Is Tennessee a good state for outdoor enthusiasts?

Tennessee ranks #46 out of 50 for outdoor enthusiasts with a persona-weighted score of 30.5/100. Its strongest relevant category is Affordability (79/100) and its weakest is Outdoor Access (13/100).

What is the best city for outdoor enthusiasts in Tennessee?

Collierville ranks #1 in Tennessee for outdoor enthusiasts with a score of 48.4/100, followed by Spring Hill and Franklin.

What factors are most important for outdoor enthusiasts in Tennessee?

Rankings weighted toward outdoor access (parks, public land, recreation), environmental quality, safety, health infrastructure, and affordable housing — for those who prioritize access to nature and an active lifestyle.

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Best Cities for Outdoor Enthusiasts in Tennessee

#46 of 50·Outdoor Enthusiasts Score: 30.5·See all 50 states →

Outdoor Score

13/100

Parks + trails + land

Public Land

7.2%

% of state area · PAD-US

Air Quality

40 AQI

EPA annual median

Environment

36/100

Air + renewables + risk

Cost of Living

BEA RPP · 100 = avg

What Outdoor Enthusiasts Should Know About Tennessee

Tennessee ranks #46 out of 50 for outdoor enthusiasts, which may surprise given its reputation. The outdoor access score of 13/100 indicates limited public outdoor infrastructure compared to western and northeastern states. 7.2% public land offers some options, though dedicated outdoor enthusiasts may find themselves driving to reach prime terrain.

Environmental quality matters when you spend significant time outdoors. Tennessee's environment score of 36/100 is a concern for outdoor athletes and those with respiratory sensitivity — air quality (AQI: 40) and environmental protections lag behind top-ranked states. Natural disaster risk is low, meaning fewer disruptions to outdoor plans.

The practical side: affordable living (index: 93) means more budget for gear, trips, and experiences. Safety (28/100) is worth researching at the local level, and the overall health infrastructure (14/100) is adequate, though access to specialized sports medicine may be limited outside metros.

All 20 Cities Ranked for Outdoor Enthusiasts

#	City	Grade	Outdoor Enthusiasts Score	Overall	Outdoor Access	Environment	Safety	Population
1	Collierville	A+	48.4	66.0	13	36	90	51,212
2	Spring Hill	A+	48.4	64.9	13	36	93	53,585
3	Franklin	A+	47.8	64.9	13	36	90	88,558
4	Brentwood	A+	47.5	64.8	13	36	95	45,272
5	Hendersonville	B+	45.5	58.9	13	36	93	62,390
6	Lebanon	B+	44.7	57.9	13	36	70	41,951
7	Gallatin	B+	44.7	57.7	13	36	87	46,667
8	Bartlett	B	43.9	55.8	13	36	78	56,998
9	Smyrna	B+	43.2	57.3	13	36	71	55,066
10	Clarksville	C+	41.0	51.6	13	36	64	180,705
11	Murfreesboro	B	40.9	54.0	13	36	60	165,423
12	Columbia	C+	40.2	51.4	13	36	55	43,971
13	Johnson City	C	39.7	48.6	13	36	61	73,440
14	Cleveland	C	39.2	48.7	13	36	59	48,185
15	Kingsport	C	36.0	45.4	13	36	39	55,807
16	Knoxville	D	35.7	44.8	13	36	32	198,175
17	Nashville	C	34.1	47.2	13	36	11	687,787
18	Chattanooga	C	33.3	45.5	13	36	9	187,023
19	Jackson	D	31.9	40.7	13	36	19	68,262
20	Memphis	F	27.3	33.6	13	36	0	618,655

Compare: States with Similar Outdoor Enthusiasts Rankings

Also See: Tennessee for Other Lifestyles

Data Sources

📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS (Dec 2025)📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024📎FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, 2024📎America's Health Rankings, 2025📎WalletHub/NAEP, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024📎Cook Political Report, PVI 2024📎Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures 2025📎ALEC Rich States Poor States, 2025📎WalletHub Tax Burden Study, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau / FHFA, 2025📎BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023📎EPA AirData, Median AQI by County 2024📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024📎FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, 2025📎U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration 2024📎FCC / BroadbandNow, Broadband Access 2025📎National Park Service API, 2024📎USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US), 2024📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022📎U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2023 (Commuting)📎FHWA Highway Statistics, 2023📎U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022📎EIA State Electricity Profiles, 2024📎EIA Natural Gas Prices, 2024📎DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2023📎BEA Regional Price Parities (Food), 2023📎NCES Common Core of Data (CCD), 2023-24📎EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates, 2021-22📎NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33), 2022-23📎BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9), 2023📎NASBO Fiscal Survey of States, FY2023📎Census Bureau State Government Finances, FY2022📎Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50, FY2023📎Pew Charitable Trusts, FY2022📎S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia, 2025📎Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES (May 2023)📎IRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data 2021-2022

What Outdoor Enthusiasts Should Know About Tennessee

All 20 Cities Ranked for Outdoor Enthusiasts

#	City	Grade	Outdoor Enthusiasts Score	Overall	Outdoor Access	Environment	Safety	Population
1	Collierville	A+	48.4	66.0	13	36	90	51,212
2	Spring Hill	A+	48.4	64.9	13	36	93	53,585
3	Franklin	A+	47.8	64.9	13	36	90	88,558
4	Brentwood	A+	47.5	64.8	13	36	95	45,272
5	Hendersonville	B+	45.5	58.9	13	36	93	62,390
6	Lebanon	B+	44.7	57.9	13	36	70	41,951
7	Gallatin	B+	44.7	57.7	13	36	87	46,667
8	Bartlett	B	43.9	55.8	13	36	78	56,998
9	Smyrna	B+	43.2	57.3	13	36	71	55,066
10	Clarksville	C+	41.0	51.6	13	36	64	180,705
11	Murfreesboro	B	40.9	54.0	13	36	60	165,423
12	Columbia	C+	40.2	51.4	13	36	55	43,971
13	Johnson City	C	39.7	48.6	13	36	61	73,440
14	Cleveland	C	39.2	48.7	13	36	59	48,185
15	Kingsport	C	36.0	45.4	13	36	39	55,807
16	Knoxville	D	35.7	44.8	13	36	32	198,175
17	Nashville	C	34.1	47.2	13	36	11	687,787
18	Chattanooga	C	33.3	45.5	13	36	9	187,023
19	Jackson	D	31.9	40.7	13	36	19	68,262
20	Memphis	F	27.3	33.6	13	36	0	618,655

Data Sources