Looking for the best things to do in Clarksville, Tennessee? I spent a long weekend there in late October, and this city packs in a lot. Over the weekend I explored a museum with a bubble cave, hiked around a state park cave, tasted wine at a winery that’s been open since 1986, threw my first bowls on a pottery wheel, and made a stained glass ghost. This is my full list of things to do in Clarksville, based on exactly what I did, in an order that makes it easy to plan your own trip.
Thank you to Visit Clarksville for hosting me on this trip. As always, all opinions are my own.
Table of Contents
In a Rush? The Best Things to Do in Clarksville
If you only have one full day, spend the morning at the Customs House Museum, have lunch at Old Glory, do a tasting at Beachaven Winery in the afternoon, and end the night with a hands-on workshop downtown. If you have a full weekend, add Dunbar Cave, Liberty Park, the Riverwalk, and Rotary Park. For a day-by-day plan, see my Clarksville weekend itinerary or my day trip from Nashville to Clarksville.
Book Ahead: DoubleTree by Hilton Clarksville Downtown | River City Clay pottery classes | ArtLink Clarksville workshops
1. Explore the Customs House Museum
📍 200 South 2nd Street | Best for: a morning of history and fun exhibits
Of all the things to do in Clarksville, the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center is the one I’d put first on any itinerary. It’s Tennessee’s second-largest general interest museum, and it’s housed in the city’s 1898 federal post office and custom house in the middle of downtown, right next to the Montgomery County Courthouse clock tower.
Head straight to the lower level for the two exhibits everyone talks about. The Bubble Cave lets you step inside a giant bubble ring and pull a soap bubble up around yourself, and the model train exhibit is a huge, detailed layout that was decked out with pumpkins, a mini Ferris wheel, and spooky Halloween scenes when I visited. Upstairs, I wandered through an art gallery with a massive patchwork quilt, a historic fire engine, a race car, and the Challenge & Champions exhibit honoring Clarksville’s Olympic legend Wilma Rudolph.
Tip: The museum opens at 10 a.m., and admission is $12 for adults ($5 for kids ages 3 to 17). Pair it with breakfast at The Amsterdam Local a few blocks away, and see my guide to where to eat in Clarksville for more spots nearby.
2. Find the Clarksville Starry Night Mural
📍 420 Madison Street | Best for: a quick photo stop
The Clarksville Starry Night mural covers the entire side of a building on Madison Street. It reimagines Van Gogh’s famous swirling sky above Clarksville’s own historic skyline, and it’s even bigger in person than it looks in photos. It’s just a few doors up from the Customs House, so it’s an easy add-on to your museum morning.
While you’re downtown, also look for the “Last Train to Clarksville” colorful train mural painted on the stone pillar under the old railroad bridge near the Customs House. In the fall, the downtown scarecrows make it even more photogenic. If you’re traveling solo, a phone tripod makes it easy to get a photo with the whole mural in the frame.
3. Hike Around Dunbar Cave State Park
📍 401 Old Dunbar Cave Road | Best for: an easy nature walk
Dunbar Cave State Park is just a few minutes from downtown, and it’s one of the best outdoor things to do in Clarksville. The cave entrance is framed by white stone arches built into the bluff, and it’s a striking spot to see even if you can’t go inside.
Cave tours weren’t running when I visited, so I did the shorter one-mile loop around the cave area instead. It took me past the cave mouth, through the woods, and along a paved path and boardwalk over the wetlands by the lake. If you have more time, there’s also a three-mile loop.
Tip: Guided cave tours only run June through August, plus weekends in May and September. If you’re visiting outside those months, plan on the trails instead of the cave. The park itself is free to visit.
4. Visit Old Glory Distilling and Silo Park
📍 451 Alfred Thun Road | Best for: lunch and a laid-back afternoon
Old Glory Distilling is more than a lunch stop. The big brick distillery has a full restaurant inside, plus Silo Park out back, an outdoor space with a converted grain silo, a stage, picnic tables, and bright red Adirondack chairs. I had a late lunch here (the Mexican street corn dip, a strawberry lemonade, and the Grind burger) after a wine tasting at Beachaven, then walked around Silo Park.
5. Do a Wine Flight at Beachaven Winery
📍 1100 Dunlop Lane | Best for: an afternoon tasting
Beachaven Winery has been making wine at this location near I-24 since 1986. I did a tasting flight with two sparkling wines and two dry whites, then took my flight outside to one of the picnic tables on the lawn. Flights of four 3-ounce pours are $12, or you can do a quick tasting of four 1-ounce samples for $4.
Tip: Beachaven has live music and food trucks on weekends, and it also runs a weekend tasting room downtown at the corner of First and Franklin if you’d rather not drive out.
6. Take a Pottery Wheel Class at River City Clay
📍 115 Franklin Street | Best for: a hands-on evening activity
On Friday night, I took a two-hour pottery wheel class ($50) at River City Clay on Franklin Street. I made two bowls, and I’ll be honest: throwing on the wheel is a lot harder than it looks. You don’t leave with your pieces that night, though. Mine will arrive in the mail in about a month.
