Tennessee

9 Unique Airbnbs in Tennessee for the Best Weekend Getaways

Posted by
Katie Hill
November 07, 2020
Updated March 28, 2023

Sulfur Ridge TN
Photo: Airbnb

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Forget the bachelorette parties and pricey hotels of Nashville — take your pick from this impressive batch of eclectic stays.

Woodland cabins, barns and bricks, a treehouse, a tiny house, and even a vintage train car are beckoning for you to stay for a few days as you enjoy the forests, rivers, and mountains of Tennessee.

Whether you’re wit energetic kids who require day-long entertainment or are a couple seeking privacy and relaxation, these 12 pads vary in size, amenities, and cost. They offer everything from a two-player Pac-Man console built in a whiskey barrel to a fourth-story observation deck with wow-worthy panoramas — and every one has ample porch space for sipping your morning coffee.

So pull on the cowboy boots, crank up some old country favorites on the radio, snag a bottle of whiskey on your way out of town, and head to the Tennessee wilderness. After a few days here, you’ll likely be volunteering to head back to the Volunteer State every weekend.

Related Read: 12 Gorgeously Secluded Tennessee Cabin Rentals

1. Sulfur Ridge

sulfur ridge tennessee treehouse airbnb
Photo: Airbnb

Why you should stay: Barbie’s dream treehouse on the outside, a woodland Ritz-Carlton on the inside.

  • Nearest town: Bloomington Springs
  • Sleeps: 2
  • Minimum stay: 2 nights
  • Rates from: $284/night

This treehouse boasts a million small but mind-boggling details that make it all the more alluring. From a front gate made from recycled wine bottles to a front door that’s almost 180 years old, the place is like a museum – and that’s before you even walk inside.

Upon entering, the hand-painted king-sized bed and overstuffed chairs upholstered with quilts will make you want to cozy up and hunker down, though the vintage jukebox might inspire you to dance around all day. This spot is a bit off the beaten path, but a little over an hour in the car will get you to downtown Nashville.

The property is also home to three additional vintage campers (available on Airbnb) that can sleep up to six guests in funky retro comfort. For more treehouse options in and around the South, check out our favorite treehouse Airbnb rentals.

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Related Read: 13 Relaxing Cabins in Tennessee with Hot Tubs

2. Modern Mountain Cottage

Luxury Mountain Cottage tennessee
Photo: Airbnb

Why you should stay: It’s a brick…house. 

  • Nearest town: Cookeville
  • Sleeps: 5
  • Minimum stay: 1 night
  • Rates from: $145/night

The floor-to-ceiling windows and wrap-around porch at this modern cottage create plenty of ways to take advantage of the Tennessee sunshine, whether you want to be outdoors or stay in. Scurry up the ladder to a heavily furnished loft, where a king-sized bed and accompanying twin give kids plenty of room to sleep.

The primary suite on the main level has its own access to the porch and more massive windows that look out over the wooded property.

The modern and spacious kitchen and bathrooms have adorable decor and farmhouse sinks, and whomever is lucky enough to get the bedroom also gets a jacuzzi tub and a Roku T.V.  Downtown Cookeville is just five miles away if you want to sneak in an afternoon of shopping and dining.

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Related Read: 11 Peaceful Cabins with Hot Tubs in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

3. The Sassafras

The Sassafras airbnb
Photo: Airbnb

Why you should stay: The charm of this lair is seriously deep-rooted.

  • Nearest town: Johnson City
  • Sleeps: 2
  • Minimum stay: 1 night
  • Rates from: $199/night

You’d have to dig quite deep to come up with reasons to dislike this place. This one-bedroom pad is built under a thick layer of sod, giving the outside seriously Hobbit-esque vibes.

But on the inside, the decor is modern and extravagant, giving the whole place a “superhero hiding out from society” feel. The terrace looks out over a hypnotizing pond scene with an epic waterfall. You can even rent the entire property for a wedding or party and use this room as a bridal suite.

Even though you’re legitimately living underground, you aren’t living under a rock. Johnson City is just a few minutes away and Cherokee National Forest is just a little further. This place is close to the main road but doesn’t get disturbed by traffic or road sounds, giving you the best of both worlds – the one above ground and the one below.

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Related Read: 8 Dreamlike Treehouses in Tennessee

4. Cabin by Bear Lake

Cabin by Bear Lake
Photo: Airbnb

Why you should stay: How does a place this modern and new feel so rustic and charming?

  • Nearest town: Cookeville
  • Sleeps: 5
  • Minimum stay: 1 night
  • Rates from: $240/night

No matter where you look in the Cabin by Bear Lake, you’ll notice furniture, decor, and architectural details that are equal parts five-star city hotel and historic woodland cabin. The old structure recently went under a massive rebuilding, but it somehow still maintains its rustic vibe.

The contract is obvious in pairings like stainless steel appliances and chandelier fixtures next to aged brick and wooden beams. The floor-to-ceiling windows and double french doors open to the forested abyss beyond, and the sunroom looks out on nearby Bear Lake.

A loft with two more beds is accessible by a large ladder, allowing for a bigger family or a sprawling group of friends. This spot is perfect for those looking to escape into a quiet, secluded setting for a weekend getaway.

