The best waterfalls near Nashville, Tennessee are Bluehole Falls, Rutledge Falls, Stillhouse Hollow Falls State Natural Area and 7 more, ranked by visitor ratings and distance from the city. The closest is Jackson Falls, about 43 miles southwest of Nashville.
For more waterfalls around Nashville, browse the nearest towns: Woodbury, Centerville, Mount Pleasant, Smithville, Hohenwald, Manchester, Baxter, Tullahoma. You can also see every waterfall on the Tennessee waterfalls page.
How we picked: We looked at the 27 publicly accessible Tennessee waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Nashville that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
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1. Bluehole Falls
60 miles southeast of Nashville. Our top pick near the city 4.9 out of 5 from 94 reviews.
Coffee County, TN 37355 (GPS 35.4863, -86.1041)
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Bluehole Falls is about 60 miles southeast of Nashville, near Manchester. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 94 Google reviews, and 94% of them give it five stars. Reviews most often mention swimming hole, stone fort, and dog friendly.
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2. Rutledge Falls
63 miles southeast of Nashville. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 82 reviews.
Coffee County, TN 37355 (GPS 35.4220, -86.1378)
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Rutledge Falls is about 63 miles southeast of Nashville, near Manchester. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 82 Google reviews, and 90% of them give it five stars.
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3. Stillhouse Hollow Falls State Natural Area
56 miles southwest of Nashville. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 154 reviews.
Maury County, TN 38474 (GPS 35.4647, -87.2702)
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Stillhouse Hollow Falls State Natural Area is about 56 miles southwest of Nashville, near Mount Pleasant. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 154 Google reviews, and 88% of them give it five stars. Reviews most often mention steep trail, shallow pool, and elevation gain.
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4. Virgin Falls
84 miles east of Nashville. Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 41 reviews.
White County, TN 38583 (GPS 35.8392, -85.3308)
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Virgin Falls is about 84 miles east of Nashville, near Sparta. Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 41 Google reviews, and 95% of them give it five stars.
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5. Great Falls
69 miles east of Nashville. Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 39 reviews.
Warren County, TN 38581 (GPS 35.8048, -85.6303)
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Great Falls is about 69 miles east of Nashville, near Spencer. Visitors rate it 4.9 stars across 39 Google reviews, and 87% of them give it five stars. Older records also call it Horseshoe Falls.
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6. Burgess Falls
67 miles east of Nashville. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 434 reviews.
Putnam County, TN 38544 (GPS 36.0440, -85.5983)
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Burgess Falls is about 67 miles east of Nashville, near Baxter. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 434 Google reviews, and 88% of them give it five stars. In short: "Prominent cascade waterfall spilling 136 ft. into a large limestone gorge enclosed by sheer walls." The USGS gazetteer describes it as: The falls have a vertical drop of 136 feet.
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7. Little Falls
61 miles southeast of Nashville. Rated 5.0 out of 5 from 11 reviews.
Coffee County, TN 37355 (GPS 35.4840, -86.1041)
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Little Falls is about 61 miles southeast of Nashville, near Manchester. Visitors rate it 5.0 stars across 11 Google reviews.
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8. Machine Falls
62 miles southeast of Nashville. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 328 reviews.
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Machine Falls is about 62 miles southeast of Nashville, near Tullahoma. Visitors rate it 4.7 stars across 328 Google reviews, and 82% of them give it five stars. Reviews most often mention Machine Falls, steep trail, and hike to the falls.
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9. Fall Creek Falls
87 miles southeast of Nashville. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 572 reviews.
Van Buren County, TN 37367 (GPS 35.6659, -85.3558)
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Fall Creek Falls is about 87 miles southeast of Nashville, near Spencer. Visitors rate it 4.8 stars across 572 Google reviews, and 90% of them give it five stars. In short: "This striking 256-ft waterfall in a forest has an overlook with a trail down to its plunge pool." Older records also call it Falls Creek Falls.
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10. Jackson Falls
43 miles southwest of Nashville. Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 53 reviews.
Hickman County, TN 38461 (GPS 35.6967, -87.2956)
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Jackson Falls is about 43 miles southwest of Nashville, near Centerville. Visitors rate it 4.6 stars across 53 Google reviews, and 74% of them give it five stars.
Waterfall Day Trips From Nashville
| Waterfall | Distance | Nearest town | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Falls | 43 mi southwest | Centerville | 4.6 |
| Stillhouse Hollow Falls State Natural Area | 56 mi southwest | Mount Pleasant | 4.8 |
| Bluehole Falls | 60 mi southeast | Manchester | 4.9 |
| Little Falls | 61 mi southeast | Manchester | 5.0 |
| Machine Falls | 62 mi southeast | Tullahoma | 4.7 |
| Rutledge Falls | 63 mi southeast | Manchester | 4.9 |
| Burgess Falls | 67 mi east | Baxter | 4.8 |
| Great Falls | 69 mi east | Spencer | 4.9 |
| Virgin Falls | 84 mi east | Sparta | 5.0 |
| Fall Creek Falls | 87 mi southeast | Spencer | 4.8 |
Straight-line distances from downtown Nashville. Driving distances are longer, especially in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterfall near Nashville?
Bluehole Falls tops our 2026 list. It is about 60 miles southeast of Nashville and rated 4.9 stars from 94 Google reviews.
What is the closest waterfall to Nashville?
Of the waterfalls on this list, Jackson Falls is the closest, about 43 straight-line miles southwest of the city, near Centerville.
How many waterfalls are near Nashville?
We track 27 publicly accessible, reviewed waterfalls in Tennessee within 100 miles of Nashville, 1 of this list's picks within 50 miles. See every waterfall in the state on the Tennessee waterfalls page.
How was this list made?
We looked at the 27 publicly accessible Tennessee waterfalls within 100 straight-line miles of Nashville that have at least five Google reviews, then ranked them by a weighted rating with a small penalty for distance, so a great waterfall close to town edges out an equally rated one far away.
Why does the Cumberland Plateau have so many waterfalls?
Its hard sandstone caprock sits on top of softer shale and limestone. Streams erode the soft layers faster than the caprock, leaving ledges that water plunges over into deep gorges.
Summary
Bluehole Falls is our top waterfall pick near Nashville, rated 4.9 out of 5 and about 60 miles from the city. Ratings and review counts reflect public data at the time of writing and can change, and trail access and water levels vary through the year, so confirm conditions before you go.
Tennessee's wettest months generally run from winter into spring, so falls are usually fullest from about January through May. Spring also brings wildflowers in the Smokies and on the plateau's gorge slopes, and it is the favorite season for many visitors. Summer is hot and humid, with thunderstorms that can briefly swell creeks; it is also the main swimming season at sites like Cummins Falls and Foster Falls. By late summer and early fall, many plateau falls, including the big ones, can thin dramatically during dry spells. October brings fall color and heavy crowds, especially in the Smokies around Gatlinburg. Winter offers solitude and occasional ice formations on north-facing ledges, though mountain roads may close for snow.
For more Tennessee waterfalls, see the full Tennessee waterfalls page, or read 15 Best Waterfalls in Tennessee, 10 Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Tennessee and 5 Must-See Waterfalls in Tennessee.