Tennessee tends to be hot and humid in the summer, though the higher you go into the mountains, the cooler it gets. Temperatures range 66-90 F/19-32 C June-August, but the humidity climbs with them. Expect thunderstorms in summer, especially in July in the Smoky Mountains. The Smokies are comfortably warm on summer days with cool nights.

Spring and autumn see cooler temperatures, 70-85 F/21-29 C, and a slight drop in humidity means more comfortable touring.

Winters are mild (seldom below 10 F/-12 C), but they're often wet. Snow rarely lasts more than a few days except in the mountains. April-May temperatures range 53-87 F/11-30 C (42-76 F/5-24 C in the Smokies), though spring weather can be unsettled.