Things to Do in Jonesborough, TN — A Complete Local's Guide

Jonesborough doesn't announce itself the way bigger towns do. You turn off the highway, drive a couple of miles, and suddenly you're on a Main Street that looks like it was built in 1820 — because most of it was. Tennessee's oldest town was established in 1779, before Tennessee was even a state, and it has been continuously occupied and carefully preserved ever since.

We're at Mountaineer Storage on Highway 107 in Chuckey — about 15 minutes from downtown Jonesborough. A lot of our customers come from or through the area, and we get asked about things to do around here more than you'd expect. This is the guide we'd give a friend who was visiting for the first time — or even someone who's lived nearby for years and hasn't explored it properly.

There's more here than most people realize. And almost none of it feels manufactured for tourists.

Start here. Jonesborough's Main Street is one of the best-preserved historic districts in the entire Southeast — listed on the National Register of Historic Places and genuinely intact in a way that most towns can only fake. Walk down the brick sidewalks and you'll pass buildings from the 1770s, 1780s, and 1790s still standing and in use.

A few things worth stopping at specifically: the Christopher Taylor House (1777), one of the oldest structures in town; the Washington County Courthouse, which anchors the square; and the overall streetscape that genuinely makes you feel like you've stepped into a different century. Guided walking tours are offered at 1pm daily through the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center at 117 Boone Street.

The town was founded two decades before Tennessee became a state. By the mid-1780s it was the capital of the State of Franklin — the short-lived breakaway republic that preceded Tennessee — and has been continuously occupied ever since. You feel that age in a way that's hard to describe until you've actually walked it.

The museum occupies the street level of the oldest commercial building in Jonesborough. Upstairs the parlor, dining, and lodging rooms have been restored to Victorian-era style and are open for viewing. Rotating exhibits change quarterly — if you've been before, there's a good chance something new is on display.

On the third Thursday of every month at 6:30pm the museum hosts History Happy Hour — a community event worth checking the schedule for. Hours vary by season so check ahead before visiting.

Jonesborough is the Storytelling Capital of the World — and that's not a marketing claim, it's genuinely earned. In 1973, a local man named Jimmy Neil Smith organized the first National Storytelling Festival on the courthouse lawn with a handful of storytellers and a few hundred people. It's now one of the Top 100 Events in North America, drawing over 10,000 people every October. The art form of storytelling in America was essentially revived here.

The International Storytelling Center on Main Street hosts live storytelling performances Monday through Saturday year-round. Tickets are $12. If you've never experienced professional storytelling in a room full of people who are genuinely listening, it's something worth doing at least once. It's nothing like what you might imagine — the best storytellers in the world are performers in the fullest sense of the word.

Depot Street Brewing has been operating since 2004 — the first brewery in Northeast Tennessee and still one of the best. Small batches, craft ingredients, and a relaxed atmosphere right alongside the railroad tracks. The outdoor patio is one of the best spots in Jonesborough on a good weather day, and they have a full bocce ball court if you want to make an afternoon of it.

They don't serve food directly but regularly schedule local food trucks — check their Facebook page for the current schedule before you go. A top-floor loft gives you a spot to settle in on cold or rainy days. Part of the Brewly Noted Craft Beer Trail and Tri-Cities Brew Tours if you're doing a wider craft beer circuit.

Brights Zoo is a private, family-owned zoo about 10 minutes from downtown Jonesborough in Limestone, TN — right near the Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park. It's not a typical zoo. The focus is on rare and endangered species: addax, bongo, scimitar-horned oryx, Bactrian camels, red kangaroos, spider monkeys, zebras. Animals you genuinely won't see anywhere else in the region.

Daily animal feedings and encounters, a penguin encounter experience, and the option to become a zookeeper for a day make this a standout for families with kids. Open Monday through Saturday 10am-5pm with ticket sales ending at 3:30pm. Worth building into a day that also includes the Davy Crockett Birthplace area nearby.

Seasonal Highlights — When to Visit

Main Street Jonesborough is genuinely independent — no national chains, just locally owned shops that each carry something different. Jonesborough Antiques & Artisans fills over 10,000 square feet with more than 30 dealers in what was originally a hardware store built 150 years ago. The Griffin Art Gallery just across from the courthouse has original work and a reputation for warm, knowledgeable hosts. Jonesborough Art Glass Gallery, Tennessee Quilts, and the Crafty Peddler fill out a shopping street that rewards wandering.

For food, The Kitchen at Grace Meadows is the most talked-about dining experience in the area — a family-style Southern meal on a working farm that people drive hours for. Corner Cup Cafe is the easy downtown option for coffee and a meal. Texas Burritos & More handles Tex-Mex with recipes passed down for over 50 years.

Storing Your Gear — Right Between Jonesborough and Erwin

If you're spending time in Jonesborough and the surrounding area — kayaking the Nolichucky, hiking the trails, attending the Storytelling Festival, or just exploring — and you need a place to store equipment, an RV, or a camper nearby, we're Mountaineer Storage serving Jonesborough on Highway 107 in Chuckey. About 15 minutes from downtown Jonesborough on the same road that connects you to Erwin and the Cherokee National Forest.

10×20 drive-up units and outdoor spaces up to 42 feet for RVs and campers. Month-to-month, no deposits, no contracts. Reserve online and get your gate code the same day.

Need to know what fits in a 10×20? Check out our 10×20 storage unit size guide before you reserve. Also check out our RV camping guide for Cherokee National Forest if you're planning an outdoor trip through the area.

Locally Owned Storage Near Jonesborough, TN

We're 15 minutes from downtown Jonesborough on Highway 107 in Chuckey. No contracts, no deposits, 24/7 access.