Clarksville, Tennessee

Pictures of Clarksville evoke a sleepy Mayberry RFD vibe, but there’s a lot more to do here than similarly sized cities and its diversity and younger population are an incredible strength for a smaller town. In addition to excellent restaurants, Clarksville has plenty of bars and clubs if you’re looking for more adventurous late-night socializing. The Downtown area of Clarksville is so beloved in fact that Clarksville was named by Money Magazine as the #1 place to live in the U.S. in part due to the historic downtown.

Outdoor recreation is big also, with plenty of hiking, biking, and climbing close by. Families also have plenty to do with go-karts, mini-golf, and museum (kid and grown-up) exploring available in town.

Clarksville is the county seat and has a downtown but it feels a bit more like a suburban town with most growth out rather than up and traffic is an issue. Residents complain the infrastructure has not caught up to population growth, leading to traffic jams that are uncommon in most cities along the Tennessee/ Kentucky border. This can make commuting to nearby Nashville even more of a pain than it should be.

Locals in Clarksville are known for being small-town friendly. It's a pretty diverse area for a small city with residents known for being welcoming to newcomers despite being annoyed by city expansion. Outdoor enthusiasts will take solace in knowing that wooded trails and the local riverwalk are all in town so you don’t have to take a drive to experience the fresh air and views. There are also plenty of mountain biking trails and rock climbing crags just a short drive out of town. There’s been plenty of growth in breweries, wineries, bars, and performance theaters in the downtown area so social opportunities are bountiful. Nashville is also less than an hour's drive for those looking for an escape to a bigger city every once in a while.

If you want to get a taste of what living in Clarksville is like then check out the calendar of events.

We highly recommend visiting Clarksville and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our partnership with Expedia as well.

Home to the Fort Campbell Military Base, Clarksville’s number one employer is the military. Large corporations like Bridgestone and Trane Company have large operations in Clarksville that employ hundreds of locals. Nashville is also a bit less than an hour away for anyone willing to commit to a long commute.