The Open Road Travel

A road trip from Nashville to Washington D.C. takes you from the capital of Tennessee to the capital of the United States.

A 665 mile road trip from Nashville to Washington D.C. takes you through Tennessee and Virginia, to the United States Capitol. You’ll pass through the towns and forests of the Appalachian Mountains, as you explore the south-eastern corner of the U.S.

Read on to find out everything you need to know before you set on this incredible journey for yourself.

A road trip from Nashville to Washington D.C. covers 665 miles (1,070 kilometres) and takes around 10 hours to complete. The best route is relatively straightforward and takes you through the states of Tennessee and Virginia.

You begin by taking I-40 east and following it for 210 miles (338 kilometres) to Exit 241. Here, the road will bear right, but you will keep going straight to join I-81. You will then remain on this for 375 miles (605 kilometres), to Exit 300 in Strasburg, Virginia.

You now simply need to join I-66 where it begins and follow the road for its entire 76.5 mile (123 kilometre) duration to your destination of Washington D.C.

The best time for a road trip from Nashville to Washington D.C. is from mid-May to early October. This period covers the warmest, driest stretch of the year both along our route and at the destination, ensuring you can enjoy the trip and all of the attractions from start to finish.

The very end of June and the start of July can be a particularly good time to make the trip, as this will have you in Washington D.C. on the Fourth Of July.

With Washington D.C. being the capital city of the United States, it is known to host extravagant festivities to mark the occasion, so what better place to celebrate the nation’s Independence Day?

At roughly 10 hours in length, a road trip from Nashville to Washington D.C. will be a journey some people try to complete in a single day.

However, for those who really want to enjoy the experience, you will want to break it up with an overnight stay and Knoxville is the best place to do so.

Easily the largest city on our route, Knoxville is home to more than 190,000 people. The original capital of Tennessee upon its founding in 1786, its isolated location caused it trouble growing at first. However, it exploded when the railroad arrived around 70 years later.

Divided down the middle during the American Civil War, Knoxville has the unique distinction of being able to offer attractions for both southern and northern history. With historic buildings, forts, squares, galleries, and museums, it may be the best spot for history buffs in all of Tennessee.

Even if you just want the opportunity to rest up and unwind, a greater collection of amenities like bars, hotels, restaurants, and shops than you will find anywhere else along the route makes Knoxville the best place to stop on a road trip from Nashville to Washington D.C.

The Tennessean Personal Luxury Hotel is a stunning, 5 star hotel in Downtown Knoxville. Surrounded by shops, entertainment attractions, and fine dining restaurants, it is perfectly situated for maximum comfort and convenience throughout your stay.

The property perfectly blends contemporary style and amenities with an atmosphere alive with traditional southern hospitality. Among the luxuries you will find an on-site bar and restaurant, which serve breakfast, dinner, cocktails, and spirits.

Then you have the spacious rooms that are kitted out with a state of the art, 55 inch, flat screen cable HDTV, complete with radio and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as air conditioning, a coffee maker, refrigerator, and top of the range furniture, linens, and towels.

The entire property is pet friendly and a 24-hour concierge service will take care of all of your needs around the clock. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, while on-site parking is offered to all guests as well.

It’s now time to turn our attention to what there is to see and do along our route.

Our list of the 10 top attractions on a road trip from Nashville to Washington D.C. is filled with a range of stops that will appeal to people of all different tastes, ensuring everyone can plan a perfect travel itinerary.

The mountain resort town of Pigeon Forge was established in the late 18th century and is best known as the home of local country music legend Dolly Parton. Having been born and raised in a neighbouring town, Pigeon Forge was turned into a living attraction dedicated to her.

The town launched musical theatres and erected amusement rides, outlet malls, and souvenir stores, while Dolly Parton even got in on the act and created the Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country water park.

This has helped Pigeon Forge to become a popular destination for both Dolly Parton and regular country music fans alike.

Originally known as White Oak Flats, Gatlinburg was founded in 1806. Located on the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it is considered by many to be the gateway to the park, which has made it an extremely popular place to stay for visitors.

Among its collection of unique attractions, you will find the Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum, 407 foot (124 metre) Gatlinburg Space Needle observation tower, 2.1 mile (3.4 km) Sky Lift aerial cable car, Ober Gatlinburg amusement park, and things like covered bridges, ski resorts, and waterfalls.

With the stunning views of the Great Smoky Mountains it has to offer, it is the perfect place to stay for anyone who wants to explore them, but who also wants plenty to do outside of the park as well.

With 12 million visitors arriving each year, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country. At 522,427 acres, it is also the 11th largest national park in the contiguous United States and 19th largest in the nation.

