7 Adventures for the Whole Family Near Fort Campbell, Kentucky

New to Fort Campbell, Kentucky? Welcome! This area might not be like any other duty station you've been before. And there are many reasons to love it. Surrounded by small towns and Nashville only an hour away, you get to set the pace of your time here—balancing city and rural life to your liking.

Families of history buffs and outdoor adventurers thrive here, and if you're not sure where to venture first, here's a list to get you started.

1) Fort Defiance Civil War Park & Interpretive Center - 30 Minutes Away

Discover a different side of the Civil War. What you can’t learn from the battlefields, you'll learn right here at Fort Defiance while you explore one of our nation’s last remaining forts built by enslaved men, the same place where the Union met and occupied Clarksville in 1862.

Venture through the various exhibits, then walk back in time down the one-mile winding trail as you read stories from the Civil War. Discover the stories of key figures who played a pivotal role in shaping the course of our nation during the Civil War.

Fort Defiance Admission

Free to the public

2) Historic Collinsville - 50 Minutes Away

History comes to life at this rural pioneer settlement. With authentically restored log cabins and outbuildings built in the 1800s, Historic Collinsville is the perfect place to get hands-on with your love of history. Plus, it’s way more fun for the kids than burying their heads in textbooks.

And to make it even more fun, plan your visit during one of their amazing events. The Candlelight Christmas in December is one you don’t want to miss.

Note: this attraction is open seasonally.

Historic Collinsville Admission

$12: Ages 13 and up ($14 on second Saturdays)
$6: Ages 3-12 ($8 on second Saturdays)
Under 3 with a paying adult: FREE
$1 discount with valid military ID
Last admission is 3 p.m.

3) Mammoth Cave National Park - 2 Hours Away

It's named Mammoth for a reason, as this intricate cave system stretches beyond 400 miles. But this Kentucky state park offers more than the world’s longest cave. On the premises are opportunities to hike, canoe, camp, ride horseback, picnic, and more! It’s best to devote a whole day or even an entire weekend to unplug and embrace the great outdoors.

The park’s hours vary with the seasons.

Mammoth Cave Tours & Admission

Find a detailed list of the 20 cave tours and rates here.

Photo from Canva

4) Dunbar Cave State Park - 30 Minutes Away

Dunbar Cave is where the inner history buff and outdoor adventurer meet in perfect harmony.

Grab your flashlight and tour this magnificent cave that Native Americans believed to be a portal to the Underworld. Their art is displayed throughout the cave and dates back to the 14th century.

Cave tours are available seasonally.

Dunbar Cave Tours

Reserve online.

$18 per adult (13 years and up)
$13 per child (5 - 12 years old)

5) Adventureworks Zipline Forest - 1 Hour Away

An outing for nature-loving thrill seekers, this zipline in Nashville North glides you through the treetops, offering unbelievable birdseye views.

Adventuresworks Zipline Tickets

Adults: $69.90
Youth (17 and under): $49.90

Photo from Canva

6) Clarksville Greenway - 30 Minutes Away

If you want to breathe the fresh air without getting your boots too dirty, throw on your walking shoes, grab your bike, and leash the dog because the Clarksville Greenway is the perfect breezy outing.

For a full list of parks located here, visit Clarksville Parks & Recreation.

7) Nashville - 1 Hour Away

Photo from Canva

An hour's drive from Fort Campbell, this bustling destination doesn’t need to wait for the weekend. Make it a jam-packed day trip, or book a hotel for a weekend retreat — you decide!

Things to Do In Nashville

Nashville is versatile in that it's home to incredible children's attractions, and also the perfect parents-only weekend away. Its outstanding nightlife makes it difficult to run out of things to do.

Know of another family outing near Fort Campbell? We’d love to hear what your military family loves about this duty station. Share your favorites in the comments below.

Moving to this area and looking for a home? Click below to see homes for sale and houses for rent near Fort Campbell.

Author

Danielle Keech

Danielle Keech is a writer and content creator for MilitaryByOwner Advertising. She writes on military life topics, highlights clients’ open houses on social media, and manages the Military PCS Facebook group. She especially enjoys covering financial topics and helping military families exercise financial responsibility and plan for the future. Danielle has been a Marine Corps spouse for ten years (and counting!) and is a momma to four littles and one fur baby. She and her pilot spouse have lived in Virginia, Florida, Texas, California, Hawaii, and, most recently, Okinawa, Japan. And yes, you guessed it, Hawaii is her favorite duty station to date! Find MilitaryByOwner's Millitary PCS group here.