Dude ranches in Tennessee offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience. From gem-mining to horse riding and beyond, if you’re looking to impress the entire family, then dude ranches are the way to go! In this article, we take a look at the very top dude ranches that you can visit in Tennessee for either a day or an entire week!
So, without further delay, let’s look at these amazing guest ranches in Tennessee and see for ourselves why they are becoming all the more popular in the United States!
Top Dude Ranches in Tennessee
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French Broad Outpost Ranch
French Broad Outpost Ranch is not just a vacation spot; it’s a gateway to adventure and family bonding. Imagine learning to ride horses together, grooming and saddling them, and steering a whitewater raft down a river. Picture shining up your new boots for an old-fashioned square dance. At French Broad Outpost, these experiences are not just activities but opportunities to connect with your loved ones and create lasting memories. And let’s remember the thrill of driving cattle like City Slickers and chasing down cows like an experienced Cowboy. Every activity is designed to bring you closer to the Wild West side of life.
In short, if you want to take your family on a vacation, they will never forget that the French Broad Outpost is the base to do just that! You and your family can learn how to drive cattle, groom and saddle horses, and go on a horse-riding excursion. This all-inclusive family trip offers something for every kind of family. Also, because this ranch is situated in the stunning Smoky Mountains, you are treated to incredible daily vistas.
The French Broad Outpost Ranch is located just 4 hours from Nashville, making it among the top dude ranches in Tennessee. So, if you’re looking to indulge your family with some line dancing, horse riding, hiking and mountain climbing, this is the perfect dude ranch in Tennessee for just that!
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A Tennessee Dude and Guest Ranch
Step into the cowboy life at A Tennessee Dude and Guest Ranch. This is not just a vacation; it’s a chance to immerse yourself in a truly unique experience. It was clear to all that this location was exceptional. When founders Chris & Tammy Young galloped into Tennessee’s stunning Sequatchie Valley in the summer of 2000, the Tennessee Dude & Guest Ranch was born! What sets this ranch apart from all the other dude ranches in Tennessee is that each guest receives their own working ranch horse. This is a unique opportunity to truly live the cowboy life, even if it’s just for a couple of days.
Also, upon arrival at A Tennessee Dude and Guest Ranch, you are treated to an agricultural tour of this beautiful farm and ranch, further inspiring your connection with nature and the cowboy lifestyle. If you stay for four days, these ranchers will teach you how to rope like a real cowboy. However, if you stay for 5 days, by then, you’ve acquired the skills to ride to a gorgeous country restaurant on a 100-year-old dairy farm.
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Twin Valley Guest Ranch
Twin Valley Guest Ranch is ideally situated in the stunning foothills of the Smokies in east Tennessee. It is also centrally located near the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Knoxville. Its stunning location places Twin Valley among the top dude ranches in Tennessee. Tucked away in the breathtaking Smoky Mountain Foothills, this small paradise awaits your arrival.
You can look forward to playing ranch hand, horseback riding, mountain biking, swimming, fishing, petting animals (pigs, cats, dogs, horses, llamas, donkeys, lambs, goats, and bunnies), porch rocking, campfires, cookouts, and more! They provide wilderness camping, the main bed and breakfast lodge, and private cabins. Twin Valley Guest Ranch is more rugged than all the dude ranches in Tennessee. It is pet-friendly and has an outdoor pool, barbeque facilities, and more.
Book a hotel in Tennessee here on Booking.com
Meadow Creek Mountain Resort
Though it’s not entirely a dude ranch, this full-service resort is among the best locations in eastern Tennessee for horse riding. You can take a horseback ride in the Cherokee National Forest or spend some time alone in the roomy lodge or in a cosy cabin. It’s all up to you!
Moreover, Meadow Creek Mountain Resort provides RV hookups and sites to accommodate various vacation needs. You can still feel like a cowboy here as you straddle your horse and head into the wilderness. However remote and traditional this ranch may be, it still provides free high-speed Wi-Fi. There is also a spa and pool on the property, and if you want to bring your canine along, you sure can! This ranch has established itself as one of the top dude ranches in Tennessee with a modern twist.
Book a hotel in Tennessee here on Booking.com
Briggs Brothers Ranch
This is your destination for a once-in-a-lifetime cowboy experience. It’s secluded, relaxing, and in the Great Smoky Mountains cradle. They are an off-the-beaten-path resort for those visiting the Great Smoky Mountains, situated in Eastern Tennessee at the base of the Cherokee National Forest. You can rent the entire lodge or stay in one of the lodge rooms. There are also options for hose boarding, RV camping, and renting bunkhouse cabins.
Briggs Brothers Ranch is among the more hardcore dude ranches in Tennessee. It’s so hardcore, in fact, that you can bring your own horses along on vacation. There is much to do here, from hiking or riding the Cherokee National Forest’s trails to taking your family and horses for a picnic.
Book with Briggs Brothers Ranch here on Booking.com
Day Dude Ranches in Tennessee
Although there are a few great dude ranches in Tennessee, you can leave for days on end at one of these dude ranches. You can have a much simpler experience by travelling to a dude ranch for a day. Here are 2 dude ranches in Tennessee that offer day passes for families close enough to return home or to their hotel but need to be farther to stay an entire week. It’s perfect!
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Jayell Ranch
This popular day-trip destination prides itself on being among the best dude ranches in Tennessee. Jayell Ranch has the longest zipline in the Smoky Mountains and a breathtaking horseback riding trail excursion. The 6-kilometre horseback ride provides vistas of 260 acres of mountain splendour, providing an opportunity to experience the Smokies. One of the most well-liked attractions in the area, the Dollywood theme park, is close to this family-run dude ranch. Thus, explore the Jayell Ranch paths while enjoying the Dollywood rides. A day well spent!
Big Rock Dude Ranch
At Big Rock Dude Ranch, you will surely enjoy an array of exciting activities that will take the entire family on a whirlwind adventure ride. Here, you and your family will be satisfied with the ATV rides, the fishing pond, or the petting zoo. Unlike the other ranches on this list, Big Rock Dude Ranch is exclusively open to day visitors. Although no lodging options are available, this is a well-liked site for local travellers due to its proximity to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
If you enjoy this article, be sure to read about the top guest ranches in Arizona, the Grand Canyon State!
Dude, You Cannot Say No to these Dude Ranches in Tennessee!
Who wouldn’t want to try their hand at being a real-life cowboy? Who has not at least once in their life played the infamous game of cowboys and crooks? If you haven’t, well, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
At these dude ranches in Tennessee, you can relive your wildest childhood fantasies while simultaneously creating new memories. It’s a win-win situation, and if you want to play cowboys and crooks for the first time in your life, you can surely do so in the beautiful state of Tennessee!
