Things to Do in Mt. Juliet, TN: A Local’s Guide to Charlie Daniels Park, Providence Marketplace & Beyond
Mt. Juliet has a different kind of fun than Nashville. It's the kind that starts at a lake at sunrise, lands at a state park trail by lunch, swings through Charlie Daniels Park for a community event, and ends at a Providence Marketplace patio with a drink as the sun goes down. The City Between the Lakes punches above its size when it comes to weekends — here's a local's guide to what's actually worth your time.
Lake Days: Old Hickory + Percy Priest
You can't talk about Mt. Juliet without starting with the lakes. “City Between the Lakes” isn't a marketing slogan — it's a daily lifestyle for thousands of residents.
Old Hickory Lake (north side)
Old Hickory is the calmer of the two — family boating, fishing, and lakeside picnicking. Marinas along the lake offer pontoon rentals if you don't own a boat. The Cumberland River shoreline supports striper, largemouth bass, and crappie fishing year-round. Cedar Creek Recreation Area is one of the most popular public access points.
Percy Priest Lake (south side)
Percy Priest is the busier weekend lake — sailing, wakeboarding, paddleboarding, swim beaches. Anderson Road and Cook Recreation Area are the major access points. Summer Saturdays are loud, fun, and full of party barges. Different vibe than Old Hickory, equally great.
Long Hunter State Park
One of Middle Tennessee's most underrated state parks sits on the eastern shore of Percy Priest, within easy reach of Mt. Juliet. Couchville Lake Trail is a flat, family-friendly loop around a smaller lake — great for stroller hikes, photography, and bird watching (look for great blue herons, ospreys, eagles). Volunteer Trail is the longer option for serious hikers (~8 miles round trip along the shoreline). Free parking, well-maintained restrooms, and one of the best places to catch a Middle Tennessee sunset.
Charlie Daniels Park
If Mt. Juliet has a hub, it's Charlie Daniels Park — named for the country and southern-rock legend who called the city home for decades. Walking trails, ball fields, summer splash pad, playgrounds, and event lawn. Holiday tree lighting in December, summer concert series, Fourth of July events, and the weekly small-town rhythms that make Mt. Juliet feel like more than a bedroom community. If you only have one Saturday in Mt. Juliet, spend the morning here.
Providence Marketplace
One of Tennessee's largest open-air retail centers is right inside Mt. Juliet. Providence Marketplace anchors the city's shopping, dining, and casual entertainment — Target, Marshalls, Best Buy, plus dozens of restaurants and specialty shops. Friday and Saturday evenings, it's the busiest spot in town. Easy I-40 access pulls visitors from Lebanon, Hermitage, and across Wilson County. Comfortable patios, family-friendly chains, and a few local independents make it the default “where should we eat” answer for most residents.
Local Restaurants Worth Knowing
The independent food scene has been growing fast as the city has — country breakfast spots, locally-owned brewpubs, Mexican grills, family pizza joints, and a steady cadence of new openings. The Mt. Juliet Road corridor and the Providence area host most of the action. Watch MtJuliet.com for ongoing restaurant features and new ribbon cuttings — we cover openings as they happen.
Day Trips Within 30 Minutes
- Downtown Nashville — ~17 miles west via I-40 (~25-35 min in traffic). Or skip the drive entirely and take the WeGo Star commuter rail from the Mt. Juliet station.
- The Hermitage — Andrew Jackson's home and grounds, ~10 miles west, one of the best historic sites in the region
- Lebanon — Wilson County's seat, just east on I-40. Historic Public Square, Cumberland University, and the original Cracker Barrel
- Long Hunter State Park — covered above; eastern shore of Percy Priest
- Hendersonville — Sumner County, more Old Hickory Lake access, ~25 min north
- Murfreesboro — Rutherford County, MTSU, Stones River National Battlefield, ~35 min south. See Murfreesboro.com.
Annual Events Worth Building Your Calendar Around
- Holiday Tree Lighting at Charlie Daniels Park (late November / early December)
- Summer Concert Series — outdoor music at the park
- Wilson County Fair (Lebanon, August) — one of Tennessee's largest county fairs
- Fourth of July fireworks
- Ribbon cuttings — Mt. Juliet's growth means a steady drumbeat of new business openings, all covered on MtJuliet.com
For Visitors From Out of Town
Coming from Nashville for a day trip? Build the day around the lake. Morning: pontoon rental on Old Hickory or hike at Long Hunter. Lunch: Providence Marketplace or a local spot on Mt. Juliet Road. Afternoon: Charlie Daniels Park, or hop over to Lebanon for the historic Public Square. The whole city drives compact and parking is free almost everywhere. There's no tourist trap — and that's the appeal.
Bottom Line
Mt. Juliet is a lake town, a family town, a commuter town, and one of Tennessee's fastest-growing communities — all at once. The fun here looks like a paddleboard on Percy Priest, a stroller loop at Long Hunter, a Friday-evening concert at Charlie Daniels Park, and Saturday dinner with the family at Providence. If that matches the kind of weekend you want, you're going to love it here.
MtJuliet.com is your local guide for Mt. Juliet, TN — news, events, restaurants, businesses, and ribbon cuttings. Submit news or events here. Sister sites: Murfreesboro.com for Rutherford County, NashVegas.com for Nashville entertainment.
