Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Madison County, TN

  • Published 2022/10/26

Tennessee is renowned for many things, including music and one of the world’s best whiskeys.

However, the Volunteer State offers more to those planning to explore its beauty.

To witness Tennessee’s beauty, travel to its rural parts, particularly Madison County.

This county, with a land area of 557 square miles, is known for its rich historical past.

Its county seat, Jackson, is a bustling city with attractions and activities you can enjoy.

In contrast, the other seven cities and towns that comprise Madison County have a lot to offer.

This destination offers unique adventures centering on historical attractions and outdoor activities.

Check out the best things to do in Madison County, Tennessee!

Travel Back in Time at Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum

Exterior of Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum

Joni Hanebutt / Shutterstock.com

Most of your Madison County travel adventure itinerary is centered on the city of Jackson.

One of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, the Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum, is nestled along Casey Jones Lane.

This railroad museum is mainly dedicated to the famous locomotive engineer Casey Jones, located next to his birthplace.

Guided tours are the best way to enjoy visiting the Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum.

Interior of Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum

Thomas R Machnitzki ([email protected]), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

During the tour, you’ll see up close the 35-ton locomotive, which serves as Jones’ version of engine 382.

At the same time, kids will have fun hopping aboard the locomotive and ringing the bell, just like the engineers back in the day.

Civil War enthusiasts will surely have a fascinating time at the “The Railroads & The Civil War in Tennessee” exhibit.

Besides the museum, exhibits, and the famous locomotive, this place has a gift shop, a restaurant, and other facilities that add more fun to your visit.

Steam locomotive at Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum

Brenda Kean / Shutterstock.com

Tickle Your Taste Buds at Century Farm Winery

Visit Century Farm Winery for some quality unwinding and wine-drinking sessions.

You can visit this winery along Lower Brownsville Road in Jackson.

One of the main reasons to visit this winery is to experience its real-life West Tennessee farming life.

It’s where you can try corn and cotton farming which were economic drivers in the state back in the day.

You can relax and enjoy the scenic view of the vineyards as well.

This winery has been operating for the past 150 years with an eclectic collection of fine wines you can indulge in.

Don’t miss trying its semi-sweet red wins, dry reds, blush wines, white wines, and fruit wines while visiting Century Farm Winery.

Besides its signature wines, it also offers season-mulled wines.

Express Your Love for Music at the Tennessee Legends of Music Museum at the Carnegie

The Tennessee Legends of Music Museum at the Carnegie is a magnificent place to explore the state’s rich musical heritage.

You can visit this museum along East College Street in Jackson.

Explore its exhibits filled with fascinating information and displays about Tennessee’s rich country, blues, and moonshine music histories.

It’s where you’ll see up close the House of Blues and the first Hard Rock Cafe memorabilia.

It also houses the most extensive exhibit of American guitarist Carl Perkins and other famous Tennessee musicians.

Besides the fantastic collection of music history, the Tennessee Legends of Music Museum at the Carnegie also has an exhibit featuring the American Civil War.

Get Active at the West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex

The West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex is a massive multi-use sports facility in Jackson.

It’s considered the Southeast’s premier baseball facility for youth after opening in 2006.

This sports facility features state-of-the-art softball and baseball facilities where many local teams compete and train.

With that in mind, visiting this sports facility offers a fun-filled activity, especially if you’re an avid baseball fan.

Within its 70-acre property are 17 lighted baseball fields where you can play with locals or watch top-notch baseball tournaments.

The West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex also hosts a major baseball tournament, the USSSA West Tennessee State Tournament.

Score Unique Finds at the Shoppes of Casey Jones

The Shoppes of Casey Jones is part of Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store, which is adjacent to the Casey Jones Home and Railroad Museum.

You can find this fascinating store along Casey Jones Lane in Jackson.

This shop is famous for its wide array of unique souvenir gifts, collectibles, and memorabilia showcasing Tennessee’s railroading and music history.

Visiting this shop is worthwhile since it’s been popular and considered a major attraction in Jackson since 1965.

