July 12, 2026 - Tennessee may be best known for its music, from Nashville’s country roots to Memphis’ rock ’n’ roll legacy, but the state is also becoming a must-ride destination for cyclists.

Bike TN, a statewide cycling initiative from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, features 89 curated road and gravel routes across more than 1,800 miles and 50 counties. With the recent addition of 37 new gravel routes,

the program now gives riders even more ways to explore Tennessee’s scenic beauty, small towns and hidden gems on two wheels.

Developed with professional cycling expertise, including Shannon Burke of Velo View Bike Tours and Tennessee Gravel, all routes are mapped on Ride with GPS, with navigation, elevation profiles, route insights and key waypoints. Here’s a look at some of the awesome routes that await you.

Duck River Gravel Ramble is a 22-mile/35km gravel route in New Johnsonville that winds through the Duck River Wildlife Refuge, offering a blend of scenic wetlands, riparian forests, and open water that’s perfect for both cycling and bird-watching. Stretch your legs along the Duck River, North America’s most biologically rich freshwater ecosystem.

Mississippi River Ramble is a 13-mile/20km, scenic urban road cycling route in Memphis that offers the exhilarating experience of cycling across the mighty Mississippi River from Memphis, Tenn., to West Memphis, Ark., along Big

River Crossing, a cycling/pedestrian walkway attached to the historic Harahan Bridge. Don’t miss a perfect photo op at the giant 50-foot “MEMPHIS” sign and scale model of the Lower Mississippi River.

Fall Creek Falls Loop is a scenic, 36-mile/58km cycling adventure that’s really two routes combined into one ride, with the first part heading out of the park for picturesque country roads, and the second part touring the rolling paved roads inside the park.

Discover the allure of Tennessee’s most-visited state park, Fall Creek Falls State Park, home to the state’s tallest waterfall and one of the highest in the eastern U.S., along with a vast 30,000-acre wilderness with views of gorges, hardwood forests, and farmland.

Following a day in the saddle there are plenty of ways to refuel from award-winning Michelin-recognized restaurants, to cocktail bars, breweries, distilleries, cafés and bakeries, that’ll have you begging for seconds. Don’t miss the opportunity to sample some Tennessee favourites, including Nashville hot chicken, a Memphis-style barbecue, southern biscuits and moonpies.

Tennessee also offers a wide array of accommodation options from cozy cabins and chalets, to boutique hotels, B&Bs, campsites and RV parks, inns and relaxing resorts, all available for review on the Bike TN website.

There are also plenty of cycling events to experience, from the Elk River Valley 100 (Aug. 29) to the Cycle Sequatchie Century, the 3 Mountain Challenge (Oct. 3) and the Gravel Revival (Oct. 16-18).

Tennessee’s mountains are some of the oldest in the world, and the state has always valued those who venture off the beaten path, including those on two wheels, and come back with a story to tell.