Finding fun, interesting things to do around town without breaking the budget can feel nearly impossible. Luckily, here in Franklin, plenty of great activities are waiting to be enjoyed by you and your family—all for the low price of nothing! Check out our favorite free things to do in Williamson County year-round.
Drive the Natchez Trace Parkway
The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile-long linear park that runs from Natchez, Mississippi, all the way to Nashville. When the leaves change, the views are spectacular. A favorite local route begins at Highway 96 in Franklin and winds about an hour south to Fall Hollow at mile marker 391.9.
There, visitors will find a parking area and a paved walk leading to a platform overlooking a sizable waterfall. After that, explore some of the other waterfalls in the area and, if the weather permits, cool off in the swimming hole! Just continue down the short, steep dirt path into the woods to discover this hidden summer gem.
Explore Williamson County Parks
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Williamson County has an abundance of parks and nature escapes waiting to be explored at no cost.
While driving along the Natchez Trace Parkway, stop by Timberland Park (mile marker 437.2), just a mile south of the famous Double Arch Bridge. Here you can enjoy miles of hiking trails, including an ADA accessible trail, as well as a butterfly garden, a nature center, and beautiful nature overlook. Pets are permitted here but must be on a leash.
Nestled in the heart of Fairview is Bowie Nature Park, an enormous nature park with 17 miles of mostly flat trails winding through several lakes, pine and oak forests, and a creek for the kids (and adults too!) to play in. You can also check out bikes for free from the Nature Center if you’d prefer to enjoy the scenery on two wheels instead of two legs.
If you’re looking for grassy hills with panoramic views of the Williamson County countryside that also happen to be located on a Civil War battlefield, look no further than Preservation Park in Thompson Station. Take the trail from the parking lot across a meadow and up to the top of the hill, then head down into a forest before looping around the hill to return to where you started for a truly memorable and serene afternoon.
The Park at Harlinsdale Farm is a 200-acre historic former horse farm in Franklin that’s now open to the public as a free city park. Visitors can walk or run the scenic trails, explore the open fields and historic barns, enjoy picnics, or fish in the small pond (catch-and-release only; state license required). The park also features a four-acre dog park, open green space for frisbee or kite-flying, and interpretive signs sharing its history as the home of the famed walking horse Midnight Sun. It’s a peaceful spot where visitors can soak in both Franklin’s natural beauty and its rich equestrian heritage without spending a dime.
This is certainly not an exhaustive list of the wonderful parks of Williamson County. Be sure to check out places like Pinkerton Park, Aspen Grove Park, Crockett Park, and many more!
Soak in Some Art in Leiper’s Fork
If you are a lover of the arts and enjoy perusing galleries at your leisure, Leiper’s Fork has what you need! Along the main strip are several art galleries that are free to enjoy, all bursting at the seams with work from local artists.
Stop by The Copper Fox and let John and Talbott show you around their wonderful little house—you won’t regret it! After that, head a few doors down to Leiper’s Creek Gallery, then take a short stroll down the street to David Arms Gallery to finish the day.
Go for a Bike Ride
Brentwood is home to one of Middle Tennessee’s best-paved bike trail systems. Consisting of eight different trails ranging in length from one to eight miles round trip, you and your family will have no shortage of biking fun! For ease of navigation, most of the trails are connected.
Start at the Brentwood Library and ride alongside Little Harpeth Creek, where you can stop for a little splash time if the weather permits. The trail also runs past the Williamson County Recreation Center, the YMCA, and several parks and rec fields, so you’ll find plenty of parking and bathrooms along the way.
For those wanting a bit more of a challenge, the Leiper’s Fork Challenge is a 44-mile trek along the area’s scenic byways, and part of Tennessee’s new Bike Tennessee Trail system.
Learn Something New Indoors
Franklin also has several indoor adventures that won’t cost a dime.
The Brentwood Library is a perfect place to go to way to keep kids busy without resorting to screens. In fact, the Williamson County Public Library system hosts all sorts of events and exhibits throughout the year, often without having to be a member! Check here to see the schedule and plan your visit.
For a unique experience, visit the The Experience Lab by charity: water. This one-of-a-kind interactive museum lets visitors walk in the shoes of millions without safe drinking water through interactive exhibits, 4-D simulations, and virtual reality experiences. The tour lasts about an hour, is geared for all ages, and is free with a reservation!
Take a Self-Guided Tour of Franklin
One of the best ways to experience Franklin is with the free Digital Passport, available to download through the Visit Franklin website. This passport is a collection of authentic, curated attractions, retailers, restaurants, and more, along with discounts to redeem during your visits.
Once you’ve got your Digital Passport, take a tour of downtown Franklin to learn about fascinating details about the area’s history while getting your steps in. Once you’ve completed the tour of downtown and checked in at all the stops, head to the Visitor Center in downtown Franklin to receive a special prize!
Along that same vein, the City of Franklin offers free audio tours of 15 historic sites located in our city as part of the Historic Parks Audio Tour. All you need is a cell phone to listen—simply call the number listed on the website and enter the stop number associated with your current location. Sites included in this experience feature The Park at Harlinsdale, Fort Granger, Eastern Flank Battle Park, and Toussaint L’Ouverture Cemetery. It’s an easy way to learn about Franklin’s history while exploring its most scenic spots.
