Five Stays on the Way: Level Up Your Road Trip

One of my favorite travel enhancements is the stay on the way. You’ve already taken off work and packed up your kids and car. Why not maximize your out-of-town time with a stop that’s new or noteworthy? 

One night is all you need. Many places that typically require multi-night stays will make exceptions for weekdays, so if you’re traveling Monday through Thursday, you’re golden. Plus, if you book a one-nighter on the way back from your big vacation, you can avoid that awful Long Last Day of travel and instead recharge somewhere closer to home.

Luxe Dome, Terralodge, Monteagle

92 miles

On the way to: Chattanooga, Atlanta

What’s better than being surrounded by nature? Being surrounded by nature with indoor plumbing and a big-screen TV. Terralodge in Monteagle is less than 20 minutes from downtown Sewanee. Its Scandinavian aesthetic — minimalist and clean yet cozy — is ideal for grilling steaks on the huge porch, watching leaves change through the panoramic windows or spotting deer from the hot tub (a ridiculously whimsical thing that did happen to us). Between the rain shower, heated floors and plush beds, it almost feels wrong to enjoy this many comforts in the middle of the woods — especially when you toss the kids into the twin beds in the loft. (Just be sure to pull the ladder away from the wall before climbing up, lest you nearly impale yourself like this rickety dipshit did.)

Notable nearby: Terralodge is less than 10 miles from Judith Tavern, the seriously delicious and absolutely stunning restaurant from Julia Sullivan, chef-owner of Nashville’s Henrietta Red. Order a cucumber gimlet, the crudo and the golden, crispy chicken Milanese. The thought of the tart green tomatoes and zesty green goddess that the latter was served with this summer still makes my mouth water.

Sleeper Deluxe, Hotel Chalet, Chattanooga

133 miles

On the way to: Atlanta, Birmingham, Gulf of Mexico, South Carolina

Somewhere between reading The Boxcar Children and watching the Downton Abbey intro a hundred times, I became obsessed with sleeping on a train — so the reinvented Chattanooga Choo Choo was a no-brainer. The former railroad hub opened as a hotel in 1973, but until its $10 million renovation in 2023, it was more historic than high-end. Today the rooms are spacious, the lobby sumptuous and the pool and adjacent bar are chic yet still kid-friendly enough to make this a great spot for families. But the real draw? The 25 suites in 1920s and 1960s Pullman train cars, named for George Pullman, who invented the more comfortable sleeper carriages in the 1800s. While the hall and shower might feel a tad tight, the fanciful sophistication of getting to play out your Orient Express dreams — down to the lamp-lit patios outside — is worth the trade. Now on the National Register of Historic Places, the station was made famous by the 1940 Glenn Miller Orchestra song “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” despite the fact that the station wasn’t actually called that. But the big-band, dress-up-to-travel ethos the song conveys still matches everything on site. 

Notable nearby: Smack in the middle of the Southside neighborhood, this location is exceedingly walkable. Ditch the car (parking is $20/night), check out the Terminal bars and shops, and grab a burger at Main Street Meats or a highball at The Boneyard.  

Fisherman Cabin, Fall Creek Falls State Park, Spencer 

135 miles

On the way to: Knoxville, Chattanooga, North Carolina

The state government is typically a hot mess, and that makes it easy to forget the positive. But Fall Creek Falls State Park is unforgettable. Clean, comfortable, affordable and laid-back, the state lodges are a surprise and delight, largely because they let Tennessee’s natural beauty do the work. At Fall Creek Falls, you get a lake view, balcony, pool access and free parking, which should be more than enough to thrill anyone who has staycationed in Nashville over the past decade. Even the local beers (from the inspired Tennessee Brew Works State Park Collection) at the gift shop are not triple the price like they’d be at a big hotel because the government is, theoretically, keeping prices reasonable for Tennessee residents. (I still can’t believe I’m writing this.) There’s one restaurant on-site where the food is pretty good and the lake views are great, but the best plan is to book a Fisherman or Lakeview cabin, bring some groceries and catch your dinner. The two- and three-bedroom cabins don’t just sit on the lake — they sit atop it. So when you look down from your porch, you’re looking right into the water. Pull up a chair, throw out your line and read a book, sip coffee or chat with friends while you see what the tide brings in. It’s a setup that would cost you a small fortune were it not state-run. 

