Taking a trip to East Tennessee? Here is my guide to the best things to do in Bristol TN which is based on a winter visit in 2023.
Bristol is a charming and fun mountain town to explore! The majority of this guide will recommend activities in Bristol. However, some activities will venture to the neighboring city of Johnson City TN.
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Where is Bristol TN/VA?
Bristol is located in Eastern Tennessee and is a part of the “Tri-Cities.” The Tri-Cities is a region comprising the cities of Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol.
The Tennessee & Virginia border runs through the center of State Street in the downtown area. When visiting the town, half the downtown is in Virginia and the other half is in Tennessee!
Getting to Bristol
If travelling by car, Bristol is conveniently located near I-81. Here are the approximate driving distances from nearby cities.
- 1.5 hours from Asheville NC
- 1 hour and 45 minutes from Knoxville TN
- 2 hours from Gatlinburg TN
- 3 hours from Charlotte NC
- 3 hours from Greensboro NC
- 4 hours from Lexington KY
- 5 hours from Cincinnati OH
The Tri-Cities Airport (TRI) is located in Blountville TN. The airport is approximately 25 minutes from Bristol, 25 minutes from Johnson City, and 25 minutes from Kingsport.
Where to Stay in Bristol
We traveled to Eastern Tennessee in a group and stayed in this Airbnb. The house slept 8 and was beautifully decorated and very clean! We primarily booked this Airbnb since it was less then a 10 minute walk to downtown.
My husband has travelled to the Tri-Cities for work and has stayed in the following hotels for his previous business visits:
The Sessions Hotel is a Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel located on State Street in the heart of Bristol. The hotel is walking distance to many attractions and restaurants. The rooms are very tastefully decorated with southern charm.
The Bristol Hotel is a boutique hotel also located in downtown Bristol. The hotel has a rooftop bar with mountain views and beautiful rooms. Neither my husband or I have personally stayed at this hotel, but the reviews are very promising. This hotel is also pet-friendly.
The Hampton Inn Bristol and The Fairfield Inn & Suites Bristol are conveniently located off I-81 for quick highway access to downtown or other neighboring cities.
Things to Do in Bristol TN
Bristol Caverns
The Bristol Caverns are an underground adventure where you can explore unique mineral formations & an underground river.
The Caverns are one of Bristol’s most visited tourist attractions. The Bristol Caverns are open year round.
Tours last approximately 1 hour and appointments are required. You do have to call for pricing and to book your tour. Find out more tour information here.
Bristol Speedway
The Bristol Speedway is a NASCAR short track. The Bristol Speedway is one of the most popular NASCAR tracks due to its distinct features, which include extraordinarily steep banking, an all-concrete surface, two pit roads, different turn radii, and stadium-like seating.
It has also been named one of the loudest NASCAR tracks.
You can check out their event calendar here. We visited in the winter, so there were no races going on. However, the speedway transforms into a Christmas Light Spectacular during the winter months!
Birthplace of Country Music Museum
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum is a museum celebrating the historic 1927 Bristol Sessions, which recorded some of the earliest country music in America.
This museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Museum so this is a must do if you are interested in history & country music.
A live radio station WBCM-LP broadcasts from within the museum.
Museum tickets can be purchased in advance here. Adult tickets are currently $13.
Duckpin Bowling at Pins & Friends
Head to Pins & Friends for some duckpin bowling & arcade games! Duckpin bowling is a smaller version of traditional bowling. The bowling balls are smaller and do not have finger holes. The lanes are also shorter as well.
Each game is $5.75 a person or you can play on a lane for $45 per hour. We did two hours of duckpin bowling and were able to complete 3 games.
This is a great activity for families or for something unique to do on a rainy day.
Blue Ridge Comedy Club
Catch a comedy show at Blue Ridge Comedy Club in downtown Bristol. You can find a list of show dates along with comedian names on their website.
Tickets do need to be purchased in advance which can be done online. Most shows are 18+ and seating is on a first come first serve basis. They do sell alcoholic drinks and have hot dogs available for purchase as well.
Steele Creek Park
Steele Creek Park is a regional park encompassing more than 2,200 acres. The park has a 52 acre lake, disc golf course, walking & biking trails, paddle boat rentals, and more.
You can find more trail information and a trail map here.
Paddle boat rentals are also available in 30 minute increments for $1 a person.
Lost State Distilling
Lost State Distilling is a family owned craft distillery located in Downtown Bristol Tennessee producing small batch Gin, Rum, Tennessee Whiskey, and Canned Cocktails.
They are open for tours and tastings Wednesday through Saturday from 12PM-5PM.
They were voted America’s Best New Craft Distillery in 2020 by USA Today.
Borderline Billiards
Play some pool or darts at Borderline Billiards Bar in downtown Bristol.
Pool is $4.50 an hour per player and darts are free. They also have both billiards and dart leagues.
Borderline Billiards has a full bar and serves food. They have a fun and lively atmosphere as well!
Hands On! Discovery Center
The Hands On! Discovery Center is an all-ages interactive science exhibit located in Johnson City TN.
The Discovery Center is located at the Gray Fossil Site, an active fossil dig site dating back 5 million years. Admission to Hands On! includes Gray Fossil Site exhibits.
The discovery center has a wide range of exhibits, a Discovery Garden, Paleo tours, and more.
Admission is currently $11 for adults and children. Tickets can be purchased here.
Buffalo Mountain Park
Buffalo Mountain Park is a nature area with hiking trails, waterfalls, and panoramic overlooks located in Johnson City TN.
The park is dog-friendly and is ideal for hikers looking for stunning mountain views! Check out this list of hiking trails prior to your visit.
Eating & Drinking Near Bristol
Yee-Haw Brewing
Visit Yee-Haw Brewing in Johnson City TN to enjoy a craft beer and a bite to eat. They currently have 14 beers on tap along with 4 draft cocktails.
I tried the Barley All the Time which was a classic Pale Ale. The White Duck Taco Shop located inside the brewery serves up contemporary Mexican food. They have a large indoor and outdoor seating area.
Juan Siao
Also located in Johnson City, Juan Sia is a contemporary restaurant serving a combination of Asian & Mexican dishes.
Their Asian dishes range from ramen, stir fry, pad thai, and more. Their Mexican dishes include carnitas bowl, arroz con pollo, tacos, and more. There is definitely something for everyone on their menu!
I tried the tofu drunken noodles and they were delicious!
Mulligan’s Gaming Pub
Mulligan’s Gaming Pub is located in Johnson City and offers a menu highlighting traditional Irish fare along with a full bar.
They are known for their extensive collection of board games which are free for customers! They must have had at least 100 games to choose from ranging from classic board games to interesting games I had never heard of!
They also have pool tables, darts, and claw games.
We did not eat here, but I tried one of their yummy alcoholic coffee drinks: orange liqueur and instant coffee!
The Windsor Speakeasy
The Windsor Speakeasy is a craft cocktail bar located in Johnson City TN. The entrance is very unassuming, but leads to a beautiful, moody bar!
The speakeasy is first come first serve and all guests have to be 21+.
620 State
620 State is an American restaurant located in downtown Bristol. Their menu is very extensive and includes burgers, sushi, steak, stir fry, and more.
The restaurant does get very busy, so I would recommend getting a reservation.
I tried their spicy noodles which were delicious. They also have a large cocktail list as well!
Final Thoughts
Bristol is a quaint and charming mountain town which is very fun to explore! This city is perfect for a weekend trip, as it can easily be explored in 1-2 days.
Whether you’re interested in nature, history, or racing, there is something for everyone to enjoy!
If you are interested in more of my travel guides, check out my other guides here: