Lebanon, Tennessee, is only 25 miles from Nashville with its wealth of musical attractions, but this smaller city has many appealing sites and activities to compete with its better-known neighbor to the west. Stay in Lebanon—the county seat of Wilson County—to explore its rich, 200-plus years of history. Also take some time to visit the striking cedar forest that reminded early settlers of the biblical cedars of Lebanon and inspired the name of this appealing town.
Mostly Warm and Humid
Lebanon has a temperate climate that tends to be warm and humid, with distinct seasons that affect the types of clothing and footwear you need to pack. Temperatures range from about 31 to 92 year-round, but are more typically in the 47 to 70 gamut. Late-May to early-September is the warm-to-hot season and late-November to late-February is the cooler season. The hottest months are July and August, both of which average a high of 90. Late summer also tends to be very humid. January is down right cold with an average low of 26 and a chance of snow.
Cedars and History
Lebanon's attractions include museums that bring its history to life and areas of natural beauty where you can enjoy outdoor recreation. From April through October, take a self-guided tour of Fiddlers Grove Historical Village. Imagine life in Lebanon in the 1800s. Step into a replica jail, town hall, a blacksmith's shop and sawmill. Learn more about local history at the Wilson County Museum, the Roy Bailey African American History Center or the City of Lebanon Museum and History Center on the lower level of City Hall. Download the Historic Lebanon Driving Tour app, which leads you to some 28 historic sites, many of which are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Up for some exercise? Don hiking boots and head to Cedars of Lebanon State Park, the largest cedar forest in the nation. Trek along some of the 8 miles of trails, through forests and glades that form natural rock gardens with rare and endangered plant species. The park also has stables where you can arrange guided trail rides.
Cracker Barrel and Other Businesses
The biggest industries in Lebanon are health care and education. A major employer in the private sector is Cracker Barrel, which was founded in Lebanon and has its corporate headquarters there. Another big company is Performance Food Group, which supplies and delivers food to restaurants. Smaller sectors of the local economy include manufacturing of automotive steering systems, banking and construction.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Lebanon has a general aviation airport, but for commercial flights, it's served by nearby Nashville International Airport. The Music City Star commuter rail service connects Lebanon with Nashville via 32 miles of rail line; it operates Monday through Friday. I-40 runs east-west just south of Lebanon, connecting it with Nashville to the east and Knoxville to the west. U.S.-70 also runs east-west through the center of Lebanon and will take you directly into Nashville.
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