Mobile home living isn’t what it used to be.
That’s especially true for active seniors looking to downsize. You’ve retired, you’ve become an empty nester, and you realize that the big home you once had is no longer necessary.
You have plenty of options. One of the growing choices is trading in your current house for the comforts, convenience, and community of a mobile home park. Many offer a list of amenities such as barbecue pits and gathering places to go along with your rental space. They are often manicured, maintained, and behind a secure gate.
Throughout the great state of Tennessee, you can find good mobile home communities.
Top Picks
We scoured the state to find a great cross-section of outstanding mobile home communities. Of course, the state’s large metropolises boast several. Others inhabit tourist meccas, and some are even nestled in out-of-the-way locations. All offer a great place to take up residence.
Below are our top 10 choices for mobile home retirement communities in Tennessee.
1. Amherst Ridge
- Park address: 2711 Southfork Dr., Knoxville, TN
- Google rating: 3.9 based on 219 reviews
- Average price: $75,000
This 50-acre spread with more than 300 mobile home spaces is one of the best mobile home retirement communities in Tennessee for several reasons. Amherst Ridge comes with three – yes, three! – catch-and-release fishing ponds, walking trails, a gazebo, outdoor grills, and barbecue areas. In addition, the community center provides a stately backdrop to the entrance on Southfork Drive (named after the famous Ewing ranch on the TV series “Dallas”). There’s a nice-sized pool and whirlpool, as well as a pickleball court and basketball court.
Amherst conducts background checks on its member-owners to maintain a safe and quiet community. Onsite managers enforce community guidelines, such as quiet times and pet sizes.
A new three-bed, two-bath mobile home of approximately 1,150 square feet costs less than $80,000 here. The monthly space rental fee is $475.
Pros
- Beautifully landscaped common areas
- Stately community center
- Three catch-and-release fishing ponds
- Affordable luxury
Cons
- Many rules and regulations
2. Tall Pines Estates
- Park address: 9218 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy, TN
- Google rating: 4.4 based on 80 reviews
- Average price: $62,500
The name may be a misnomer, but make no mistake, this is an excellent mobile home retirement community in Tennessee. There are no pine trees to speak of, but the owners clearly care for this community and take pride in its appearance.
Not far from the hustle and bustle of Chattanooga lies this quiet, 55-and-older mobile home community between the Tennessee River and the Cumberland Plateau. Full-time security watches over each lot of the manufactured single-family homes here. The entire acreage is maintained regularly.
Tall Pines is out of the way, but it’s not far away from public parks, hospitals, shopping centers, or vast walking trails.
Residents are expected to maintain the curb appeal of their mobile home, keep the premises clean and safe, and comply with all community regulations.
The main community asset is the park’s pavilion, which has a series of covered picnic tables and benches. Residents are encouraged to rent it out for family gatherings and big events, but they can also use it on a first-come-first-served basis.
This 40-acre facility houses about 150 mobile homes ranging in size. Used mobile homes cost approximately $50,000, with new ones ranging from $75,000 to $80,000. Monthly space rentals begin at $260 and go up according to unit size and park location.
Pros
- Residents must be 55 or older
- Pristine grounds are well taken care of
- A pavilion provides a community gathering place
Cons
- No community center or pool
3. Cedar Park
- Park address: 1706 N. Tennessee Blvd., Murfreesboro, TN
- Google rating: 3.8 based on 117 reviews
- Average price: $70,000
The privacy and space between each of the 172 lots in this park make it one of Tennessee’s best mobile home communities. It’s a quiet, clean, and well-manicured facility with dozens of mature shade trees.
Amenities include a basketball court, clubhouse with a billiard table, playground, and gazebo hidden amongst the trees and surrounding greens. In addition, there is a community kitchen, laundry facilities, and fences for privacy. Cedar Park management provides its owners with several events, including monthly craft nights, picnics, potlucks, and twice-yearly yard sales.
