Overview
Bristol is a city in Southwest Virginia and Eastern Tennessee, United States of America.
1 sights · 1 things to do · 3 places to eat · 4 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Bristol
Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Bristol Motor Speedway
A NASCAR short track auto racing venue. An enlarged cartoon version of this track appeared as the "Motor Speedway of the South" in Pixar's "Cars" in 2006.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 79°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Wettest: Sep and Jun. (climate data from nearby Boone)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- TRI Tri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport, Blountville — 15 mi away. Directions
- AVL Asheville Regional Airport, Asheville — 83 mi away. Directions
- TYS McGhee Tyson Airport, Knoxville/Maryville — 114 mi away (major hub). Directions
Interstate 81 connects Bristol with other cities (Roanoke, VA to the north and Knoxville, TN to the south) along a scenic and well maintained corridor that is a major route for private and commercial traffic. Bristol can be accessed via exits 1, 3, 5, and 7 in Virginia and exit 74 in Tennessee. Exit 3 on I-81 leads to I-381, a short spur freeway that takes traffic into downtown Bristol.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Birthplace of Country Music Museum
- Lunch Shanghai Chinese Restaurant
- Afternoon Bristol Motor Speedway
- Dinner Stateline Bar and Grille
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Bristol is a city bisected by the Virginia-Tennessee border; the north half is in Virginia and the south half in Tennessee. State Street runs along the borderline and the two cities share a downtown.
Bristol, Virginia is an independent city in Virginia, bounded by Washington County, Virginia and Sullivan County, Tennessee. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 17,835.
Bristol, Tennessee is in Sullivan County. As of the 2010 census, the city has a total population of 26,702.
Originally named Goodson, the city was renamed to Bristol in 1890.
Get in
By plane
By car
Interstate 81 connects Bristol with other cities (Roanoke, VA to the north and Knoxville, TN to the south) along a scenic and well maintained corridor that is a major route for private and commercial traffic. Bristol can be accessed via exits 1, 3, 5, and 7 in Virginia and exit 74 in Tennessee. Exit 3 on I-81 leads to I-381, a short spur freeway that takes traffic into downtown Bristol.
Get around
Public transportation is available to a limited portion of the city via a municipal bus system.
See
- Downtown district including shopping, historic landmarks in the history of Country Music.
Cumberland Square Park and War Memorial
Do
Do Bristol Motor Speedway
A NASCAR short track auto racing venue. An enlarged cartoon version of this track appeared as the "Motor Speedway of the South" in Pixar's "Cars" in 2006.
Eat
Sleep
Nearby
Elizabethton
City / town · 4 listings · 18 mi away
Kingsport
City / town · 12 listings · 20 mi away
Johnson City
City / town · 27 listings · 22 mi away
Damascus
City / town · 12 listings · 23 mi away
Mountain City
City / town · 2 listings · 23 mi away
Boone
City / town · 39 listings · 39 mi away
West Jefferson
City / town · 6 listings · 41 mi away
Jefferson
City / town · 2 listings · 42 mi away
My experience
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