Weekend in Franklin TN Itinerary: The Best Things To Do, See, and Eat
This weekend in Franklin TN itinerary features live music, Southern bites, and small town vibes.
Whether you’re visiting for the classic Main Street vibes, boutique shopping, or toe-tapping tunes, this Franklin itinerary will help you make the most of a long weekend in the Middle Tennessee town. Just 30 minutes south of Nashville, Franklin is dubbed “The South’s Most Charming Town,” blending history, Southern hospitality, and a thriving live music scene in a way that perfectly balances laid-back and lively.
And while the town itself has plenty to offer, the surrounding Williamson County adds in trendy retail centers, nature retreats, and whiskey distilleries. It’s also home to some of central Tennessee’s most beautiful countryside, from vineyard-dotted hills to forested scenery along the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Dozens of celebrities, including country music icons and Hollywood names, call the area home thanks to its quiet neighborhoods, sprawling farmland, and proximity to Nashville’s buzzing music scene.
While I’ve popped into Franklin before on road trips to Nashville, I decided to visit for a little longer recently with a friend to experience more of what the city has to offer. Over the course of four days, we brunched downtown, explored the artsy village of Leiper’s Fork, sipped wine at Arrington Vineyards, joined an open-mic night, and rode the vintage trolley to historic sites. This handy guide is full of everything we did and ate, and will help you plan your perfect weekend in Franklin.
Day 1 – Downtown Franklin and Leiper’s Fork
Have Brunch in Franklin
Brunching in Franklin was one of my favorite activities. I love breakfast foods, and the eateries around town had tons of variety, including hearty dishes with a Southern spin.
There are way too many spots to try with just a weekend in Franklin, but I loved the biscuits and grits at Biscuit Love, the quiche and baked goods at Merridee’s Breadbasket, and the crepes and lattes at the Coffee House at Second and Bridge. Ruby Sunshine is another popular spot off the square that I haven’t made it to yet.
If you don’t have a full first day in Franklin, these spots are open for lunch hours as well.
Stroll Main Street in Downtown Franklin
Downtown Franklin’s classic Main Street is both aesthetically pleasing and full of fun shops and eateries in storefronts dating back to 1799. A 16-block zone encompassing the public square, main thoroughfare, and surrounding streets has been designated a “Great American Main Street” by the Main Street America organization.
If you like to shop, carve out a couple of hours to pop into White’s Mercantile, Landmark Booksellers, the Green Room, and a handful of other boutiques and galleries. Make sure to stop by the public square to read the five plaques telling the “Fuller Story” around the town’s history with slavery and the Civil War.
Ride the Franklin Hop Trolley
The Franklin Hop trolley is a fun way to see top sites around the town. Departing on the hour from the visitor center, it makes a 45-minute loop with a guide who narrates the journey, recapping the history of the Battle of Franklin and other significant events.
You can hop off at spots like the Factory at Franklin and the Carter and Lotz houses to explore or ride the full route at once for more of a tour experience. We stayed on for the whole loop and thought it was a great way to explore without having to walk or drive ourselves.
Reserve your tickets online in advance, or grab them on-site the day you want to ride.
Explore Leiper’s Fork
About 10 miles from Franklin just off the Natchez Trace Parkway, Leiper’s Fork is a tiny village that feels tucked away from the world. The small downtown district looks like a step back in time, with the few scattered historic buildings converted into shops, galleries, a spa, and music venues.
Carve out a full afternoon here to do a tour or tasting at the Leiper’s Fork Distillery and pop into a few stores before they close. In the evening, you can grab drinks at the Tornado Room speakeasy that’s hidden beneath the Country Boy Restaurant (look for the green light on the side of the building) and enjoy dinner with live music at Fox and Locke. We were there on a Thursday for the popular open mic night, but they typically have entertainment on the stage on Wednesday through Saturday evenings.
Day 2 – Spring Hill and Arrington Vineyards Day Trip
Eat Breakfast in Spring Hill
Spring Hill, a small town about 15 miles south of Franklin, is perfect for a half day trip with a change of scenery. I highly recommend arriving in time for breakfast or lunch at Brunch Collective.
