overwhelming. Instead, it’s sophisticated and elegant. This would be another great place to stay!
AND if that’s too frilly for you, they also have The Old Clarksville House next to The Pink House, which has a more antique feel with darker colors and richer woods (think old school library/smoking room vibes here).
More Things To Do in Clarksville
Looking for more things to do in Clarksville? Here are some more ideas!
- Fort Defiance Civil War Park — A Civil War fort with an interesting history! It’s also on the hill overlooking Clarksville with some lovely views and has a path down to the Cumberland River.
- Cumberland River Walk — Take a stroll along Clarksville’s Cumberland River! Park at McGregor Park or walk from downtown via the pedestrian overpass.
- Warehouse 41 Antique Mall — Another vintage/antique/flea market with lots of shopping opportunities!
- Downtown Murals and Churches — The church architecture in downtown Clarksville cannot be missed! Plus there are some great murals around town too.
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