Besides displaying history, you’ll also come across various information that details Casey Jones’ story, making it a fascinating place to shop and explore history.

Of course, your visit to the Shoppes of Casey Jones won’t be complete without shopping for unique finds and souvenirs in one of its featured stores.

Geek Out at Rusty’s TV & Movie Car Museum

Beverly Hillbillies car in Rusty's TV & Movie Car Museum

Thomas R Machnitzki ([email protected]), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rusty’s TV & Movie Car Museum is probably one of the most unique tourist attractions worldwide.

This place along Hollywood Drive in Jackson collects some of the most iconic vehicles you’ve likely seen in blockbuster movies and top-rated television shows.

Over 50 cars are displayed at its huge facility, and geek out to see them up close, touch them, and take photos.

Some famous vehicles are the Mystery Machine of Scooby Doo, the Ecto-1 of Ghostbusters, and many more.

DeLorean displayed in Rusty's TV & Movie Car Museum

Thomas R Machnitzki ([email protected]), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Amazingly, most of the cars displayed at this museum are the actual cars used during the filming of these movies and shows.

The other must-see cars at Rusty’s TV & Movie Car Museum are the Jeep Wrangler from Jurassic Park, the Chevy Camaro Bumblebee in Transformers, and the Eclipse of Fast and Furious.

More iconic movie and TV show cars are awaiting you at this famous museum.

The car from Norbit at Rusty's TV & Movie Car Museum

Thomas R Machnitzki ([email protected]), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Get Entertained at Jackson’s Amphitheater at the Market

Jackson’s Amphitheater at the Market, or what locals love to call the AMP, is a massive outdoor events venue.

You can visit this outdoor amphitheater along New Market Street in Jackson.

It’s where most of Jackson’s major events, such as concerts, festivals, and community activities, happen.

You’ll be amazed to see the 3,500-seater amphitheater, which regularly hosts live musical performances such as the Weekend Concert Series.

Besides Jackson’s Amphitheater at the Market, you can enjoy relaxing at the gorgeous park where it’s situated while waiting for the concerts to start.

Walk down Memory Lane at the Bemis Mill Village Museum

The Bemis Mill Village Museum features a vast 300-acre site filled with fascinating stories about the past.

You can find this outdoor museum along North Missouri Street in Jackson.

It mainly features the old Bemis Theater and Auditorium, along with exhibits that display memorabilia of this former mill town established in the 1900s.

Besides these sites, you can also see the row houses constructed for the cotton field workers that make up the entire neighborhood of this village.

Visiting the Bemis Mill Village Museum allows you to dig deeper into Madison County’s rich history through guided tours.

Besides guided tours, you can read various interpretive signs and take photos of the historical buildings and sites during your visit to this museum.

Cast Your Lines at Lake Graham

Head to Lake Graham for some fun-filled or rather relaxing fishing experience by yourself or with your friends.

You can visit this 500-acre lake along Cotton Grove Road, nine miles east of Jackson.

This lake is a famous outdoor attraction in the area, particularly for Jackson’s locals.

It’s where most local anglers cast their line for some relaxing fishing session during their days off.

It has a picnic area and fishing facilities, including a boat launch, a fishing pier, and fish attractors.

Before you find your favorite fishing spot and cast your line, you must acquire a fishing license first from the lake’s authorities.

Lake Graham is a fantastic place to catch some sunfish, crappie, largemouth bass, trout, blue catfish, and channel catfish.

With that in mind, don’t miss visiting this lake to pass the time while getting excited about your first catch.

Uncover Prehistoric Artifacts at Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park

The museum at Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park

Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park is a fascinating prehistoric attraction in the unincorporated community of Pinson, south of Jackson.

The entire park is a massive 1,200-acre archeological site that, 2,000 years ago, served as a sacred religious mound for Native American tribes.

At the same time, it served as burial grounds and ceremonial altars for the tribes that settled in the area.