The cafe is in a cute little historic house with rooms converted into dining spaces and a lawn full of picnic tables and pink umbrellas. The menu features loaded toasts and waffles, breakfast sandwiches, and flavor-packed burrito bowls. I loved the pink lemonade served in glass jars and the thick-cut candied bacon the best.
Shop in Spring Hill
After brunch in Spring Hill, plan to spend another hour or two checking out the shops around town. The Spring Hill Antique Mall and Rock-a-Roll Records are fun to browse, Hidden Seed Plant Shop is packed with greenery and has a shaved ice truck out front, Early’s Honey Stand sells several varieties of jars and offers samples, and Birdy Grace Boutique is the perfect girly shop.
We popped into the Fainting Goat for coffee before leaving town. The cafe has indoor seating as well as tables and swing chairs outside and the flavored lattes were delicious!
Picnic at Arrington Vineyard
Arrington Vineyards makes the perfect next stop on a day trip from Franklin. It’s about 30 minutes from both Franklin and Spring Hill with beautiful countryside views of rolling hills and rows of vines.
The venue offers wine tastings, flights, and slushies in summer that you can enjoy on patios and picnic tables scattered around the property. If you want to eat lunch here, order a picnic in advance or grab charcuterie supplies from the store. There was also a food truck open when we visited on a Friday.
On weekends between May and October, you can enjoy live music on the outdoor stage in the afternoon. This would also be a beautiful spot to watch the sunset!
Enjoy Dinner With Live Music
Dinner and some live tunes is a must in Franklin, and there are a few different venues that offer the experience. For dinner downtown, I recommend Puckett’s for Southern dishes and an intimate stage or Gray’s on Main for elevated comfort foods and a larger music space on the second floor.
We also did dinner and a show one night by attending a concert at Graystone Quarry, home to the First Bank Amphitheater. The stage is tucked into the quarry pit, with rock walls for a backdrop. It’s in Thompson’s Station, about 20 minutes outside of Franklin.
Check the concert calendar to see if there will be any shows when you visit. It’s a super cool experience and there were lots of food and drink vendors on site.
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Day 3 – Factory at Franklin and Outdoor Activities
Grab Coffee and Baked Goods
Franklin has tons of tasty bakeries and coffee shops, so pop in for some breakfast baked goods to get your day started. The Onyx + Alabaster Coffee Lounge and Frothy Monkey are great downtown spots for a quick cup, and Triple Crown Bakery is super cute if you want to order fresh pastries and tea service.
Or, make your way over to the Factory at Franklin for the original Honest Coffee Roasters location and 100-layer doughnuts from Five Daughter’s Bakery.
Visit the Factory at Franklin
You can spend anywhere from one to several hours at the Factory at Franklin, depending on how much you want to do, eat, and see. The venue in a 1920s stove factory is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and holds shops, restaurants, and bars.
I love Hattie B’s and Mojo’s Tacos for lunch, but there’s also Edley’s for barbecue, Daddy’s Dogs for loaded buns, Otaku Ramen for noodle and rice bowls, and more. The Fork of the South general store has an ice cream counter and a tea room.
In addition to the more than 20 retailers and galleries, the Factory is home to the Mockingbird Theater music venue, the Experience Lab by Charity: Water, the carved wooden Carousel of Dreams, a yoga studio, and regular farmers markets. The Factory is a must on your Franklin itinerary!
Enjoy the Outdoors
As an outdoorsy girl, I had to check out what Franklin had to offer in the nature and adventure department and let me just say – I need to come back for more! I visited on a hot summer weekend, so I picked paddleboarding for my outdoors time.
Paddle Dogs in the Westhaven neighborhood rents boards and kayaks you can take out on a small lake that’s easy to navigate. You can grab hot dogs and lemonade at the snack stand when you finish.
If you’re looking for more adventures, drive Highway 96 out to the Natchez Trace Parkway and check out the arched bridge before heading to Timberland Park to hike. The Pedago rental shop in downtown Franklin also has e-bikes you can take out to the Parkway for a scenic ride.
