Tennessee has been ranked as the top state for family road trips in 2026, according to a new study by Top Villas. The study considered factors such as family-friendly attractions, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, biodiversity, road quality, weather reliability, and average meal costs.

Nashville and Beyond

Nashville is a great place to start a family road trip, with its music landmarks, museums, restaurants, and walkable downtown attractions. Families can visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, tour the Grand Ole Opry, explore Centennial Park and the Parthenon, see animals at the Nashville Zoo, or add hands-on exhibits at the Adventure Science Center.

Other destinations in Tennessee include Lawrenceburg, where families can explore the historic downtown, Amish Country, David Crockett State Park, and the Natchez Trace Parkway. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is another major reason Tennessee performed well, with its junior ranger program, easy hiking trails, guided horseback rides, and carriage rides.

Other Top States

Half of the top 10 states for family road trips are in the South, with Florida ranking second due to its high number of family-friendly attractions, including theme parks, beaches, springs, wildlife reserves, and national parks. Alabama placed third, scoring high in biodiversity, road infrastructure, and affordability, while Kentucky ranked fourth due to its affordable meal costs and manageable driving distances between attractions.

Georgia also ranked among the top 10, with its high biodiversity and family attractions score. Delaware and Hawaii tied for fifth place, with Delaware ranking highly due to its compact size and Hawaii scoring well for biodiversity, weather reliability, and the concentration of attractions relative to its size.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.