9 Amusement and Theme Parks Near Nashville

For more than 20 years, Dollywood has been one of Tennessee's most popular attractions and destinations. Dollywood is situated in one of the state's most scenic and beautiful areas, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This park offers more than 40 different rides and entertainment along with its Splash & Play water park.

Drive time from Nashville: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Location: Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Beech Bend Park & Splash Lagoon is the closest traditional theme park to Nashville and has been in operation since 1898. This locally owned park is a one-stop family destination that offers a ton of fun with more than 40 rides (including four roller coasters), a water park, two racetracks, and even an on-site campground.​​

Drive time from Nashville: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky

Lake Winnepesaukah, known locally just as Lake Winnie, has been a family-owned and operated amusement park since 1925. It offers more than 30 rides, including three roller coasters, a 1916 carousel, and paddle boats. Amazingly enough, Lake Winnie has retained its old-time fair atmosphere and charm through the years, making this a quintessential stop for families coming anywhere.

Drive time from Nashville: 2 hours, 10 minutes
Location: Rossville, Georgia (near Chattanooga)

Holiday World is a weekend destination that offers nearly 40 rides for the entire family from the youngest to the oldest, but all will tell you that one of their favorite features is the free and unlimited beverage policy. Holiday World also offers a water park, Spashin' Safari, that is included with park admission.

Drive time from Nashville: 3 hours
Location: Santa Claus, Indiana

Formerly known as Visionland, Alabama Splash Adventure offers twice the fun with the Magic City amusement park and the Splash Beach water park. Season Passes are set at a reasonable price for families on a budget.

Drive time from Nashville: 3 hours
Location: Bessemer, Alabama (near Birmingham)

Kentucky Kingdom offers a ton of thrill and family rides and has earned a spot on many lists of top amusement parks in the country. It features several roller coasters as well as a water park, Splashwater Kingdom, which is included with admission. 

Drive time from Nashville: 3 hours
Location: Louisville, Kentucky

While Stone Mountain Park isn't your typical theme park, it offers plenty of wholesome family fun including a paddleboat cruise, a laser light show, a sky ride, a four-story indoor playground, two huge interactive treehouses, onsite camping grounds and even a 1870s Southern town to stroll through.

Drive time from Nashville: 3 hours
Location: Stone Mountain, Georgia

White Water is the Southeast's largest water park and has been voted one of the top 10 water parks in the nation. It's located off Interstate 75 just a few miles north of Atlanta in charming Marietta, Georgia.

Drive time from Nashville: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Location: Marietta, Georgia (Atlanta suburb)

Six Flags Over Georgia was the second Six Flags park and, as expected, is an amusement park loaded with rides. Thrill seekers will be ecstatic about its large selection of roller coasters, and historians will be in awe of the Riverview Carousel.

Drive time from Nashville: 4 hours​
Location: Austell, Georgia (Atlanta suburb)