Tennessee has experienced rapid growth in recent years, thanks to the state’s natural beauty, low cost of living, and plentiful job opportunities.

Despite the recent population boom, Tennessee is still mostly rural, and more than half of the state—nearly 14 million acres—is covered in forests. If your goal is to live closer to nature, the Volunteer State is a great choice.

Buying Land for Your Log Cabin

The average cost of vacant land in Tennessee varies based on several factors, including location, size of the property, and zoning.

The median price is around $6,500 per acre, but properties closer to the city can cost considerably more. So, if you’re on a tight budget it’s worth spending some time researching and comparing prices in specific areas that interest you.

Wherever you decide to put down roots in Tennessee, there’s so much to love about this beautiful state. Here are our picks of some of the best places to build a log cabin in Tennessee.

Appalachian Mountains

The Appalachians are a world-famous destination. This huge mountain range spans multiple states, from Georgia to Maine. It attracts three million visitors a year and around 3,000 thru-hikers who attempt to complete the entire 2,190 multi-state journey.

The Appalachian communities highlighted below are some of the most popular for new log home dwellers in Tennessee.

Gatlinburg

A gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg tops the list of Tennessee communities for aspiring log home dwellers. Surrounded by wildlands, opportunities for fishing, hiking, hunting, and other recreational opportunities are all around.

This small community of around 3,500 residents is perfect if you love small-town living. At just two miles long by five miles wide, Gatlinburg is one of most walkable towns in the country. Half-acre lots start around $50,000 around Gatlinburg, making this an affordable area to carve out your very own log cabin hideaway.

Sevierville

Just north of Gatlinburg is the charming community of Sevierville, known for its welcoming vibe and fun, family-friendly activities. With a population of just over 18,500, Sevierville is home to an annual bluegrass festival, numerous theme parks, and lots of fun activities, from caving to antiquing.

If you love small-town living, Sevierville is a great choice. Private, wooded half-acre lots start at around $50,000 in this area, a modest price to pay for easy access to the Great Smoky Mountains.

Pigeon Forge

This little town’s claim to fame is Dollywood, ranked the No. 1 theme park in the U.S. by TripAdvisor in 2022. This family-friendly spot pays homage to one of country music’s most beloved singer-songwriters, Dolly Parton. Like neighboring Sevierville and Gatlinburg, wooded half-acre lots start at around $50,000 in this area.

Pittman Center

Just minutes away from downtown Gatlinburg is the quaint town of Pittman Center. Given its proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there’s so much to see and do in this area if you love the outdoors, including fishing, hiking, bird watching, and wildlife viewing.

You can find vacant lots around Pittman Center with plenty of privacy starting at around $35,000 per acre.

Wears Valley & Townsend

This scenic part of Eastern Tennessee, 30 miles of Knoxville gives you easy access to Foothills Parkway, the Great Smoky Mountains, and a huge variety of outdoor activities, from rafting and boating to hiking, cycling, and hunting.

Build your dream home in this scenic area or create your own homestead. You can find wooded lots around Townsend and Wears Valley starting from $45,000 an acre.

Chattanooga

Just north of the border with Georgia is Chattanooga, one of our top picks in Tennessee. Situated between the Cumberland Plateau and the Appalachian Mountains, Chattanooga is nicknamed “Scenic City” for good reason. Beautiful, wooded lots are on offer on the outskirts of Chattanooga for as little as $10,000 an acre.

Whether you’re thinking of an off-grid creekside cabin or a family home with easy access to the city, Chattanooga is a great choice. Both Nashville and Atlanta are about a two-hour drive away, giving you options for city outings.

Cherokee National Forest

A scenic 650,000-acre forest area bordering the Smoky Mountains, the Cherokee National Forest is a huge tract of public land adjoining other national forests in Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. This wilderness area boasts more than 700 miles of trails, 7 rivers, and 2 scenic byways, providing endless options for year-round outdoor recreation.

The communities below give you easy access to this national forest area as well as the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina, making them attractive options for siting your new log cabin home.

Tellico Plains

This small enclave in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains is a popular choice for those who want to build a private retreat. Tellico Plains is known as the gateway to the Cherohala Skyway and the Cherokee National Forest.

If you’ve always wanted a riverfront property where you can go fishing right out your backdoor, Tellico Plains is a great choice. Riverfront properties start at around $130,000, but you can find wooded 5-acre lots for much less in the area, if you’re on a budget.

Hartford

The small community of Hartford is nestled in a valley along the Pigeon River, a popular spot for whitewater rafting. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, every part of town has amazing views.

Interstate 40 passes through Hartford, giving you easy access to both Knoxville and Asheville. Land is very affordable in this area, starting at just $6,000 an acre. If you want a private homestead with lots of acreage, Hartford is a good choice.

Cosby

A lovely valley community at the northeastern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains, Cosby is a popular choice for vacationers. Spend your days hiking, rafting, and fishing in the Cherokee National Forest, explore the area’s many Civil War monuments, and sit under the stars at night.

Cosby is a great choice for outdoors enthusiasts. Like neighboring Hartford, land is very affordable in Cosby, starting at around $5K-$10 per acre.

Johnson City

Nestled in the foothills, Johnson City is the perfect blend of big-city amenities and small-town charm. It’s a first-class outdoor recreation destination with easy access to the Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests.

Boating, caving, fishing, and hiking are favorite activities in this outdoors haven. Wooded lots start at $15,000 per acre in the area, making Johnson City a great place to build your vacation cabin or forever home on a budget.

Erwin

Located just south of the tri-cities area of Bristol, Johnson City, and Kingsport, Erwin is a quaint town with down-home charm. Tucked into the foothills near the Nolichucky River, there are so many opportunities for outdoor recreation in this area.

Spend your weekends river rafting, mountain biking through the Cherokee National Forest, and hiking sections of the iconic Appalachian Trail. Or explore the area’s scenic highways, stopping at antique shops and arts and crafts shops along the way.

Like nearby Johnson City, you can find vacant wooded lots for your log cabin starting at $15,000 per acre in the area.

Build Your Dream Cabin in Tennessee with eLoghomes

eLoghomes is the nation’s premier log home manufacturer and builder, offering hundreds of fully customizable log home models, from tiny cabins to large multi-story homes.

Our Tennessee log cabin kits help streamline the home-building process. Our home models are already expertly designed and engineered, so you can skip the step of hiring an architect. That means your builder or general contractor can start building your dream home even faster. We also offer optional construction services for your eLoghomes shell package.

Take a virtual tour of our most popular log home models and get in touch with our expert team for pricing and to learn why eLoghomes is the leading choice for log home kits.