Nashville’s location puts Memphis, the Jack Daniel’s distillery, and the Civil War battlefields of Franklin within a single day’s drive — all with guided tour options that handle transportation, entry, and logistics so visitors without a car can still reach them. These four day trips cover the most-booked destinations accessible from Nashville in a day.
What are the best day trips from Nashville?
The best day trips from Nashville are the Memphis Tour with Graceland VIP Access ($329, 4.90 stars, 569 reviews), the Nashville to Memphis Day Trip with Graceland VIP and Sun Studio ($380, 4.75 stars, 566 reviews), the Civil War Tour to Franklin with Lotz House and Carnton ($102, 4.78 stars, 568 reviews), and the Jack Daniel’s Distillery Day Trip to Lynchburg ($120, 4.77 stars, 2,023 reviews). Tours run 7 to 15 hours and include round-trip transportation from downtown Nashville.
From Nashville: Memphis Tour with Graceland VIP Access — $329
The Memphis Tour with Graceland VIP Access is the most-reviewed Memphis day trip from Nashville — 569 reviews at 4.90 stars for a 15-hour tour that covers Graceland with VIP access, Sun Studio, and the city of Memphis. VIP access at Graceland bypasses the standard tour lines and includes the Graceland mansion, Elvis’s private planes, the automobile museum, and the Elvis Discovery exhibit. The $329 price includes round-trip transportation from Nashville, all entry fees, and guided access throughout. At 15 hours it is the longest day trip on this list and a genuine full-day commitment — departure is typically early morning and return is late evening. The 4.90 rating across 569 reviews reflects consistent execution on logistics for a complex multi-venue tour with driving time on both ends.
Price: $329 per person | Duration: 15 hours | Rating: 4.90 (569 reviews)
Book the Memphis & Graceland VIP Tour →
Nashville to Memphis Day Trip with Graceland VIP and Sun Studio — $380
The Nashville to Memphis Day Trip with Graceland VIP and Sun Studio adds a dedicated Sun Studio stop to the Graceland visit — the recording studio where Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins recorded in the 1950s. Sun Studio is still an operating recording facility and the guided tour covers the original equipment, the recording booth, and the documented sessions that defined early rock and roll. At $380 per person it is the most expensive day trip on this list, priced at the premium over the $329 Graceland-only tour for the Sun Studio add-on. With 566 Viator reviews at 4.75 stars it has strong marks for the combined experience. The right pick for music history visitors who want both Graceland and the birthplace of rock and roll covered in one trip.
Price: $380 per person | Duration: 15 hours | Rating: 4.75 (566 reviews)
Book the Memphis + Sun Studio Day Trip →
Civil War Tour: Lotz House, Carter House & Carnton from Nashville — $102
The Civil War Tour to Franklin covers the Battle of Franklin — one of the bloodiest engagements of the American Civil War, fought in November 1864 just 20 miles south of Nashville. The tour runs 7 hours and includes guided admission to three Franklin sites: the Lotz House, a German immigrant family’s home caught in the battle’s center; the Carter House, used as a Union command post; and Carnton, a plantation that served as the Confederacy’s main field hospital after the battle. At 568 Viator reviews and 4.78 stars it is Nashville’s highest-rated history day trip. The $102 price includes transportation and all three admissions — a significant value given that individual admission to all three sites would cost more than the tour price. Franklin is 30 minutes from Nashville, making this the shortest day trip on this list.
Price: $102 per person | Duration: 7 hours | Rating: 4.78 (568 reviews)
Book the Civil War Franklin Tour →
Jack Daniel’s Distillery Day Trip from Nashville — $120
The Jack Daniel’s Distillery Day Trip covers the 90-minute bus ride from Nashville to Lynchburg, Tennessee, the guided distillery tour, and whiskey tastings at the source. The Jack Daniel’s distillery is located in Moore County — one of Tennessee’s dry counties, where the distillery operates as the only venue in the county where alcohol can be sold and consumed on premises. The tour runs 7 hours and includes round-trip transportation and tasting access. With 2,023 Viator reviews at 4.77 stars it is by far the most-reviewed day trip from Nashville, reflecting the volume of visitors who make the Lynchburg trip annually. The $120 price covers everything; no car or separate transportation is needed. For visitors who want to extend the whiskey angle, a second Jack Daniel’s tour option with a bonus tasting upgrade is available at $149.
Price: $120 per person | Duration: 7 hours | Rating: 4.77 (2,023 reviews)
Book the Jack Daniel’s Day Trip →
We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases through affiliate partnerships.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only. Information and conditions are subject to change. Verify current details directly with the relevant source before making any decisions.