The park is mere minutes away from schools, supermarkets, and restaurants. It’s conveniently located 30 minutes from Nashville down Highway 231.
Pros
- Onsite general store
- Community-oriented management
- Many beautiful trees
Cons
- Pets not allowed
4. Country Meadows
- Park address: 75 B Waikiki Blvd., Antioch, TN
- Google rating: 3.8 rating from 109 reviews
- Average price: $67,500
You can almost hear the ukuleles play or Don Ho sing. Own a slice of this 279-space Hawaiian-themed mobile home community that boasts lush green trees, a kidney-shaped pool, and large sites. The clubhouse is shaped like a Hawaiian pagoda, and the park’s interior streets are named after Hawaiian items like coral, volcano, and lava. The main drive around the park is Waikiki Boulevard, and who knows, you just might find someone practicing their surfing.
Country Meadows is a pet-friendly mobile home community that offers a community center, picnic area, cable television hookups, storage for recreational vehicles, off-street parking, and a playground for the kids.
It’s a quick, 12-mile drive to downtown Nashville and the Nashville International Airport. But those 12 miles are far enough away to bask in the natural beauty of Tennessee and its wildlife. At Country Meadows, you’re close enough for a day trip to Percy Priest Lake, where families fish, boat, hike, and ride horses.
Pros
- Hawaiian theme
- Stable homeowners
- Pet friendly
Cons
- Low inventory means it’s hard to get into
5. Memphis Blues
- Park address: 1401 Memphis Blues Ave., Memphis, TN
- Google rating: 4.7 based on 22 reviews
- Average price: $115,000
This mobile home community in Tennessee has taken Graceland by storm. It’s the first all-rental mobile home park in the state. In 2019, Memphis Blues won a major industry award for its concept and development.
Mobile homes in this community come with two or three bedrooms and two bathrooms in various styles. Each space features a parking area for two cars, a landscaped area, and a personal storage shed.
Memphis Blues is a gated community that includes a community center, business center, basketball court, pavilion, and dog run. Residents enjoy onsite management, 24-hour maintenance, 24-hour security, and weekly garbage removal. Families and friends can gather at the fireplace lounge outside the clubhouse for conversation or relaxation.
Pros
- Upscale, gated community
- Personal storage shed on each site
- 24-hour amenities
Cons
- Restrictive pet policy (renters may only have one pet of fewer than 10 pounds and must pay an extra $25 per month for their pet)
6. Parkway Village
- Park address: 1243 Whitehall Street, Jackson, TN
- Google rating: 4.0, based on 93 reviews
- Average price: $65,000
Lounge by the pool in Jackson’s only mobile home community that is fully owner-occupied. Renters will not harm the charm of this park as owners are committed to caring for their homes and the park itself.
At only 126 spaces, Parkway Village is smaller than many communities on this list. However, it still provides its residents with many of the same amenities: a playground, a basketball court, and a clubhouse.
The management also offers a series of planned activities and events each month, so owners can get to know each other.
We like the fact that each mobile home is raised off the ground with enough clearance to be above the dustings of snow that come in winter or the occasional heavy rainstorm.
Pros
- Intimate community
- All owner-occupied
- Raised foundations
Cons
- No cable or WiFi
7. Deerfield Mobile Home Park
- Park address: 1115 White Tail Lane, Sevierville, TN
- Google rating: 3.6, based on 66 reviews
- Average price: $72,500
You might run into Dolly Parton outside this mobile home community in Tennessee. It’s located just a hop, skip, and jump away from Dollywood in the Smoky Mountain hills of Pigeon Forge. Treat yourself and visit the Appalachian-themed amusement and water park. Admire Ms. Parton’s costumes and memorabilia.
Then, hunker down in your beautiful mobile home west of Sevierville and the Little Pigeon River. The park offers lot rents for $375 per month, and there’s a convenience store just outside the park entrance.
