Guest, Sign inJoin
Oak-ridge-commemorative-walk1Oak Ridge, #1 on this list · Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 3.0
Tennessee rankings · Outdoors

Best towns for the outdoors in Tennessee

Oak Ridge ranks first on outdoors among Tennessee’s 177 towns of 2,500+; 11 of the 177 grade A− or better on outdoors nationally.

The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. How grades work

#1

Oak Ridge

Anderson County · 35,395 people
A

Outdoors grade, better than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #69 of 175 in TN

#2

Bristol

Sullivan County · 28,107 people
A

Outdoors grade, better than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #112 of 175 in TN

#3

Signal Mountain

Hamilton County · 8,824 people
A

Outdoors grade, better than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #2 of 175 in TN

All 177 towns

Outdoors grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 4 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

177 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1Oak RidgeAnderson County · 35,395 peopleAbetter than 89% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #69 of 175
2BristolSullivan County · 28,107 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #112 of 175
3Signal MountainHamilton County · 8,824 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #2 of 175
4Oak HillDavidson County · 4,581 peopleAbetter than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #74 of 175
5Sewanee College campusunincorporated, Franklin County · 2,936 peopleA−better than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall C+
6ChattanoogaHamilton County · 194,144 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #137 of 175
7Harrisonunincorporated, Hamilton County · 8,011 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #19 of 175
8CrossvilleCumberland County · 13,113 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #147 of 175
9GatlinburgSevier County · 3,715 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #135 of 175
10KnoxvilleKnox County · 202,021 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #108 of 175
11MemphisShelby County · 609,647 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #170 of 175
12Colonial Heightsunincorporated, Sullivan County · 3,258 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #36 of 175
13FairviewWilliamson County · 10,877 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #10 of 175
14CollegedaleHamilton County · 11,499 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #31 of 175
15Nashville745,904 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
16KingsportSullivan County · 57,530 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #130 of 175
17ColliervilleShelby County · 51,909 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #22 of 175
18Estill SpringsFranklin County · 2,692 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #113 of 175
19BartlettShelby County · 56,416 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #40 of 175
20ClintonAnderson County · 10,466 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #65 of 175
21WoodburyCannon County · 2,828 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #97 of 175
22GermantownShelby County · 40,001 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #20 of 175
23Bean StationGrainger County · 3,190 peopleBbetter than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #85 of 175
24DyersburgDyer County · 15,906 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #166 of 175
25WinchesterFranklin County · 10,438 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #154 of 175
26Ashland CityCheatham County · 5,650 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #93 of 175
27FranklinWilliamson County · 90,226 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #5 of 175
28BrentwoodWilliamson County · 45,313 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #4 of 175
29McKenzieCarroll County · 5,632 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #72 of 175
30ElizabethtonCarter County · 14,350 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #55 of 175
31MartinWeakley County · 11,060 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #107 of 175
32HendersonvilleSumner County · 64,266 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #27 of 175
33KingstonRoane County · 6,299 peopleB−better than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #34 of 175
34La VergneRutherford County · 42,146 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #82 of 175
35SmyrnaRutherford County · 63,321 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #86 of 175
36Pigeon ForgeSevier County · 6,598 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #159 of 175
37Johnson CityWashington County · 74,943 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #104 of 175
38Red BankHamilton County · 12,405 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #76 of 175
39TiptonvilleLake County · 3,333 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #171 of 175
40AthensMcMinn County · 15,263 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #109 of 175
41Union CityObion County · 10,814 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #158 of 175
42JonesboroughWashington County · 6,990 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #33 of 175
43Sale Creekunincorporated, Hamilton County · 2,955 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #78 of 175
44LafayetteMacon County · 6,020 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #91 of 175
45MorristownHamblen County · 33,517 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #149 of 175
46East RidgeHamilton County · 21,921 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #99 of 175
47LoudonLoudon County · 6,963 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #35 of 175
48TullahomaCoffee County · 21,279 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #142 of 175
49LewisburgMarshall County · 13,517 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #145 of 175
50UnicoiUnicoi County · 3,861 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #118 of 175
51LouisvilleBlount County · 4,562 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #43 of 175
52RockwoodRoane County · 5,607 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #121 of 175
53CovingtonTipton County · 8,585 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #155 of 175
54Thompson's StationWilliamson County · 9,469 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #13 of 175
55NewportCocke County · 7,049 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #122 of 175
56Kingston SpringsCheatham County · 2,758 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #58 of 175
57MillingtonShelby County · 12,953 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #168 of 175
58Jefferson CityJefferson County · 9,103 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #80 of 175
59Soddy-DaisyHamilton County · 13,474 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #66 of 175
60JacksonMadison County · 69,339 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #172 of 175
61LexingtonHenderson County · 8,130 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #127 of 175
62MunfordTipton County · 6,996 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #84 of 175
63Middle Valleyunincorporated, Hamilton County · 12,187 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #38 of 175
64CookevillePutnam County · 38,212 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #114 of 175
65Hallsunincorporated, Knox County · 10,272 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #28 of 175
66FarragutKnox County · 25,121 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #12 of 175
67AlcoaBlount County · 13,689 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #98 of 175
68GoodlettsvilleDavidson County · 17,506 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #124 of 175
69MurfreesboroRutherford County · 171,178 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #67 of 175
70NewbernDyer County · 3,222 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #59 of 175
71GreenbrierRobertson County · 7,170 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #54 of 175
72HendersonChester County · 6,590 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #29 of 175
73BolivarHardeman County · 5,043 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #174 of 175
74ClarksvilleMontgomery County · 188,829 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #126 of 175
75GallatinSumner County · 54,590 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #47 of 175
76HumboldtGibson County · 7,841 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #160 of 175
77Fairfield Gladeunincorporated, Cumberland County · 9,487 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #88 of 175
78Mount PleasantMaury County · 5,103 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #148 of 175
79ManchesterCoffee County · 13,776 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #123 of 175
80Tellico Villageunincorporated, Loudon County · 7,414 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #30 of 175
81MaryvilleBlount County · 32,442 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #16 of 175
82ParisHenry County · 10,468 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #94 of 175
83DandridgeJefferson County · 3,947 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #83 of 175
84RogersvilleHawkins County · 4,690 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #129 of 175