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Related Read: 9 Unique Places to Stay in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

5. Secluded, Recycled Cabin

Secluded Cabin near Nashville
Photo: Airbnb

Why you should stay: Reclaimed materials prove that one person’s trash is another person’s dream Airbnb.

  • Nearest town: Goodlettsville
  • Sleeps: 4
  • Minimum stay: 1 night
  • Rates from: $150/night

This secluded Tennessee Airbnb rental might have you considering a foray into recycled homemaking by the time you leave. Built recently but made to look old, the two bedrooms and warm kitchen are detailed with repurposed wood and decorated to feel as vintage as the old-fashioned radio sitting on the bedroom desk.

Though some of the materials are old, the space is anything but worn out. Large windows drown the eating area and living room in natural light, and white cabinetry keeps the kitchen feeling fresh and young.

The bathroom boasts a walk-in shower spacious enough to have earned its own window, which looks out over the many forested acres outside – 42 of them, to be exact. Proximity to Nashville is just an added benefit.

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Related Read: 8 Impressive Glamping Spots Near Nashville, Tennessee

6. Riverfront Getaway

riverfront airbnb rental tennessee
Photo: Airbnb

Why you should stay: An observation tower Rapunzel would approve of in the heart of the Tennessee Gorge.

  • Nearest town: Chattanooga
  • Sleeps: 8
  • Minimum stay: 2 nights
  • Rates from: $190/night

It’s hard to get much closer to the river than this riverfront getaway. Between the ground-level covered patio, the second-floor porch, and the four-story viewing tower, you get to choose just how sweeping you want your vistas to be.

Fun and authentic interior design items include a canoe suspended above the dining area and an old two-person saw strapped to the trim above the breakfast bar. The whole place has an L.L. Bean-meet-summer-camp feel that’s both totally unique and totally Tennessee.

When it’s time for bed, kids will love climbing into the twin sleeping nooks, perfect for drifting off to sleep after an active day out on the water.

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Related Read: The 13 Best Hikes Near Asheville, North Carolina

7. Platform 1346

converted train car tennessee
Photo: Airbnb

Why you should stay: Grab your partner for the weekend and take a ride on the love train.

  • Nearest town: Maryville
  • Sleeps: 2
  • Minimum stay: 1 night
  • Rates from: $133/night

Most people can agree that the opportunity to sleep in an old train car is worthy of your hard-earned cash on its own. But when you add in the brilliantly designed interior, full kitchen, and precious patio of Platform 1346, climbing aboard is almost a no-brainer. The amount of press and positive reviews the experience has received is further proof of its serious wow-factor.

The small space packs in a mansion’s worth of accommodations with a fold-down queen bed, desk, and bar-style kitchen seating that looks out over the expert landscaping. Get some fresh air around the firepit, go full-on grill master with the barbecue setup, or lounge on the covered couch swing next to the pond. This is one of the most popular Airbnb Plus stays available in the state.

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Related Read: 8 Best Resorts in Tennessee for Every Traveler

8. Gorgeous Modern Barn

Modern Barn airbnb rental
Photo: Airbnb

Why you should stay: So. Much. Shabby. Chic.

  • Nearest town: Franklin
  • Sleeps: 8
  • Minimum stay: 2 nights
  • Rates from: $424/night

Some places claim to be repurposed barns without staying true to their farm-fresh roots. Fortunately, this modern barn doesn’t have that problem. From the paddock fencing and open fields to the cupola and weathervane, don’t be surprised if an errant “moo” or “neigh” escapes from your mouth upon entry.

This cavernous mansion takes small details very seriously. Exposed beams, a stately stone fireplace, and the bright and airy kitchen might have you wishing you were raised in a barn. Take your breakfast on one patio and your lunch on the other, and then enjoy dinner in the formal dining room with partial booth seating.

Be as loud as you want; you and your group have 80 acres all to yourselves. It’s one of the more expensive options on this list of Tennessee Airbnb rentals, but if you split up the cost, it’s well worth $53 or so per person per night to stay in such an epic home so close to Franklin.

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Related Read: The 12 Best Spots to See Tennessee’s Fall Foliage

9. Small Modern Cabin

signal mountain airbnb rental
Photo: Airbnb

Why you should stay: Forget the front porch looking in – this back porch looks way out.

  • Location: Signal Mountain
  • Sleeps: 4
  • Minimum stay: 1 night
  • Rates from: $150/night

While the interior of this small cabin has everything you could possibly need, the outdoor space and surrounding landscape has everything you could possibly dream of. A wide porch with a postcard-worthy view, a fire pit with wraparound seating, a hammock, and a hanging bench are all perfect for enjoying s’mores and singing campfire songs when nighttime falls.

When it’s time to turn in, head inside to the studio space with two queen beds. A full kitchen tucked into a small corner of the main room might motivate you to cook all your own meals, but you’re only 30 minutes from Chattanooga if takeout sounds like a better companion for your peaceful “Kumbaya” evening. And if you happen to pick up last-minute stragglers, there’s sleeping space for two more in the loft.

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Related Read: 9 Gorgeous & Secluded Cabin Rentals in Kentucky

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