Tennessee in March

April through June gives you mild weather and wildflowers in the Smokies. Fall colors peak in mid-October – Great Smoky Mountains National Park sees 2 million visitors that month, so book accommodations early. Summer means festival season. Nashville's CMA Fest takes over downtown in June. Bonnaroo happens 90 minutes south in Manchester. But July and August bring 90-degree heat and humidity that makes walking Broadway feel like a sauna. Winter stays mild compared to northern states, but mountain roads ice over. Nashville rarely sees snow, Memphis even less. January through March offers the cheapest hotel rates and smallest crowds, perfect if you don't mind bare trees and shorter days.