(Just remember that Falcon Rest is in the country 2-1/2 miles NORTH of the McMinnville courthouse square, so follow these directions instead of wandering off downtown.)

NOTE: Hwy. 56 (coming from the southwest) & Hwy. 30 (coming from the east) are beautiful, winding mountain roads.
That's great if you're interested in scenery but not a good way to come if you want a direct route.

Falcon Rest is 1.3 miles north of the Hwy. 70S Bypass at the end of Faulkner Springs Rd.

Direct route from I-24

Take Manchester Exit 111 (Hwy. 55) to McMinnville. DO NOT turn and go to the McMinnville business district. Instead, keep going straight and follow Hwy. 70S signs toward Sparta. You'll pass Wal-Mart, Applebee's and Andy's Buffet. Turn left onto Faulkner Springs Road at the light AFTER the one at the Andy's. (Supreme Building Products is at the intersection to the right.)

The closest way from Nashville

Come from I-24 through Murfreesboro. Take Exit 81-B. Turn right at the first traffic light onto Rutherford Blvd. After you pass Wal-Mart, turn right again onto Mercury Blvd., which is Hwy. 70S. Go through Woodbury and into McMinnville. Instead of going straight to the downtown McMinnville business district, take the exit toward Sparta onto the Hwy. 70S Bypass. Turn left onto Faulkner Springs Road at the FIFTH traffic light (the one AFTER Korner Market).

From Chattanooga

Follow directions from I-24 through Manchester

...Or, choose the scenic route across the gorgeous Sequatchie Valley

(just beware of deer at dusk!): Take Hwy. 27 across the Tennessee River at the Aquarium, then Hwy. 111 past Dunlap.

About 10+ miles past the Dunlap turnoff, turn left onto Hwy. 8.

Turn right when Hwy. 8 meets Hwy. 56 on the outskirts of McMinnville, enter downtown on Main Street, take the first right onto Sparta St., first left onto Morford St., and first right onto Spring St.

Go straight across the Hwy. 70S Bypass, where Spring St. becomes Faulkner Springs Rd. (Call for directions with less turns if you'll be in a motorcoach!)

From Huntsville, Ala.

Go through Fayetteville, Tullahoma and Manchester, Tenn. Don't turn onto I-24. Instead, go straight across the Interstate and follow the directions above from Manchester Exit 111.

From I-40 East (Knoxville or Crossville)

Go west on I-40 to Crossville Exit 317. Turn left at the end of the ramp; go about 1-1/2 miles and turn right at the traffic light by Walgreens. Stay on this road (Hwy. 70) just through Sparta, then turn left onto Hwy. 111.

A couple of miles south of Sparta, take fork toward McMinnville on Hwy. 70S. Stay on the four-lane Hwy. 70S Bypass in McMinnville, and turn right at the fourth traffic light onto Faulkner Springs Road.

If you'd prefer to stay on 4-lane roads all the way from Knoxville,take I-40 west to Cookeville. Exit onto Hwy. 111 toward Sparta. Follow directions above from Sparta.

From I-40 West (toward Nashville)

Take Exit 273 south through Smithville into McMinnville. Turn left onto the Hwy. 70S Bypass, then left again at the second traffic light onto Faulkner Springs Road.

From Fall Creek Falls State Park

Exit the park at the south gate onto Hwy. 284. For the quickest route, go straight across Hwy. 111 instead of turning north to Spencer. Hwy. 284 curves north and meets Hwy. 30 west of Spencer.

Turn left onto Hwy. 30. Go to the end of Hwy. 30, and turn leftwhere it "y's" into Hwy. 70S.

Go to the fourth traffic light; turn right onto Faulkner Springs Rd.

Click on the red star to get directions from anywhere to Falcon Rest Mansion.