Meanwhile, it is also the 21st oldest national park in the U.S., having been founded in June 1934.

Its popularity stems from its diverse landscape, which offers a huge number of mountains, forests, rivers, streams, waterfalls, and caves, all of which are home to an incredible collection of wildlife.

Add in the historical attractions covering both Native Americans and the pioneers, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park is undoubtedly the best place to appreciate the region as a whole.

Cherokee National Forest covers 655,600 acres and stretches along almost all of the North Carolina – Tennessee border that isn’t covered by Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Founded in 1920, it features 11 wilderness areas included in the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Among its most notable attractions are Big Frog Mountain, the Ocoee River, Watauga Reservoir, Wilbur Reservoir, and stretches of the Appalachian Trail, all of which are abundant with a diverse range of wildlife.

This has helped Cherokee National Forest to become an extremely popular destination for recreational activities like boating, camping, climbing, fishing, hiking, horse riding, and swimming.

George Washington & Jefferson National Forests is a pair of connected national forests spread out across parts of Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia which, at 1.8 million acres, is one of the largest areas of public land in the eastern U.S.

Between them they include a number of prominent features, such as the two highest mountains in Virginia, Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, the deepest gorge east of the Mississippi River, Breaks Interstate Park, and stretches of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Trail.

Throw in the Lignite ghost town, a historic iron furnace listed on the U.S. National Register Of Historic Places, 23 wilderness areas, and a huge range of fauna and flora, and it should be no surprise the area is extremely popular for biking, driving, hiking, hunting, and much more.

Founded in 1882, when the towns of Big Lick and Old Lick merged, Roanoke is Virginia’s 8th most populous city.

Set on the banks of the Roanoke River, the stunning city has a natural feel and is seen as both the commercial and cultural hub of the south Virginia and West Virginia region.

Filled with historic buildings, attractions like art galleries, theatres, and museums, and amenities such as bars, restaurants, shops, and hotels, Roanoke is a fabulous place to get off the road, kick back and relax for a while.

Considered one of the most scenic roads in the world, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Scenic Byway and Parkway that was opened on the 30th of June 1936.

Running for 469 miles (755 kilometres) through the Blue Ridge Mountains, it offers some of the most stunning views in the U.S.

Various scenic overlooks allow you to look into the distance over the forests and peaks, including the 6,684 foot (2,037 metre) tall Mount Mitchell, the highest point in the eastern United States.

Add in attractions like the Blue Ridge Music Center, folk art and visitor centres, nature reserves, and various picnic spots and campgrounds, and driving along any stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway is a fabulous way to embrace the region’s landscape and wildlife during your trip.

Set at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lynchburg is affectionately referred to as both the “City Of Seven Hills” and “City In The Woods”. Originally founded in 1786, it is a destination best known for its stunning scenery and historic attractions.

The Old City Cemetery Museums & Arboretum is the most popular attraction.

Established in 1806, beyond the massive number of historic graves, the arboretum boasts a collection of antique roses, while the museums cover the city’s history with burials, funerals, medicine, slavery, and the railroad.

With other historic buildings, squares, museums, and towers dotted around the town to explore, as well as the incredible natural scenery surrounding it, Lynchburg offers the perfect combinations of the state of Virginia’s culture, history, and landscape.

Harrisonburg is a small town just to the east of Shenandoah National Park that was first established in 1779. A popular destination for people visiting the park, it is home to a wonderful yet often overlooked collection of attractions and historic buildings.

With attractions like the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, Explore More Discovery Museum, and Virginia Quilt Museum, as well as a number of parks and gardens, it is a fabulous place to relax while learning about the history and landscape of Virginia.

Shenandoah National Park is the 19th most visited national park in the United States, with 1,592,000 annual visitors. Meanwhile, its founding on December 26th, 1936, makes it the 22nd oldest and its 200,192 acre area makes it the 33rd largest.

Containing a stretch of the legendary Appalachian Trail hiking route and its iconic Skyline Drive parkway, it is among the best places to explore the Appalachian Mountains, either by car or foot.

Its collection of historic buildings like Rapidan Camp, natural features such as Hawksbill Peak, and wildlife including bears, deer, foxes, and nearly 200 types of birds, all backdropped by stunning views, make it a place that can be enjoyed by all.

A road trip from Nashville to Washington D.C. is a wonderful journey and a great way to see the Appalachian region of the south-eastern United States. From where to stay, what to see, and how long to allow, this guide has everything you need to plan your own dream travel itinerary.

All you have left to do now then is work out what to see and where to stay in Washington D.C. when you arrive, so you can start getting everything booked.

That way, you can begin looking forward to making this incredible journey and experiencing all of its sights and sounds for yourself.