A good Tennessee day trip does not have to start with a $100 ticket.
Across the state, you can walk through an art museum for free, explore Memphis music history for less than the cost of a nice dinner, wander through 96 acres of gardens for $12, or catch special discounts that turn normally pricier attractions into surprisingly affordable outings.
A recent Taking the Kids roundup highlighted a dozen Tennessee attractions with admission around $20 or less, including special discount programs. We checked current information from several of the attractions themselves, and there are some genuinely good bargains — along with a few important catches.
Here are some of the strongest options for Tennesseans trying to get out of the house without spending a small fortune.
1. Tennessee State Museum — Nashville
Admission: Free
This may be one of the easiest budget outings in Middle Tennessee.
The Tennessee State Museum charges no general admission and covers the state's story from its natural beginnings through modern Tennessee. Its galleries include art, history and exhibits examining the many communities that shaped the state.
There is another budget-friendly bonus: the museum says parking in the lot it shares with the Nashville Farmers' Market is free.
That makes this one of those rare Nashville outings where “free” can actually come pretty close to meaning free.
The museum is located at 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. and is open Tuesday through Sunday.
2. Knoxville Museum of Art — Knoxville
Admission: Free
East Tennessee gets its own no-ticket-required museum.
The Knoxville Museum of Art focuses heavily on the visual culture of East Tennessee while also bringing in contemporary and traveling exhibitions. Current displays include Higher Ground: A Century of the Visual Arts in East Tennessee and exhibitions of modern and contemporary glass.
Admission remains free, and the museum says free parking is available nearby.
Since the museum sits at World's Fair Park, it is easy to turn a museum visit into a longer Knoxville afternoon without immediately opening your wallet again.
3. Memphis Rock ‘n' Soul Museum — Memphis
Admission: $16 adults, $12 ages 5-17
Sixteen dollars gets you into a museum devoted to one of Tennessee's biggest gifts to the world: its music.
The Memphis Rock ‘n' Soul Museum sits at 191 Beale Street and traces the musical story of Memphis from rural music traditions through blues, soul, rock ‘n' roll and the city's later influence on popular music.
Current general admission is $16 for adults and $12 for ages 5 through 17. Children 4 and younger are free.
Shelby County residents can do even better. The museum currently offers free admission on Tuesdays for eligible county residents who bring identification, with some restrictions.
For a Tennessee music attraction sitting practically on Beale Street itself, that is a hard price to complain about.
4. Memphis Botanic Garden — Memphis
Admission: $12 adults
Sometimes an affordable day out does not need roller coasters, touch screens or a packed schedule.
The Memphis Botanic Garden covers 96 acres and currently has 30 specialty gardens. Adult admission is $12, seniors pay $10, children ages 2 through 12 are $7, and kids under 2 enter free.
That gives visitors plenty of room to slow down for considerably less than many major attractions.
Spring blooms get much of the attention, but the garden operates year-round.
5. Chattanooga Zoo — Chattanooga
The Chattanooga Zoo remains one of the state's more manageable family attractions, especially if you buy ahead.
The zoo recommends purchasing tickets online in advance and says doing so currently saves $3 per ticket compared with buying at the gate. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., apart from several major holidays.
The original budget roundup included it among Tennessee outings costing roughly $20 or less. Because ticket rates and online discounts can change, this is one attraction where checking the final price before leaving home is worth the extra minute.
6. Tennessee Aquarium — Chattanooga, with a catch
The Tennessee Aquarium needs an asterisk on any “under $20” list.
Regular admission is not under $20. The aquarium's current standard rate is $39.95 for adults and $29.95 for youth.
But September 2026 brings an unusually good deal.
Through September 30, college students, faculty and staff can receive half-price aquarium admission. Adults pay $20 and youth pay $15 under the promotion. Proof of eligibility is required, and the tickets have to be purchased on site.
The aquarium includes both River Journey and Ocean Journey on one ticket and says most visitors spend about two to two-and-a-half hours exploring the two buildings.
So no, it is not normally a bargain attraction. But for eligible visitors this month, it gets awfully close.
7. Discovery Park of America — Union City, when the deals hit
Discovery Park is another place where timing matters.
Regular adult admission is currently $29.99, meaning it no longer belongs on a straightforward “under $20” list. Children's admission, however, is $16.99.
There are ways to cut the cost.
Groups of at least 15 can currently receive an $18 adult general admission rate, while children in qualifying groups pay $10. Discovery Park also participates in Museums for All, offering free admission for up to four guests in a party with qualifying SNAP participation.
And its special-event deals can be dramatic. During its July 3-4 America 250 celebration this year, general admission dropped to $10.
The lesson here is simple: don't assume the standard price is the only price.
8. The Parthenon — Nashville
Nashville's giant Greek landmark has long been one of the city's stranger and more delightful affordable attractions.
Built for Tennessee's 1897 Centennial Exposition, the full-scale Parthenon replica anchors Centennial Park and contains an art museum and the enormous Athena statue.
There is one important 2026 wrinkle. Metro Nashville reported that the Parthenon closed through the end of June for HVAC and lighting upgrades intended to improve preservation and visitor comfort.
The exterior and surrounding Centennial Park still make the site worth seeing even when indoor access is limited. For anyone planning specifically to visit the museum, though, checking the current operating status before heading over is the smart move.
9. Look for local-resident and eligibility discounts
One of the more useful lessons in the original roundup is that the advertised general-admission price does not always tell the whole story.
Across Tennessee, museums and attractions increasingly offer special rates tied to residency, college enrollment, military service, SNAP participation or specific promotional dates.
Memphis Rock ‘n' Soul's free Shelby County Tuesdays are one example. The Tennessee Aquarium's September college discount is another. Discovery Park participates in Museums for All.
If you are planning a family trip, checking the “discounts” or “accessibility” section of an attraction's official website may save more money than hunting for a coupon code.
10. Some of Tennessee's cheapest outings are still the simplest ones
The bigger point is not that every Tennessee attraction costs less than $20. Clearly, they don't.
It is that a low-cost weekend is still possible if you build around the right places.
A free museum in Nashville or Knoxville can become the centerpiece of a day. A $12 garden visit in Memphis leaves room in the budget for lunch. A resident discount can turn a music museum into a nearly free outing. And special promotions can occasionally bring much larger attractions within reach.
That matters for families, retirees, students and anyone else who has watched the cost of a casual Saturday climb.
Tennessee has plenty of expensive entertainment.
Fortunately, it still has some good cheap fun, too.
Sources
Taking the Kids, “12 Tennessee Adventures You Can Enjoy For Under $20,” March 4, 2026.
Tennessee State Museum official visitor information.
Knoxville Museum of Art official visitor information.
Memphis Rock ‘n' Soul Museum official admission information.
Memphis Botanic Garden official admission information.
Chattanooga Zoo and Tennessee Aquarium official visitor information.
Discovery Park of America official admission and discount information.
Metro Nashville Parks board records regarding the Parthenon's 2026 closure.
