Approximately 34 minutes south along I-24 from Nashville, Murfreesboro sits as the Rutherford County seat with the Stones River snaking its way right through the heart of this mid-sized city. It's also home to the state's largest college, Middle Tennessee State University which puts on some of the most entertaining sports games in the region. If you're not ready to be around others, there are more than 40 miles of greenway trails throughout Murfreesboro and Rutherford County. If you're wanting to be more social, there are a number of dining and family fun places to fill your day. Whatever you choose, please travel safe to Murfreesboro.
Photo Credit:
Journal Communications Inc./Michael Conti
How to Spend a Day Trip in Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Looking for an easy afternoon getaway a few minutes from Music City? Here's how to spend a day in Murfreesboro.
November 19, 2024
Stones River National Battlefield is the site of the Battle of Stones River, one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War with the highest percentage of casualties on both sides. There are seven miles of trails with information on the battle including strategies and the challenges the Union and Confederate armies faced. Some trails are paved and fully accessible while others go through woods and over rocks. There are guided tours available and interpretive programs hosted throughout the year. Guests are required to wear masks inside. The Visitors Center is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays to Mondays with a maximum of 25 people.
Oaklands Mansion
See the grand architecture of Oaklands Mansion while strolling the grounds, currently open every day from dawn to dusk. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Oaklands Mansion was on the frontlines of the Civil War. The plantation home was one of the most elegant homes in Middle Tennessee, playing host to Sarah Childress Polk (wife of President James K. Polk), Confederate General Braxton Briggs, oceanographer and naval officer Matthew Fontaine Maury. During the Battle of Stones River, Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalrymen defeated Union forces who were camping on the front lawn of Oaklands. It's said the children of the Oaklands Mansion watched the battle from a second story window. Self-guided tours will resume April 1, 2021. Reservations are required and tours will be available 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays. Guests will be encouraged to wear masks indoors.
Cannonsburgh Village
Not far from the battlefield, Cannonsburgh Village is staged to highlight early Tennessee life beginning in the 1830s and is outfitted with a gristmill, one-room schoolhouse, town hall, log home, church, doctor's office, museum, general store, caboose and a working blacksmith's shop to reflect the pioneer times. There's even the world's largest cedar wood bucket on display. Self-guided tours are free, and guided tours are available for a small fee. Currently, Cannonsburgh Village and Visitors Center is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays, with the official season starting April 1. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays.
Discovery Center at Murfree Spring
For families, there's no better way to spend an afternoon than the Discovery Center with its interactive exhibits and themed events. Kids will love the hands-on experiences like the 5 Senses - with a life-sized nose, tongue, ear, hand and eye that dive into the senses of the body; Creation Station where artists can create masterpieces with chalk, paper, cardboard, paint, clay and more; the Farmers Market which teaches how many miles the average meal takes to arrive on plates and information on buying local; and Water Works that covers interactive systems of pumps, wheels and pipes, teaching the power of water. The number of indoor guests is monitored based on CDC guidelines with masks required indoors for guests aged four years old and older. Tickets are first come, first serve to help with physical distancing. Hand sanitizer stations are available throughout the center.
Shopping at The Avenue
With a variety of stores to choose from, The Avenue is a one-stop shop for you to gather inspiration for your home and closet at retailers ranging from Express, Sunglass Hut, Yankee Candle, Kirkland's, Gymboree and more. Have a bite at a variety of restaurants like Bar Louie and BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse. Get a new topcoat or a massage at Nails So Happy, Massage Envy and Spa and ELife Nail Spa.
The Miracle Field
Photo Credit:
Rutherford County CVB
A custom-designed, rubberized baseball field is open to adults and children with special needs that is perfect for wheelchairs and other assertive devices. The Miracle Field can be enjoyed by children of all abilities featuring sensory stations, zipline, ramps and turf. Enjoy a lunch on one of the covered picnic tables or at one of the concession stands.
Where to Eat & Drink in Murfreesboro
Cedar Glades Brews
Check out what's on tap at Cedar Glades Brews, a premier beer lover's destination in Murfreesboro. You'll find sour beers, lagers, farmhouse aleas, Cotswold Morris which is perfectly balanced with roasted malts and hops, IPAs and porters as well as representation from other breweries nationwide. And, if you don't drink, there are non-alcoholic beers to sip, too, from Urban ARtifact's SEEDLESS Mango Sour beer, Athletic Brewing Company's Run Wild IPA and Radeberger Gruppe's Clausthaler Dry Hopped Lager.
Hop Springs Beer Park
Enjoy the rolling hills at the new Hop Springs Beer Park, the tasting room and ultimate hangout spot crafted by Steel Barrel Brewery. You'll find an extensive list of craft beer, live music every weekend and delicious food at the family and dog-friendly venue. Hop Springs is open Wednesdays to Sundays.
Alley on Main
The recipes at The Alley on Main have been passed down for generations, with meals freshly made in-house. Bring a hearty appetite for comfort foods like lasagna with a quarter-pound of beef, pork, four cheeses, basil and meat sauce; tomato pasta that's been perfected over 130 years; fried catfish sandwiches that feature eight-ounce, farm-raised fillets with house-made coleslaw and tartar sauce; 16-ounce T-bone steaks; pork chops and chicken fried chicken. Kids can enjoy a menu that includes pasta, grilled or fried chicken tenders, grilled or fried shrimp, turkey and cheese and The Huck Special - one meatball, no sauce with fries on the side.
Hattie Jane's Creamery
Seasonal and local flavors, including Hatcher Family Dairy milk are infused into the ice cream at Hattie Jane's Creamery while the waffle cones, toppings and other treats are all made in-house from scratch. Flavors include glazed donut, butterscotch Oreo, chocolate coconut honeycomb, cookie jar supreme, Nana Puddin' and more.
Plan a trip to Murfreesboro to discover even more ways to make memories.
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