Notable nearby: Happy Trails Brewing in Sparta hosts the most wholesome trivia hour ever on Sunday afternoons, but my must-stop mountaintop remains Calfkiller Brewing. When I picture the perfect fall day — draft beer, crisp breeze, leaves crunching, firepits lit — Calfkiller is where I am. BYO food (or order Domino’s delivery) and stretch out with brewdog Klaus, a very good boy who’s as likely to chase cars as he is to fall asleep in the road. (And it is his road, need he or we remind you.) 

Fairy Cottage, Ancient Lore Village, Knoxville 

187 miles

On the way to: North Carolina, Virginia

Do you sometimes feel like dining dressed as a witch in August? Or toting your quiver of arrows around on a Tuesday without getting side-eye? Ancient Lore Village is for you. As someone who can’t make it through Lord of the Rings but loves a high-class hobbit vibe, this chic shire caught my eye. And once I showed the Fairy Cottage to my 3-year-old? It was on, and it was all pretty adorable. The staff is attentive and kind, boxing up huge portions of the tasty included dinner for us when my daughter wasn’t feeling well. We stayed on a weeknight, and the atmosphere was a little sleepier than I expected, but perhaps I’m the only one who wants a Harry Potter-style bar on site that stays open past 8 p.m. The location is a bit random for East Tennessee — near the mountains yet without a view of them — with the closest Knoxville landmark being Ye Olde Steakhouse. Still, if you’re looking for a place to spend a recovery night after a Knoxville gameday, or if you have a group of kids who squee at the photos, you’ll enjoy the sojourn. 

Notable nearby: Before you head to ALV, stop by the Old City for a cocktail at Brother Wolf and Thai wings at Kaizen. And drop into the Pretentious empire — both the Pretentious Beer Company and the Pretentious Glass Company — where artist turned brewer Matthew Cummings makes and sells his experimental beers in his ethereal glassware. 

Bear Crossing, Alpine Helen, Ga.

257 miles

On the way to: Athens, The Highlands, Cashiers, Charlotte, Charleston

If you like the look of Ancient Lore Village but fear it may push your LARP limit, Alpine Helen, Ga., is your answer. It’s a tiny Bavarian-inspired town in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and even my husband — who was ready to go full Grinch on it — admitted it was magical. Stroll through the quaint shops, listen to live music and build your own German food crawl, starting with a chopped-cheese-style reuben at Cafe International while you watch river tubing. To stay, you’ve got three routes: a thrifty mo- or hotel on the strip, a lovely resort you must drive to or a cabin that splits the difference. A cabin is the move for short visits, because you get natural beauty without getting stuck in traffic. Nashville artist Lauren Alexandra also happens to have her own cabin, Bear Crossing Airbnb, less than a mile from the strip. It’s got a screened porch, hot tub, firepit and bar — with neon mural by Lauren — as well as the “Bear Den” game room for kids. You’ve got a full kitchen to cook dinner, or you can do as I did: Drop an unhinged $250 on snacks and sips and general nonsense at Betty’s Country Store because every item looks tastier than the last. 

Notable nearby: In Nashville, Arrington Vineyard is pleasant enough, but with sweet wines and a view that, while lovely, does include I-840, it’s not exactly Napa. Yonah Mountain Vineyards is a different thing entirely. The 200-acre family winery sits at the base of a mountain, which means you get gorgeous vistas and gorgeous wines like the stone-fruity but subtle 2022 Viognier.