Springfield’s appeal lies in its easy proximity to Nashville – just 30 minutes by car – paired with the ability to go off the grid so close to a major city. A weekend trip to Springfield is devoid of crowds and chaos, brimming with history and visits to small businesses that comprise its courthouse square and downtown district.
Springfield has plenty to do for the active traveler, like a round at its disc golf course or a game on the sand volleyball courts. It’s also home to a lush greenway and a splash pad at Martin Luther King Jr. Park – not to mention, soccer fields, a football field, a track and trails—perfect for cooling off in the steamy summers. Nearby in Robertson County, both White House and Adams boast outdoor offerings like Port Royal State Historic Park.
Springfield’s cultural heart is its agritourism, anchored by the 200-acre Honeysuckle Hill Farm, which has more than 30 family-friendly farm attractions like a flower garden, pumpkin patch, corn maze and adventure park. With roots dating back to 1819, Springfield’s history is steeped in agriculture, dark-fired tobacco in particular. As you drive through the undulating hills around Robertson County, you’ll see the century-old smoking barns peppering the landscape and be able to learn more about this side of Springfield via your first stop in town.
Exploring Downtown Springfield
At the Robertson County History Museum, you’ll learn about every era of Springfield’s past, from the dark days of slavery to the spirited legacy of the area’s distilling culture of Greenbrier. The historical society hosts special offerings throughout the year and also has created a self-guided tour of Springfield available via Google Maps.
The downtown houses boutiques and public art aplenty, as well as the quarterly Free Art Springfield scavenger hunt in partnership with Willow Oak Center for Arts & Learning in which local artists hide original art at locations throughout the city, and the first person to find each piece is welcome to take it for free.
Those looking for diverse dining in downtown Springfield won’t be disappointed.
Southern food is always on the menu at local favorites.
- Willie Mae’s BBQ specializes in hickory-smoked pork, sausage and bologna
- At Larry’s Restaurant, you can get a classic Tennessee meat-and-three
- Deja Moo is a creamery, a coffee shop and a restaurant all rolled into one
Other top Springfield restaurants include The Depot Bar & Grill, BS Brew Works and Public House, and Wilde Wine Co. doubles as both a wine shop and a bar offering myriad special events.
Special Events In Springfield
Springfield’s downtown bustles throughout the year, but its events are worth noting on your calendar. From May through October, 1st Fridays draw thousands of participants who flock to this monthly party on the square featuring live music, more than 80 vendors, a free kids’ zone and a cruise-in. Monthly, Springfield Songs & Stories brings a trio of well-known singer-songwriters to the stage “in the round” at BS Brew Works. The more than 70 artisan booths at Art in the Park take over the Greenway Path at J. Travis Price Park for one Saturday each September, while the Honeysuckle Hill Fall Festival becomes the place to embrace the changing of the seasons during its annual festival from late-September through the end of October.
During fall, Springfield’s spooky history also comes to light. What’s known as one of the most haunted places in America and a favorite spot of paranormal investigators, the once-home to the Bell Witch today is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tours of the Bell Witch Cave are available on weekends from May through November – Lantern Tours are also offered on select evenings – with October bringing the additional option of Witch’s Dell Haunted Hayrides or a Forgotten History Tour, as well as the SPIRIT: The Authentic Story of the Bell Witch of Tennessee festival over two weekends right before Halloween.
Rounding out Springfield’s annual events are Winter Wonderland, free horse-drawn carriage rides on the square and the Christmas Tour of Homes hosted by the Robertson County Historical Society every December.
Where to stay in Springfield, Tennessee
Springfield has no shortage of unique Airbnbs and other vacation rental properties. Kelly’s Jubilee alone offers the option to stay in an ark, a Civil War cabin, a treehouse or a fort. You also can stay on a working horse ranch, in a Cold War bunker-turned-speakeasy or in the heart of downtown at Yellow Dog Stay, a two-bedroom boutique property that’s walkable to all of Springfield’s top attractions.
Learn more at realspringfieldtn.com.
