Clarksville
Around Clarksville
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Metro area · Tennessee · 345k people
Clarksville
Where the Cumberland meets the Kentucky line.
Austin Peay Red
Welcome to Clarksville, where the Cumberland River meets southern hospitality. Whether you're here for the outdoor adventures or the friendly small-town vibe, you'll find plenty to love. Come say hi and share what you're into!
Clubs for Clarksville
No clubs for Clarksville yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Clarksville. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Clarksville. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area 170,000 acres of outdoor recreation.
- Fort Campbell Home of the 101st Airborne Division.
- Cumberland River Flows through downtown Clarksville.
- Dunbar Cave State Park Cave tours and hiking trails.
- Clarksville Historic District Downtown shops, restaurants, and nightlife.
- Austin Peay State University Home of the Governors.
- Outdoors Hike the trails at Dunbar Cave State Park
- Outdoors Boat and fish on Lake Barkley
- With kids Visit the Elk & Bison Prairie at Land Between the Lakes
- With kids Explore the Customs House Museum
- Evenings Catch a show at the Roxy Regional Theatre
- Evenings Listen to live music on Franklin Street
- Locals love Barbecue joints
- Locals love Country bars
Through the year
- Riverfest September Music and arts festival on the riverfront.
- Montgomery County Fair July County fair with rides, livestock, and food.
- Austin Peay Governors football Fall Home games at Fortera Stadium.
- Clarksville Speedway races Summer Local stock car racing on summer nights.
- Dunbar Cave Summer Concert Series Summer Live music in the park's amphitheater.
Humid subtropical with hot, muggy summers and mild winters. Best: Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures and clear skies.
Talk like a local
- “LBL”
- Land Between the Lakes
- “The Fort”
- Fort Campbell
- “Governors”
- Austin Peay sports teams
- “Cumberland”
- The Cumberland River
Getaways
- Nashville Music city, dining, and nightlife.
- Murray Murray State campus and nearby Kentucky Lake.
- Paducah Arts district and riverfront.
- Bowling Green Mammoth Cave area and Corvette Museum.
Local flavour
Teams
- Austin Peay Governors NCAA Division I (Ohio Valley Conference)
Also rooting for Nashville Predators (NHL), Tennessee Titans (NFL), Nashville Sounds (MiLB), Kentucky Wildcats (NCAA)
Eat and drink
- Fried catfish A staple along the Cumberland River and in local fish camps.
- Biscuits and gravy Classic Southern breakfast, ubiquitous in diners.
- Bourbon Kentucky side of the metro is bourbon country; local distilleries and bars.
- Country ham Cured ham, often served with red-eye gravy.
- Sweet tea Sweet tea is a regional drink.
Where people go
- Land Between the Lakes A national recreation area with lakes, forests, and wildlife.
- Fort Campbell Major Army base, home of the 101st Airborne Division.
- Cumberland River Central waterway for recreation and history.
- Tobacco and horse farms Agricultural landscape on both sides of the border.
- Barbecue joints and country bars Local dining and nightlife spots.
- Lake cabins Rustic getaways around Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley.
Heritage and traditions
This region is proud of its military heritage (home of the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell) and its blend of Tennessee and Kentucky traditions, from country ham and burgoo to the historic Cumberland River and the vast Land Between the Lakes.
This time of year in Clarksville
- Country Ham Festival October October celebrates the region's country ham with tastings and contests.
- Country Ham Festival October Celebrates the region's country ham curing tradition with tastings and contests.
Say it like a local: “crick” — A creek or stream
Festivals
- Country Ham Festival October Celebrates the region's country ham curing tradition with tastings and contests.
- Western Kentucky State Fair August A traditional county fair with livestock, rides, and entertainment.
- Fort Donelson Civil War Reenactment February Reenactors portray the 1862 battle that opened the Cumberland River.
Landmarks with a story
- Fort Donelson National Battlefield Civil War battlefield and fort where Ulysses S. Grant earned his nickname 'Unconditional Surrender'.
