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Tennessee, United States

Franklin

Victorian Main Street 30 minutes south; 1 night for Dickens of a Christmas. We have mapped 2 sights, 3 activities and 2 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.

Plan Franklin with friendsBrowse 9 places
Franklin, Tennessee, United States
Places
9

2 See · 3 Do · 2 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

Nashville & Franklin

Best season
Late Nov – Dec

from our route notes

Warmest month
August

32°C / 89°F avg high

Coolest month
January

7°C / 45°F avg high

Wettest month
February

about 129 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Franklin

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

2 sights worth building a day around.

  • See

    Carnton

    1826 plantation house that served as a field hospital during the 1864 Battle of Franklin, with the McGavock Confederate Cemetery.

    Tip A combined ticket covers Carnton and the Carter House nearby.

    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Morning
  • Lotz House in FranklinPhoto: Skye Marthaler · CC BY-SA 3.0
    See

    Lotz House

    1858 house museum on Columbia Avenue that stood at the center of the Battle of Franklin.

    • $$
    • 60 min

Do

3 activities for when the group wants to do more than look in Downtown Franklin. 2 of them are free.

  • Dickens of a Christmas in FranklinPhoto: Ichabod · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Do

    Dickens of a Christmas

    Two-day street festival on Main Street with costumed Dickens characters, carolers, artisan stalls and food vendors.

    Tip Park in the free downtown garages early; Main Street is closed to cars during the festival.

    • Downtown Franklin
    • Free
    • 3 hr
    • Second weekend of December
  • Do

    Franklin Theatre

    Restored 1937 Main Street movie house that screens holiday films and hosts Christmas concerts in December.

    • Downtown Franklin
    • $$
    • 2 hr
    • Evening
  • Leiper's Fork in FranklinPhoto: Sardonic G · CC BY 2.0
    Do

    Leiper's Fork

    Village of galleries and old clapboard shops in the hills west of Franklin, with a homespun Christmas parade in December.

    Tip Drive out on the Natchez Trace Parkway and back on Old Hillsboro Road for the countryside.

    • Free
    • 2.5 hr
    • Afternoon

Eat

Where we would book a table in Franklin in Downtown Franklin.

  • Eat

    Gray's on Main

    Southern restaurant and bar in the old Gray's pharmacy building, under its landmark neon sign.

    Tip The upstairs bar is a good stop after the Dickens crowds thin out.

    • Downtown Franklin
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Dinner
  • Eat

    Puckett's Franklin

    Offshoot of the old Puckett's grocery in Leiper's Fork, serving barbecue, Southern plates and live music downtown.

    • Downtown Franklin
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Lunch

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Franklin in Arrington.

  • Drink

    Arrington Vineyards

    Hillside winery in the countryside east of Franklin, with tastings and wine by the glass on its wooded slopes.

    • Arrington
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Afternoon

Stay

1 place to stay we would book in Downtown Franklin.

  • Stay

    The Harpeth

    Downtown Franklin hotel a block from Main Street, within walking distance of the Dickens festival.

    • Downtown Franklin
    • $$$

How to fit Franklin into a trip

Franklin is stop 2 of 2 on our Nashville & Franklin route. Follow it as-is or lift Franklin into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Franklin month by month

Average daily highs run from 7°C / 45°F in January to 32°C / 89°F in August. February is the wettest month, with about 129 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Franklin weather and the best time to visit →

Near Franklin

8 other destinations from our guides within about 300 km (186 mi), measured in a straight line.

Franklin questions, answered

How many days do you need in Franklin?

Our route notes suggest 1 night in Franklin. On our Nashville & Franklin route it is stop 2 of 2 in a 4-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 14 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Franklin best known for?

Victorian Main Street 30 minutes south; 1 night for Dickens of a Christmas. Standouts on our list: Carnton (1826 plantation house that served as a field hospital during the 1864 Battle of Franklin, with the McGavock Confederate Cemetery); Lotz House (1858 house museum on Columbia Avenue that stood at the center of the Battle of Franklin); Dickens of a Christmas (Two-day street festival on Main Street with costumed Dickens characters, carolers, artisan stalls and food vendors).

When is the best time to visit Franklin?

Our Nashville & Franklin route is best Late Nov – Dec. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in August (32°C / 89°F), the coolest in January (7°C / 45°F) and the most rain in February (about 129 mm).

What are the best things to do in Franklin?

Start with Dickens of a Christmas, Franklin Theatre, Carnton, Lotz House and Leiper's Fork. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 2 sights, 3 activities, 2 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 place to stay.

Where should a group eat in Franklin?

Our picks: Gray's on Main (Downtown Franklin); Puckett's Franklin (Downtown Franklin). The upstairs bar is a good stop after the Dickens crowds thin out (Gray's on Main).

What is near Franklin?

The closest destinations in our guides are The Gulch (about 26 km / 16 mi), Lower Broadway (about 27 km / 17 mi) and Nashville (about 27 km / 17 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Franklin with your crew

Open the Nashville & Franklin route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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