Appalachian Adventure

Abutting the Virginia-Tennessee border in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Kingsport is a hub for nature with a vibrant, arts-focused downtown. Mountains flank the city from each side and the Holston River snakes its way through the heart of the city, making Kingsport appealing to travelers who are looking for hiking, fishing and other leisurely outdoor pursuits while simultaneously offering a hearty dose of East Tennessee culture.

Where To Get Outdoors In Kingsport

Warrior’s Path State Park 

One of Kingsport’s biggest draws is Warriors' Path State Park, which provides visitors access to the Patrick Henry Reservoir on the Holston River. Thanks to world-class fishing, boaters flock to this park named for the Great Cherokee War and Trading Path, which also attracts hikers and cyclists who take advantage of the internationally renowned mountain bike trail system. Campers can utilize the trio of campgrounds comprising a mix of primitive and RV campsites. Warriors’ Path even has a hammock campground that was the first Tennessee state park built with all recycled or reutilized materials, including felled trees from the park.
 

Fort Patrick Henry Lake

Kingsport is home to Fort Patrick Henry Lake, a fly fisherman’s paradise, as well as the largest city-owned park in Tennessee. Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium skirts Kingsport’s border and features a 44-acre lake with barge rides and is outfitted with a nature center, ropes course and zipline, state-of-the-art Planetarium Theater, and animal habitats that house wolves, bobcats, raptors and reptiles. On Saturdays in October and November at dusk, Bays Mountain hosts StarWatch at its observatory, where attendees can view stars, planets and galaxies through large telescopes.

What To Do In Downtown Kingsport

Downtown Kingsport thrives with creative energy emanating from its top-notch art scene; the Kingsport Cultural Arts organization spearheads many public art initiatives from a mural alley to a sculpture walk. Kingsport has several downtown boutiques like The Dressy Owl Boutique and Rainbow’s End Floral, as well as an active antiques district with shops like River Mountain Antiques and Hudson's General Store & Antiques drawing pickers from all over. For a self-guided tour of Kingsport’s historic attractions and landmarks, follow the Kingsport Selfie Trail, which stops at some of the city’s top spots.

Kingsport is also the home to myriad festivals throughout the year. One of the most eclectic is the Kingsport Carousel’s annual birthday party in July, which is part of the much larger Fun Fest. The carousel features 30 hand-carved animals – including dogs, cats, dragons, tigers and zebras – and rounding boards that share the stories of Kingsport’s history. In 2025, the festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary with six new horses to be decorated by local artists.

For nine days each July, Fun Fest takes over Kingsport with more than 100 events spread across 50 venues around town. This summer celebration concludes with three nights of concerts and an out-of-this-world fireworks display. Racks by the Tracks Festival is Kingsport’s big beer, barbeque and music festival each May while Kingsport’s Red, White and BOOM is one of the largest Independence Day events in the Tri-Cities.

Where To Eat And Drink In Kingsport

• One of East Tennessee’s most iconic regional brands, Pal’s Sudden Service, was born in Kingsport. The very first outpost of the fast-food chain debuted in 1965 and still occupies its original location in downtown Kingsport. 

• For breakfast and lunch, the cash-only Betty’s Stockyard Café serves heaping plates of biscuits and gravy, fried catfish and other traditional Southern fare. 

• Nick’s Restaurant is known for its smashburgers and regular events like Elvis bingo and NFL trivia night. 

• Riverfront Seafood Company serves surf and turf in a waterfront setting. 

• Rounding out Kingsport’s dinner options are Fusion, Phil’s Dream Pit BBQ, Stir Fry Café and Bare Bones BBQ.

• Kingsport also has plenty of specialty food like Cornucopia Popcorn, a gourmet popcorn shop with more than 40 flavors, in addition to fudge and novelty candy. 

• You’ll find Bellafina Chocolates, a nonprofit that specializes in artisan chocolate truffles and treats, in downtown Kingsport, too. The brand lives its “chocolate with a purpose” motto by employing women in recovery and investing profits into nonprofit organizations that serve children.

• Most notably, Kingsport is home of the original Long Island Iced Tea, created in the height of Prohibition by Charles “Old Man Bishop” by combining five liquors and maple syrup. Many businesses in town honor this tradition by celebrating the founding of the drink each June and offering Long Island Iced Tea-themed menu items. 

• Liquor not your thing? Kingsport boasts Tennessee’s first cidery and cider bar, Gypsy Circus Cider Company, and a handful of taprooms and craft breweries like Bays Mountain Brewing Company and Flanagan Brothers Bierworks.

Where To Stay In Kingsport

The largest hotel in Kingsport, MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center is a pet-friendly Marriott property with an 18-hole golf course, a restaurant, a bar, lounge and plenty of special offerings. You’ll find cabins along the lake and waterways, as well as plenty of Airbnbs in Kingsport from downtown lofts to a Tudor-style, three-bedroom townhouse. Learn more at visitkingsport.com.