Driving Tours of Humphreys County

There is one definite truth you’ll discover as you drive through Humphreys County: All of it is beautiful. With rolling hills, green meadows, lush trees, and rivers and creeks spreading throughout the entire county, there is no shortage of scenery to take in. 

What do you want to see? Quaint towns filled with unique shops and a special magic that big cities just can’t provide? Expansive farms with gentle, grazing livestock and rustic farmhouses? Meandering rivers lined with lush foliage? 

It’s all here. Let’s go for a drive.

Rivers of Humphreys County

If you enter Humphreys County from the Bucksnort exit on I-40, the first body of water you’ll encounter is the Duck River. As you drive along Duck River Road and Dyer Road, also labeled 920 on maps, you’ll move parallel to the river. Keep your sights on the right, as the trees will often give a glimpse of the water. 

From there, take a right onto 13 and travel north to Hurricane Mills and Loretta Lynn’s Ranch. This picturesque spot offers up a waterfall next to the historic town—just a small one, but charming all the same.

By following Old Highway 13, you’ll cross the Duck River again on your way to Forks of the River Road. A right turn here will take you to the Link Farm State Archaeological Area—as well as one more crossing of the Duck River. By following the road straight to Waverly, you can then turn left on Highway 70 to head over to New Johnsonville.

Nearly any road you take after you get through Denver will take you to the Tennessee River for some beautiful scenery. Be sure to pay attention to signage to make sure you don’t end up somewhere you shouldn’t be.

After exploring the shoreline of Johnsonville State Historic Park, you can drive down to the Duck River Unit of the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge. Most of the park is for foot traffic only, but you will be able to drive to the shore of the lake, and possibly see some incredible wildlife from the safety of your car along the way.

Farms and Fields

The farms and fields of Humphreys County harken back to a simpler way of life, which might be why so many people seek them out while driving or when looking for somewhere peaceful and quiet to stop the car for a few minutes. Most of the farms in the area are located next to highways, but some might require some dirt-road driving, if you’re up for it.

As you travel Bold Springs Road toward McEwen, you may just catch a glimpse of Rock ‘N Refuge, a family-owned farm and lodging option. As you pass through McEwen, Hodgdon Farms will also be on your right out on Old Nashville Highway. Outside of McEwen, traveling west on Highway 70, you’ll pass Four Ponds Farm. Also, from McEwen, you can travel Little Blue Creek Road to see the historic Enoch’s Farm and Enoch’s Mill, with its charming farmhouse and quiet creekside setting.

North of Highway 70, out a meandering road that connects 70 to 13, you’ll pass Clean Genes Farm. You may want to stop and shop a bit, as the farm sells a wide variety of seasonal produce and salad dressings. Let them know you’re planning to stop by so they can be ready for you!

As you travel the Forks of the River Road outside of Waverly, you should be able to see parts of Hidden Acres Farm. A short trip out a back road will take you right to their door. Again, be sure to watch for any signage that tells you where you can and can’t be while you’re driving around in this area!

History and Historic Sites

With no shortage of farms, fields, and rivers, Humphreys County already has a lot to offer the casual road-tripper. Add the rich history of the area, and you have several days’ worth of driving to be done here.

Perhaps the oldest in the area is the Link Farm State Archaeological Area, which you can drive straight through. While the area is closed to the public unless there’s a tour scheduled, we recommend slowing down at least a little bit to take in the ancient Native American history in this area. The Mississippians’ mound offers up answers of life long ago in this area, giving the whole site an austere atmosphere that must be experienced to understand. The archaeological area is managed by the Johnsonville State Park and more info can be found there. 

Also filled with a sense of solemnity and antiquity is the site of the Battle of Johnsonville, which is located on the lake’s edge in Johnsonville State Historic Park. It’s worth getting out of the car for a few minutes to walk along the same path as Civil War soldiers from both sides—to see the replica cannons and soldier huts—before heading off to the next site on your road trip jaunt.

A trip to Humphreys County wouldn’t be complete without driving through historic Hurricane Mills, which was sold to Loretta Lynn as part of her purchase of the land surrounding the antebellum home on the hill across from the downtown area. The entire complex is now part of the Loretta Lynn Ranch, a tourist attraction in its own right, tied to the history of the first female country singer to become a millionaire. 

Still, even without the sensation of Loretta Lynn attached, the old town center of Hurricane Mills would be a charming stop for a road trip, with its Wild West-style buildings and the creek, complete with a waterfall, running alongside. The house on the hill is easy to see even through the wrought-iron gate. You will probably want to use the pull-off on the side of the road to stop for a quick photo.

Anyone interested in history should take a drive through downtown Waverly, which is packed with architecture from as early as the late 1800s. Street after street offers commercial buildings that have been around for more than one hundred years and homes that might just be older than that. You’ll see the historic Greyhound depot, now serving as the Chamber of Commerce building and sometime-museum, when you can catch it open. Marvel at the Art Deco style as you travel through the town on Main Street, and then head north to see the Waverly Train Disaster Memorial.

Quilt Trail

Throughout Humphreys County, as you drive to the water or to one of the many historic sites, you can also keep an eye out for the quilt blocks placed on dozens of barns and outbuildings. No matter which road you plan to take, you’re likely to see one of these barn markers in bright, bold colors with a distinct feel of yesteryear. 

You can find a map of these barn quilts online and plan your road trips in order to see everything you want to see at once. Maybe this weekend, you’ll plan to drive to the various rivers on your way to the Tennessee River at Johnsonville, and you want to see all the barn quilts along the way. Next weekend, you might plan to see the many farms and fields around Humphreys County, as well as the various quilt blocks. 

Or maybe you just want to visit only the quilts…and that’s okay! You’ll still see all the beauty and history that Humphreys County offers along the way.