Tip: Book your class ahead of time. Blackhorse Pub & Brewery and Yada on Franklin are on the same street, so it’s easy to grab dinner before or after.
7. Wander Downtown Clarksville
📍 Franklin Street and Strawberry Alley | Best for: a slow Saturday morning
Simply walking around downtown is one of the easiest things to do in Clarksville. On Saturday morning, I set out on foot from my hotel and spent a few hours exploring, including a walk across the old iron truss bridge. Franklin Street is lined with historic brick buildings, the vintage Roxy Regional Theatre marquee, a public fountain, old-fashioned street clocks, and local shops, bookstores, and boutiques. Strawberry Alley has a cluster of coffee shops and restaurants, plus the big “God Bless Clarksville, Tennessee” sign that makes a fun photo.
Tip: Most downtown shops open around 11 a.m., so grab brunch at The Mailroom first and then shop.
8. Visit Liberty Park and the Pat Head Summitt Statue
📍 1190 Cumberland Drive | Best for: river views and local history
Clarksville is home to two legendary women in sports: Olympic gold medalist Wilma Rudolph and basketball coaching icon Pat Head Summitt. Liberty Park honors both with memorial statues at either end of the park. I stopped by the Pat Head Summitt statue and took in the sweeping views over the Cumberland River from the bluff nearby. If you visit the Customs House first, you’ll already know their stories by the time you get here.
9. Make Stained Glass at ArtLink Clarksville
📍 98 Franklin Street | Best for: a creative afternoon
On Saturday afternoon, I took a two-hour stained glass workshop ($45, ages 16 and up) at ArtLink Clarksville and made a ghost for Halloween. We picked our glass, cut and shaped the pieces, wrapped the edges in copper foil, and soldered everything together. Unlike pottery, you get to take your piece home the same day, and ArtLink’s colorful mural wall makes a great backdrop for a photo of it.
Tip: ArtLink’s workshops change with the seasons, so check the calendar before your trip and book ahead.
10. Walk the Cumberland Riverwalk
📍 McGregor Park, 640 North Riverside Drive | Best for: an easy stroll by the water
The Cumberland Riverwalk runs along the river through McGregor Park, and it’s one of the most relaxing free things to do in Clarksville. I walked across the green pedestrian bridge, stopped at the river overlooks, and followed the path along the water. McGregor Park is also home to the River Center and its “As the River Flows” exhibit about the city’s river history.
Tip: If you’re staying at the DoubleTree, you can reach the Riverwalk on foot from the hotel’s lower level by taking the switchback steps and the pedestrian overpass.
11. Hike the Trails at Rotary Park
📍 2308 Rotary Park Drive | Best for: a fall foliage hike
Rotary Park was one of my last stops before leaving Clarksville. The park covers 111 acres with about six miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, plus a nature center, a disc golf course, and creek wading. In late October, the trees were turning yellow and orange, the trails were covered in fallen leaves, and the entrance sign was decorated with mums and pumpkins.
Tip: The first half mile from the main trailhead is paved, so it’s accessible for almost anyone. The most scenic spot is the bridge at the bottom of the hill near the main trailhead. Bring water for the trails, like this Hydro Flask from my travel essentials.
FAQs About Things to Do in Clarksville:
How many days do I need in Clarksville?
A long weekend is perfect. Two full days covers the highlights, and three lets you add workshops and a slower morning downtown.
What are the best free things to do in Clarksville?
The Starry Night mural, the Cumberland Riverwalk, Liberty Park, Rotary Park, and the trails at Dunbar Cave State Park are all free.
Can you tour Dunbar Cave year-round?
No. Guided cave tours run June through August and on weekends in May and September, but the park and its trails are open all year.
How far is Clarksville from Nashville?
About an hour’s drive, which makes Clarksville an easy weekend trip if you fly into Nashville International Airport (BNA). You’ll want to rent a car, since Dunbar Cave, Beachaven, Old Glory, and Rotary Park are all outside downtown.
Final Thoughts: Best Things to Do in Clarksville
Between the museum, the outdoor spots, the winery, and two hands-on workshops, there are far more things to do in Clarksville than you’d expect from a city its size. If you’re short on time, start with the Customs House Museum and one of the hands-on workshops, then use Dunbar Cave or Rotary Park to get outside. Packing for your trip? Check out my travel essentials on Amazon.
More From My Clarksville Trip
Plan your trip: The Perfect Clarksville Weekend Itinerary | Day trip: Day Trip from Nashville to Clarksville
Where to eat: Where to Eat in Clarksville, TN: 7 Best Spots I Tried on My Weekend
More weekend getaways: A High-Efficiency Guide to Melbourne & Indialantic, Florida | Day Trip from New York City to Beacon, New York
Until next time, happy wanderings!
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