Fossils in Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park

Thomas R Machnitzki ([email protected]), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Fascinatingly, the 17 mounds in the area were influenced by astronomical alignment.

Join guided tours or perhaps explore Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park on your own during your visit.

There are interpretive signs and a museum designed to look like one of the mounds in the park that you can explore.

Artifacts in Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park's museum

Thomas R Machnitzki ([email protected]), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Have a Fantastic Time at Fairgrounds Park

Fairgrounds Park is the go-to place for those who want to have fun and witness plenty of events.

You can visit this park along South Highland Avenue in Jackson.

It mainly features the 25,000 square feet exhibit building.

Plus, it has a couple of covered pavilions that serve as the event venue for the West Tennessee State Fair and other public events.

It’s a must-visit place in Madison County since it also has a gorgeous park, a public fishing lake, and a quarter-mile track worth checking out.

At the same time, Fairgrounds Park regularly hosts festivals, flea markets, car shows, dog shows, art shows, parties, and carnivals.

Chances are, you might catch an exciting event during your visit there.

So, don’t miss going to this park in Jackson if you want some worthwhile activity.

Stand in Awe at the M. D. Anderson Planetarium

Visit the M. D. Anderson Planetarium for a unique experience and see celestial bodies right before you.

You can visit this planetarium along Maple Street in Jackson.

This planetarium was constructed in 1967 to honor Monroe Dunaway Anderson, a famous Jackson philanthropist.

It has several sections for the solar system, constellations, deep sky objects, dark sky sites, and a section for astronomy-related events.

One of its main features is the 30-foot dome that allows you to see celestial bodies through its Digitarium Alpha 2+ digital projector.

Whether you’re a big fan of space and stars or simply seeking a unique activity, the M. D. Anderson planetarium has plenty of exciting stuff for everyone.

Feel the Thrill inside Jackson Escape Rooms

Jackson Escape Rooms is your perfect destination in Madison County for some adrenaline-pumping activity.

You can find this place along East Deaderick Street.

Like most escape rooms, this one has various themed rooms with unique puzzles and stories.

Solve these puzzles and challenges with your family or friends before time runs out.

Besides these challenges and puzzles, Jackson Escape Rooms offers a team-based, interactive, and immersive escape room experience.

Overall, the escape rooms offer you some fun-filled activities with your family or friends.

Spend Quality Time with your Loved Ones at Godwin Family Park

Godwin Family Park is a charming outdoor attraction in the unincorporated community of Oakfield.

The Godwin family donated their previously owned land to Madison County Parks and Recreation Department to convert it into a community park.

Today, it serves as one of Oakfield’s most visited areas where families and groups of friends hang out to have fun or relax.

The park has amenities such as picnic pavilions, a basketball court, picnic tables, a swing set, and a playground for kids of all ages.

Godwin Family Park’s serene atmosphere, towering trees, and fresh air make it an excellent setting for quality family bonding.

Besides the usual amenities, the park also has a 175-foot heritage tree which you can see and even take photos for your souvenir.

Climb the Historic Sauls Mound

Daytime view of Sauls Mound

Brian Stansberry, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sauls Mound is a 72-foot earthen mound that is an archeological site in Pinson.

Although it’s part of Pinson Mounds State Archeological Park, it has a distinct feature that makes it unique among other mounds in the area.

Above all, this mound, named after the land owner John Sauls, is the largest in this archeological park.

It’s believed that this mound was used by ancient Native American tribes more than 2,000 years ago for their religious ceremonies.

History marker of Sauls Mound

Thomas R Machnitzki ([email protected]), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Visiting this mound allows you to explore and learn how ancient Native American tribes go with their daily lives.

At the same time, see how they do their ancient religious ceremonies through interpretive signs and guided tours.

To complete your visit, don’t forget to climb 124 steps atop Sauls Mound.

Final Thoughts

Madison County is an ideal travel destination, mainly for its outdoor activities and historical sites.

Don’t forget to bookmark this list of the best things to do in Madison County, Tennessee to make your visit awesome!

Which of these places will you be visiting first?

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