85White PineJefferson County · 2,619 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #63 of 175
86RipleyLauderdale County · 7,499 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #175 of 175
87HarrimanRoane County · 6,192 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #120 of 175
88SavannahHardin County · 7,689 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #169 of 175
89Apisonunincorporated, Hamilton County · 4,271 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #32 of 175
90AtokaTipton County · 10,645 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #48 of 175
91Karnsunincorporated, Knox County · 4,115 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #37 of 175
92HarrogateClaiborne County · 4,454 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #138 of 175
93DunlapSequatchie County · 6,089 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #128 of 175
94DicksonDickson County · 17,051 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #71 of 175
95SelmerMcNairy County · 4,575 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #133 of 175
96PortlandSumner County · 13,658 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #46 of 175
97LakelandShelby County · 14,422 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #11 of 175
98Belle MeadeDavidson County · 2,621 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #39 of 175
99WaverlyHumphreys County · 4,430 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #139 of 175
100Spring HillWilliamson County · 61,336 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #6 of 175
101HuntingdonCarroll County · 4,462 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #61 of 175
102Lenoir CityLoudon County · 12,530 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #101 of 175
103MontereyPutnam County · 2,827 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #117 of 175
104FayettevilleLincoln County · 7,068 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #146 of 175
105ClevelandBradley County · 51,172 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #150 of 175
106ErwinUnicoi County · 6,019 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #41 of 175
107OneidaScott County · 3,899 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #165 of 175
108PulaskiGiles County · 8,394 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #143 of 175
109LynchburgMoore County · 6,920 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #131 of 175
110DaytonRhea County · 7,819 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #106 of 175
111TusculumGreene County · 3,421 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #7 of 175
112MadisonvilleMonroe County · 5,428 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #161 of 175
113EtowahMcMinn County · 3,786 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #90 of 175
114La FolletteCampbell County · 7,176 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #152 of 175
115CentervilleHickman County · 3,589 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #56 of 175
116SeviervilleSevier County · 19,010 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #162 of 175
117MilanGibson County · 8,367 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #141 of 175
118ColumbiaMaury County · 50,072 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #144 of 175
119Mount JulietWilson County · 45,172 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #9 of 175
120AlgoodPutnam County · 4,165 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #105 of 175
121Park Cityunincorporated, Lincoln County · 2,813 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #15 of 175
122HohenwaldLewis County · 4,151 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #132 of 175
123ArlingtonShelby County · 15,703 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #18 of 175
124Mascotunincorporated, Knox County · 3,277 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #49 of 175
125SweetwaterMonroe County · 6,706 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #140 of 175
126Hartsville/Trousdale CountyTrousdale County · 12,623 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #52 of 175
127SmithvilleDeKalb County · 5,620 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #157 of 175
128NolensvilleWilliamson County · 15,789 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 175
129JasperMarion County · 3,636 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #73 of 175
130ShelbyvilleBedford County · 26,146 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #167 of 175
131MedinaGibson County · 5,813 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #14 of 175
132SpringfieldRobertson County · 20,090 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #136 of 175
133BrownsvilleHaywood County · 9,301 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #173 of 175
134TrentonGibson County · 4,137 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #116 of 175
135New TazewellClaiborne County · 2,846 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #119 of 175
136LivingstonOverton County · 4,147 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #92 of 175
137LebanonWilson County · 53,412 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #75 of 175
138White HouseSumner County · 17,872 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #26 of 175
139Oak Groveunincorporated, Washington County · 4,626 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #62 of 175
140McMinnvilleWarren County · 13,943 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #163 of 175
141Pleasant ViewCheatham County · 5,797 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #17 of 175
142Oliver SpringsAnderson County · 3,433 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #103 of 175
143LawrenceburgLawrence County · 12,236 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #156 of 175
144Green Hillunincorporated, Wilson County · 6,866 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #8 of 175
145Church HillHawkins County · 7,297 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #51 of 175
146South PittsburgMarion County · 2,927 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #81 of 175
147PipertonFayette County · 2,889 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #111 of 175
148DresdenWeakley County · 2,911 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #60 of 175
149CamdenBenton County · 3,690 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #96 of 175
150Lake Tansiunincorporated, Cumberland County · 4,437 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #125 of 175
151OaklandFayette County · 10,835 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #87 of 175
152GreenevilleGreene County · 16,141 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #102 of 175
153Wildwood Lakeunincorporated, Bradley County · 3,495 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #79 of 175
154SpartaWhite County · 5,038 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #134 of 175
155Coalfieldunincorporated, Morgan County · 2,754 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #77 of 175
156Powellunincorporated, Knox County · 13,739 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #21 of 175
157BrightonTipton County · 2,892 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #100 of 175
158Mount CarmelHawkins County · 5,540 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #64 of 175
159MillersvilleSumner County · 6,438 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #70 of 175
160WestmorelandSumner County · 2,879 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #23 of 175
161Forest HillsDavidson County · 4,473 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #95 of 175
162WhitevilleHardeman County · 4,482 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #151 of 175
163SomervilleFayette County · 3,622 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #164 of 175
164MaynardvilleUnion County · 2,723 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #153 of 175
165South Clevelandunincorporated, Bradley County · 7,452 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #42 of 175
166Blountvilleunincorporated, Sullivan County · 3,309 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #89 of 175
167White BluffDickson County · 4,516 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #45 of 175
168Spurgeonunincorporated, Sullivan County · 4,071 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #53 of 175
169Bloomingdaleunincorporated, Sullivan County · 9,292 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #110 of 175
170Seymourunincorporated, Blount County · 16,216 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #57 of 175
171Hopewellunincorporated, Bradley County · 2,634 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #44 of 175
172CoopertownRobertson County · 4,843 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #68 of 175
173Eagleton Villageunincorporated, Blount County · 5,598 peopleD−better than 2% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #50 of 175
T174Christianaunincorporated, Rutherford County · 4,777 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall A · #3 of 175
T174MosheimGreene County · 2,547 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall C− · #115 of 175
T174Shackle Islandunincorporated, Sumner County · 4,404 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B+ · #24 of 175
T174Strawberry Plainsunincorporated, Jefferson County · 2,669 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B+ · #25 of 175
Quick answers

Questions people ask

Which Tennessee town is best for the outdoors?

Oak Ridge (Anderson County) ranks first on outdoors among 177 towns, with an A; Bristol and Signal Mountain follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a outdoors grade (177 in Tennessee). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Tennessee page.

Go deeper

More Tennessee lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Tennessee rankings →
Best places to live175 towns · #1 NolensvilleBest small towns107 towns · #1 Signal MountainMost affordable towns177 towns · #1 Strawberry PlainsSafest towns129 towns · #1 NolensvilleTowns with the best schools176 towns · #1 LakelandHealthiest towns176 towns · #1 Oak HillBest towns for jobs & income177 towns · #1 Belle MeadeMost walkable towns177 towns · #1 KnoxvilleTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk177 towns · #1 TusculumMost historic towns177 towns · #1 FayettevilleTowns with the most civic life150 towns · #1 TullahomaTowns with the least snow170 towns · #1 HendersonDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns170 towns · #1 MontereyDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters184 towns · #1 MemphisDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers184 towns · #1 Bartlett and 3 moreDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers184 towns · #1 Mountain CityDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes177 towns · #1 Belle Meade and Forest HillsDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes176 towns · #1 MosheimDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns146 towns · #1 LebanonDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries19 towns · #1 GatlinburgDescribed, no letters
Other states

Best towns for the outdoors in other states

ALAKAZARCACOCTDEFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMSMOMTNENVNHNJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTXUTVTVAWAWVWIWY