Step into a world of wonder at Discovery Park of America in Tennessee. This indoor/outdoor museum offers a unique blend of education and entertainment, making it the perfect outing for families.
With captivating exhibits, interactive displays, and outdoor spaces to play and explore, a visit to Discovery Park of America promises an unforgettable adventure.
From exploring the mysteries of space to delving into the depths of history, there’s something to pique everyone’s interest.
Where is Discovery Park of America?
Discovery Park of America is located in West Tennessee, right near the border of Kentucky, in Union City. It really seems to be out in the middle of nowhere, with not much else around.
However, it’s worth the drive if you’re within a couple of hours!
The drive from Cape Girardeau, Missouri is a little under 2 hours. From Memphis, Tennessee, it’s about 2 hours and 10 minutes. From Paducah, Kentucky, it will take about an hour and 10 minutes. And from Nashville, Tennessee, the drive is 2 hours and 45 minutes.
About Discovery Park of America in Tennessee
Discovery Park of America in Tennessee is an indoor and outdoor museum inspiring children as well as adults to “see beyond.” The indoor museum offers 100,000 square feet of exhibits, some of which change frequently. Their outdoor heritage park is set on 50 acres of land.
The mission of the Discovery Park of America is to educate children and adults in an exciting and hands-on way and inspire them to “see beyond wherever an individual is in life.”
Explore Indoor Exhibits
Take in the view from 120 feet up on the observation deck at the Cooper Tower. Look down through the glass panels on the floor! (Tickets for Cooper Tower are sold separately!)
Explore “Dino Hall” in the Natural History Gallery to see fossil reproductions of dinosaurs, as well as 2 real Mosasaur fossils!
The Transportation Gallery is a museum of many different vehicles, from a 1916 Model T to modern race cars, as well as many transportation-related artifacts.
The Science and Space Gallery walks you through the universe. The Children’s Exploration Gallery features a giant slide, which ends up in Dino Hall. The children’s exhibit has water tables to play in, a forest play area, a building station, and more.
This isn’t even half of what is offered indoors at Discovery Park of America! There really is so much to explore here!
Discover Outdoor Exhibits
Outdoors, there is a Children’s Discovery Garden, which is essentially a giant, super fun playground! There is also a Train Depot, where you can walk from train car to train car, checking out the steam engine and caboose. You can even pull a cord to make the whistle blow!
The Settlement is a little 1800s frontier village made of log cabins including farmhouses, a smokehouse, a hog barn, a doctor’s cabin, and more!
At Mill Ridge, you’ll find a windmill, a one-room schoolhouse, an outhouse, and the Brewer Austin Mill.
Outdoors at Discovery Park of America also has walking paths through beautiful gardens and past giant sculptures.
Discovery Park of America Christmas Lights
Each holiday season, the Discovery Park of America puts on a light show.
For the 2023 season, “Let it Glow” starts on November 10th and ends on December 30th.
For $5/person (ages 3 and under are free!), from 5pm to 9pm, you can walk through the lighted displays. The outdoor display is located on the north side of the park. There are food and drinks available for purchase near the front, including hot chocolate and Christmas cookies as well as nachos, hot dogs, popcorn, and more.
Aside from wandering through the beautiful lights, there are other things to do as well.
Read also: Christmas at Patti’s 1880’s Settlement
Visit Santa and Mrs. Claus at Mill Ridge and find out if you made it on the nice list this year! Take your own photos here for free! This experience alone was worth the $5/person ticket price! They were really the best!
Grab a souvenir, gifts, or candy in the gift shop. They also offer an area for coloring and writing letters to Santa, with a cute mailbox to put them in!
Aside from the walk-thru area, they also offer a drive-thru light display for $10/vehicle. It’s a relatively short drive through the lights, and honestly, I would suggest the walk-thru experience if you are only choosing one!
Read also: Talon Falls Christmas in Kentucky
Information about visiting Discovery Park of America in Tennessee
Note that bags will be checked upon entering the park. No outside food or drink is allowed. No pets.
Are there restaurants inside Discovery Park of America?
Discovery Park of America has a small restaurant called Sabin’s Cafe, located right at the main entrance. They offer kid-friendly food like mini corndogs, burgers, grilled cheese, and PB&J’s, as well as entrees such as BBQ sandwiches, vegan burgers, pizza, and chicken sandwiches.
Outside, Eats and Treats is a pavilion that offers hot dogs, pretzels, and other snacks, as well as sweets like cookies and Dip’n’Dots.
How long does it take to go through Discovery Park of America?
Considering the size of this museum, you can easily spend an entire day here to see it all. Plan for no less than 3 hours, and look at the map to prioritize what you want to see most if you are limited on time!
Hours
Hours vary by season.
September – December 2023:
10am – 4pm Tues-Sat
11am – 4pm Sun
Closed Mondays
Pricing
Ages 18+: $21.99
Ages 4-17: $14.99
Ages 3 and under: FREE
*Discounts for military, AARP, AAA, & college students
VIP Packages are also available
For more ticket information and purchasing, visit their website.
Address
830 Everett Blvd.
Union City, TN 38261
Other related posts:
- Our Wild Day at Tennessee Safari Park
- 3 Incredible Scenic Drives Near Gatlinburg, TN
- Christmas at Patti’s 1880’s Settlement
- Fun Things to Do in Southern Illinois with Kids
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