- Jefferson Davis Monument A 351-foot obelisk in Fairview, Kentucky, marking the birthplace of the Confederate president.
- Hopkinsville Historic District Victorian-era architecture and historic homes in the heart of Hopkinsville.
- Dover Hotel Where Confederate General Buckner surrendered to Grant in 1862, ending the Battle of Fort Donelson.
Food traditions
- Burgoo A thick stew made with meat (often pork, chicken, or mutton) and vegetables, a Kentucky tradition served at community gatherings and political rallies.
- Beer cheese A creamy spread made with sharp cheddar, beer, and spices, a Kentucky appetizer often served with crackers or vegetables.
- Spoonbread A soft cornmeal pudding, a southern side dish that's a comfort food staple in the region.
- Country ham biscuits Slices of salty, cured country ham on a biscuit, a breakfast and holiday favorite.
- Fried green tomatoes Sliced unripe tomatoes coated in cornmeal and fried, a southern classic found on many local menus.
Music and arts
- Bluegrass music A strong bluegrass scene with local bands and festivals across the Pennyrile region.
- Quilting A traditional craft passed down through generations, with quilting bees and shows.
- Country music Small venues and honky-tonks feature local country artists, influenced by both Nashville and Kentucky sounds.
- Folk art Whimsical and traditional folk art, including woodcarving and painting, can be found in local galleries and markets.
A little history
- 1862 Battle of Fort Donelson
- 1784 Clarksville founded
- 1942 Fort Campbell established
- 1838-1839 Trail of Tears passed through the region
- mid-1800s Dark-fired tobacco industry became a major economic force
Rivalries
- Austin Peay Governors vs. Murray State Racers Ohio Valley Conference basketball battles.
- Tennessee Volunteers vs. Kentucky Wildcats College football and basketball bragging rights.
- Clarksville vs. Hopkinsville high school football Local gridiron showdown.
- Game day High school football
- Game day Austin Peay Governors football
- Outdoors Hunt deer and turkey in Land Between the Lakes
- Outdoors Fish for bass and crappie in Lake Barkley
- With kids Visit the Elk & Bison Prairie at Land Between the Lakes
- With kids Swim at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park
Locals speak a Southern American English with a blend of Tennessee and Kentucky accents. You'll hear a drawl, dropped 'g's, and phrases like 'y'all' and 'fixin' to'. The military presence from Fort Campbell adds a layer of standard American English, but the local flavor remains distinctly Southern.
Only here
- Land Between the Lakes is a unique national recreation area spanning 170,000 acres between two lakes.
- The Jefferson Davis Monument is the tallest concrete obelisk in the world.
- Fort Campbell is home to the 101st Airborne Division, the 'Screaming Eagles'.
- Dark-fired tobacco curing barns are a distinctive sight, with their tall, ventilated structures.
New here? A few tips
- Be prepared for hot, humid summers and mild winters, but also occasional ice storms.
- Traffic on I-24 can be heavy around Fort Campbell during rush hours, so plan accordingly.
- Try the burgoo and country ham biscuits early—they're local favorites.
- Learn about military base etiquette if you're near Fort Campbell; respect for the service is important.
- Pronounce 'Clarksville' as 'CLARKS-vil' and 'Hopkinsville' as 'HOP-kins-vil'.
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Nearby
Every areaRussellvilleKentuckyRolling hills, warm hearts, and a slower pace.WaverlyTennesseeWhere the river bends and the hills hold close.NashvilleTennesseeThe sound of the SouthFranklinKentuckyWhere the Pennyrile rolls into the dusk.PrincetonKentuckyWhere the rivers carve the fields and the soil remembers.MurrayKentuckyRacer pride and lake lifeMadisonvilleKentuckyCoal country's warmest welcomeParisTennesseeBig peanuts, bigger sunsets on Kentucky Lake.
Clarksville, TN-KY. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.