The first question I got asked when I arrived in Johnson City was, “how did you hear about us?” and aside from now being a Tennessee resident, I replied with the most popular answer of, “from the Darius Rucker song, Wagon Wheel.”
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Turns out I’m not alone in associating Johnson City with that song. So however you got here, Johnson City is such a charming weekend getaway destination with great food, beautiful trails, and a wonderful local community that will make you feel right at home. In this guide, I’ll be sharing what to do in Johnson City, TN for the perfect weekend vacation!
WHERE IS JOHNSON CITY?
Located in northeast Tennessee, Johnson City is nestled in the mountains so they’re known for their outdoors! But don’t worry, even if you aren’t “outdoorsy” you’ll find something special about Johnson City. It’s about 1.5 hours from Knoxville, 4.5 hours from Nashville, and an hour from Asheville, NC.
HOW TO GET THERE
The nearest airport is Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) just 25 minutes from Johnson City. You can also fly into Asheville, North Carolina (AVL) or Knoxville, Tennessee (TYS), which are both within 2 hours of the city. If driving, Johnson City falls on US-Route 26, which runs north to south between Asheville to Johnson City and all the way to Charleston, SC.
DO YOU NEED A CAR IN JC?
Yes. While there is a public transportation system, it is still growing and for now and for the Johnson City attractions in this guide, you’ll need a car (and you’ll want one).
Parking is plentiful and free so the city really caters to cars! If you need to rent a car, remember you need to be 25 years old in the US or you’ll need to pay an underage fee. I like searching for rental cars on RentalCars.com, an aggregator to find the best prices!
WHERE TO STAY IN JOHNSON CITY
Hotels are plentiful in Johnson City, but allow me to recommend the Carnegie Hotel. This historic boutique hotel is a replica of the original hotel that fell fate to a fire in the early 1900s. The décor and music that played in the halls was very Tower of Terror for my Disney fans (aka 1930s-era). The rooms are large with modern amenities and the hotel is in the mid-budget range at ~ $130+ per night.
WHAT TO DO IN JOHNSON CITY, TENNESSEE
I’ll be sharing a loose itinerary for Johnson City with the city’s top attractions and my recommended restaurants and shops to visit. Feel free to create your own itinerary with the highlights from this guide to tailor your trip to you!
DAY 1: DIVING INTO LOCAL SCIENCE, THE ARTS, AND FOOD
As you get into town, grab lunch at Gourmet and Company. This restaurant has been around for 30 years and is a staple to Johnson City. Don’t miss their truffle fries and daily quiches!
Make your way to Hands On! Discover Center and Gray Fossil Site. This unique science site is a combination of two institutions sharing a space to foster STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) education for the whole family.
At Hands On! Discover Center, you’ll learn about the Miocene-era discoveries they’ve made on site including mastodons, tapirs, snakes, and so much more! They also have the most incredible award-winning musical Tesla Coil. When I visited, they played Star Wars music on it! AMAZING!
Gray Fossil Site is an active site where they are constantly working to uncover fossils. Students and community volunteers come together to help with these discoveries! You can see the fossil site from the museum’s 2nd floor bridge and can peek into the active lab spaces as they work to sanitize, research, and assemble structures!
It’s likely about time to check in to your hotel. If you haven’t already, make your way to your lodging and get settled!
This evening, I recommend exploring the shops downtown. While I’m not typically a shopper when I travel, I absolutely loved the shops in Johnson City. They were unique and truly special with local love radiating from them.
I enjoyed The Generalist, Terrarium Plant Store, Hometown Cottage, Boomtown and Co, and Patriot Popcorn Company! And you already know I brought some of that popcorn home with me!
For dinner, I recommend Watauga Brewing Company. They have a great range of beer including a stout that I loved. They also have a hazy IPA that is popular!
For dinner, their food is so delicious. I had a monte cristo and it was mouthwateringly good!
If you’re looking for a drink to end the night, stop by Windsor Speakeasy. Yeah, I wasn’t expecting a speakeasy in Johnson City either, so what a pleasant surprise!
This unassuming storefront really opens to a swanky speakeasy with unique cocktails. I had the Last Resort, a rum-based tropical drink and it was an explosion of flavor! Yum!
DAY 2: EXPLORING THE NATURAL WONDERS OF JOHNSON CITY
For breakfast, I recommend either Wellington’s in the Carnegie Hotel if you’re staying on site. They have healthy options, which I was glad to see like a whole wheat waffle and side of berries.
Alternatively, visit one of Johnson City’s many coffee shops. I liked Brewrista and the Bean (their cold brew is out of this world) and Blue’s Brews Co. came highly recommended by locals!
It wouldn’t be a trip to Johnson City without getting outside, so today head to Buffalo Mountain Park for some stunning hiking. I did part of White Rock Loop to Huckleberry Knob viewpoint and Sunset Point, both of which had the most beautiful mountain views and benches to admire them from.
This hike was totally doable even if you aren’t an outdoorsy type. I encourage you to give it a shot!
I recommend taking a screenshot or photo of the trail map so you don’t get lost if you don’t have service. You can also use the AllTrails app.
For lunch, head downtown to Spring Street Sandwich Company. These are some quality sandwiches that are the perfect post-hike meal!
In the afternoon, drive the 25 minutes to Appalachian Caverns in Blountville, Tennessee. These are worth the drive!
The Appalachian Caverns cave system was once occupied by Native Americans. They used the various rooms for different purposes, for example, the sacred ritual room was deemed so because of a unique triangular formation.
On your tour of the caverns, you’ll learn so much about the Native Americans’ innovations, the current operators efforts to explore the cave system, and of course, lots about cave geology and the animals living inside!
Tickets are $15 and the tours last 45 minutes to an hour. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also take a spelunking cave tour starting at $45 where you’ll crawl in the crevices and explore the cave in a totally unique way!
For dinner, visit Café Lola Bistro, a local-loved spot. While I enjoyed my Korean-inspired tofu dish, the chocolate soufflé was truly the standout! They make their chocolate sauce in house and it showed!
DAY 3: GETTING OUTSIDE AND SUPPORTING THE LIBERAL ARTS
One of the most popular brunch spots in town (and for good reason) is Label Restaurant. The restaurant is in a lively, industrial building with an eclectic menu that will satisfy everyone in a larger party. For brunch, they had sushi, omelets, and my favorite, chicken and waffles! So good!
For another outdoorsy staple in Johnson City, you have to visit Tweetsie Trail. This almost 10-mile trail connects Johnson City and Elizabethton and is perfect for walking, jogging, and biking.
You can rent bikes for as little as $25 for 2 hours from Local Motion right at the trailhead for a no-fuss option.
Along the trail, you’ll notice lots of signs teaching you about the area, so be sure to stop to hydrate and learn!
The trail is pretty flat the entire time, so even if you’re intimidated by biking it, it’s very beginner friendly!
Nearby, drive to Tannery Knobs Mountain Biking Park for a final view of the surrounding mountains. If you’re a mountain biker, this is definitely the spot for you, so carve some time to explore this park fully! If not, still drive up there to see the view. You won’t regret it!
Finally, before you wave goodbye to Johnson City, don’t miss The Philosopher’s House, a non-profit tea house extravaganza. Not only do they serve incredible hot and iced teas with lots of noshes, but they host meditation, yoga, fencing, and educational classes all in the name of supporting the liberal arts.
The house has lots of private rooms so you can sit and work, grab a book from their shelves, or even a board game to have some quality time with your companions.
It’s such a special spot that I encourage you to visit and support.
Content provided by Alanna with Periodic Adventures. Read the full story here.
