Tennessee Welcome Center — Local services in Jasper

I recently stopped by the Tennessee Welcome Center, and I have to say—it was one of the nicest roadside stops I’ve experienced in a long time.

First off, the view was absolutely beautiful. Whether you’re pulling off I-24 or heading into Memphis or the Smokies, it just feels like Tennessee is welcoming you with open arms. I took a moment to step outside and breathe in the fresh air—it’s peaceful, scenic, and a great place to reset before hitting the road again.

Inside, the restrooms were clean, the building was well-maintained, and the staff were incredibly friendly. They answered a few questions I had about local attractions and even recommended a couple scenic routes I wouldn’t have thought to take.

There are plenty of brochures and maps, which is great if you like to explore or find hidden gems. I also noticed picnic tables outside—perfect if you’re traveling with family or just want to enjoy the setting a little longer.

Honestly, for a quick stop, it left a great impression. You can tell Tennessee really cares about how visitors feel from the moment...

It's clean and has a great shaded area to walk pets. Lots of trees and plenty of room to walk around and keep a safe distance from other pet owners. There is a trail to the water but pets aren't allowed down there.

The bathrooms were clean and open. It was a little tight but with the doors open, plenty of working soap dispensers, and paper towels dispensers you can use your elbow to work, it was easy to maneuver around folks safely. Strategically placed garbage cans to help with getting around folks and being neat.

The Info Desk has someone smiling behind plexiglass dividers with a nice salutation. There is a separate Vending Building but I didn't go inside. There appeared to be 3 - 4 machines inside.

Only a couple of parking spots had shade and I found one of them, so did the smokers. Best to walk over to the shady spots with tables to get away from the smokers. All in all it was clean and nice. Even saw a couple of rabbits much to the glee of...

Great place to stop for many reasons. Stretch the legs, use the rest rooms, grab a drink or snack from the vending machines or grab your picnic lunch and enjoy one of the tables in the scenic view, walk the doggies, grab FREE state and city maps and brochures...and if you plan to hotel it in TN and haven't made reservations, grab ONE OF EACH of the different hotel discount books. I say to grab one of each because the same hotel can literally have 3 different prices in 3 different books...this'll ensure you get The lowest possible price. Best to call ahead and mention you want a coupon room to ensure availability...The numbers are listed on the coupons in the books. The discounts in these books are usually very legitimate and can save you lots versus the standard rack rates. Welcome centers are always a great stop idea, and the TN ones have always been super clean and during "business hours",...