Some of the best bites in Tennessee are hiding at the end of gravel lanes, next to barns and grazing cows. You pull up expecting a quick snack, and you leave with a cooler full of cheese and a sticky, happy grin.
These farm creameries prove you do not need to drive to Wisconsin for world-class dairy. Grab a spoon, gas up the car, and let us show you where the cows are worth the trip.
1. Sweetwater Valley Farm, Philadelphia, TN
Picture over 1,500 dairy cows, robotic milking barns, and a cheese shop sitting in the green hills of Loudon County. Sweetwater Valley Farm is the real deal, a working farm where the milk in your cheese came from cows you can almost see from the parking lot.
John and Celia Harrison bought into the farm in 1987, and cheese making started in 1998. Fun fact: in 2018 it became the first Lely XL Dairy Farm in Tennessee, milking 500 cows with robots.
Visitors can tour the milking facility, then settle in at the seed-to-table grilled cheese cafe for a melty sandwich and a milkshake. Two stores mean plenty of farmstead cheese to haul home.
The farm sits off Highway 11 between Philadelphia and Sweetwater, about 40 minutes from Knoxville, and the drive up the lane is gorgeous. Hours run Monday through Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
2. Flowers Creamery, Ethridge, TN
Out where the pavement gets quiet in Lawrence County, a little country shop on Rhea Branch Road has been winning over anyone willing to make the turn. Flowers Creamery is a family dairy farm first, and you can taste it.
The ice cream comes in flavors like cherry, lemon, blackberry, and even goat milk, and the texture is soft, rich, and seriously creamy. Cheese curds, big wedges of gouda at friendly prices, and cold chocolate milk round out the cooler.
Tours are offered too, so kids can see where it all starts.
Ethridge is a tiny farming community, and plenty of Amish buggies share these back roads, so take your time. Plan carefully, since the shop opens Wednesday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM and Saturday mornings until 1 PM.
From Nashville, it makes a lovely Saturday drive of about an hour and a half.
3. Nash Family Creamery, Chapel Hill, TN
Grilled cheese and ice cream for the same meal? At Nash Family Creamery in Chapel Hill, that combo is basically the house rule.
Their cheeses and ice creams come from the family’s own dairy cows, so everything tastes fresh.
Scoops here are generous. Flavors rotate through favorites like salted caramel swirl, blueberry cheesecake, and coffee break, and the brownie sundae is a crowd-pleaser.
On the savory side, the pepperoni grilled cheese is a must, with chicken salad on a croissant and other sandwiches also on the menu.
Families will appreciate the large dining room, outdoor seating where dogs are welcome, and a cute shelf of merch and canned goods. Chapel Hill is only about 45 minutes south of Nashville along US-41A.
The creamery is closed Mondays and open until 9 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, perfect for a summer evening cone.
4. The Old Stone Creamery, Spring Hill, TN
More than 150 years of history sit behind the counter at The Old Stone Creamery on Sugar Ridge Road. Even as Spring Hill grows, this rustic farm store keeps the old country spirit alive.
Shelves are stocked with locally raised products, including fresh milk, house-made cheeses, and beef from nearby farms. The chocolate milk alone has a loyal following.
Homemade jams, jellies, and honey make easy gifts, or a reward for yourself.
Then there is the ice cream. Homemade flavors are scooped to go, since the cozy shop has no indoor seating and no restroom.
Grab a cone, find a shady spot in the car, and enjoy the farm view.
Hours are limited: Wednesday through Friday noon to 5 PM, and Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM. It is roughly 40 minutes from downtown Nashville, making it an easy afternoon escape.
5. Cruze Farm Ice Cream – East Knoxville, Knoxville, TN
Ask any Knoxville local where to get soft serve, and Cruze Farm usually comes up within seconds. The East Knoxville shop lives inside a big Victorian style house on Asbury Road, and it feels like visiting a favorite aunt’s farmhouse.
The star is the sweet cream soft serve made from the milk of grass-fed cows. It is rich and distinctive, and the rotating menu of seasonal flavors keeps regulars guessing.
Coffee milk is another fan favorite.
Staff dress in charming outfits and serve up true Southern hospitality. There is plenty of parking, lots of indoor and outdoor seating, and even a drive-through for quick cravings.
Many families grab pizza next door first, then wander over for dessert.
Open daily with late hours until 9 or 9:30 PM, the shop gets busiest on Saturday evenings, so come early if you hate lines.
6. Sequatchie Cove Creamery, Sequatchie, TN
Want proof that Tennessee can stand toe to toe with famous cheese states? Look toward a winding road in the Sequatchie Valley.
Sequatchie Cove Creamery dreams up original artisan cheeses that have earned national attention.
Their approach is simple and beautiful. The team works with local farmers and contented cows to turn lush valley grass into cheese worth sharing.
Each wheel captures a little slice of this green corner of Marion County.
Sequatchie itself is a tiny community of roughly 300 people, tucked deep in the valley along Coppinger Cove Road, about 40 minutes west of Chattanooga. The drive alone, with ridges rising on both sides, is a treat.
Keep an eye out at regional festivals too, since the creamery has shown up with tasting tents. No posted shop hours are listed, so call ahead at 423-619-5867 before you make the trip.
7. Noble Springs Dairy, Franklin, TN
Goats get the spotlight on Blazer Road, and they seem to know it. Noble Springs Dairy is a family operated goat dairy where visitors can cuddle the herd and learn how a small local farm really works.
Here is the delicious part. The goat cheese is crafted right on the farm, and the honey peach flavor has a way of turning first-timers into repeat customers.
Tours are part of the fun, and the shop also sells handmade soaps and other farm goods.
Summer and fall bring Goats and Guitars live music nights, while Mother’s Day brunch requires advance tickets. The farm also rents out as an event venue.
Views over the Williamson County countryside are lovely, just 30 minutes from Nashville. Hours vary by day, with weekend visits Saturday 10 AM to 2 PM and Sunday 1 to 4 PM, so check before heading out.
8. Mayfield Dairy, Athens, TN
Generations of Tennessee kids have grown up with those yellow Mayfield milk jugs in the fridge. In Athens, you can see where the magic happens and eat a scoop while you are at it.
Mayfield Dairy offers an educational factory tour that walks guests through how milk and ice cream are made. For about $4.50, the tour includes a huge scoop at the end, which might be the best deal on this whole list.
A gift shop adds souvenirs for the ride home.
Not in the mood for a tour? The ice cream parlor is open to everyone, with a wide selection of flavors at very friendly prices.
Athens sits in the rolling foothills about an hour from both Knoxville and Chattanooga. Note the odd schedule: closed Wednesdays and Sundays, with shorter Saturday hours from 10 AM to 2 PM.
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