It’s far enough away from the booming atmosphere of Pigeon Forge to be a serene getaway but close enough to be near the action in no time.
Pros
- Hilltop location provides great views of the area
- Affordable rent
- Convenient to local attractions
Cons
- Older community could use a little sprucing up
8. Weatherly Estates
- Park address: 271 Weatherly Drive, Lebanon, TN
- Google rating: 3.3, based on 26 reviews
- Average price: $47,500
A gated community immediately east of Nashville, Weatherly Estates boasts a community of three-bedroom, two-bathroom units that come with extras such as covered porches, walk-in closets, and dual driveways.
The slower pace of Lebanon, a rising suburb of Music City, USA, offers an expansive feel compared to the urban setting of Nashville. Residents here have all the comforts of a modern mobile home community. This includes onsite management, around-the-clock maintenance, and garbage removal.
A community center is in the middle of the park, which can host medium-sized parties and gatherings. Weatherly Estates is right on the bus line, and a convenient shelter for both adults and school children sits right outside the tree-lined entrance.
Don’t forget to bring your dogs – the park allows each owner to have up to two dogs of 50 pounds for a small monthly fee.
Pros
- Beautiful, tree-lined entry
- Modern homes with all conveniences
- Manicured lawns
Cons
- Small community center for a community this size
9. Bell Crossing
- Park address: 750 Dunlop Lane, Clarksville, TN
- Google rating: 4.0, based on 194 reviews
- Average price: $55,000
About 50 miles from Nashville is one of Tennessee’s best mobile home communities. Bell Crossing offers a good choice for rural and suburban retirees who still want to be close to the action yet far enough away to escape when needed.
If you’ve downshifted from a conventional job outside the Nashville market, you may find this community irresistible. You can quietly shoot hoops on the all-weather basketball court, and relax on those sticky summer days in the swimming pool. Your grandchildren will love the playground when they visit. When the whole family is gathered, barbecue up some hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs, or chicken at the park’s outdoor pavilion.
Mobile homes range in price from $40,000 to $65,000. The lot rental fee is approximately $425.
Pros
- Fully developed with sidewalks and gutters
- All modern amenities, including clubhouse, pool, and pavilion
- Quiet suburban lifestyle
Cons
- None noted
10. Meadowbrook Mobile Home Village
- Park address: 123 Reeser Road, Johnson City, TN
- Google rating: 3.7, based on 29 reviews
- Average price: $55,000
On rolling hills next to a running creek, Meadowbrook’s name provides an apt description of its location. Sixty new homeowners have bought into this slice of heaven with open space and natural beauty galore.
These mobile homes are all on the newer side, with upgraded interiors. They feature granite countertops, expansive kitchens, and up-to-date appliances. Some bathrooms have deep whirlpool tubs as well as powerful showers. The bedrooms are spacious.
The monthly fee of $695 includes the lot rental, purchase price of a three-bedroom manufactured home, as well as water and trash removal. Owners can bring their previously purchased mobile homes to Meadowbrook so long as they adhere to the park’s standards. They must have pitched roofs (for easier snow removal), vinyl siding, and underpinnings.
Pros
- Beautiful setting full of newer modular homes
- Affordable monthly rates that include lot rental and purchase price
- Rules and regulations are kept to the bare minimum
Cons
- No extra amenities (pool, clubhouse, etc.)
Is It Worth Buying a Mobile Home in Tennessee?
Overall, we think so.
Mobile homes often provide good value for the money spent. They are substantially cheaper than traditional houses, yet they come with built-in modern conveniences. Plus, mobile homes are often more energy-efficient than traditional houses.
On the flip side, mobile homes will not likely go up in value nearly as much as other types of real estate.
Plus, mobile homes often still carry the humiliation of years past. Years ago, trailers were shoddily built, and parks were inhabited mostly by lower socio-economic individuals and families. That stigma remains in many places, even in Tennessee. It’s changing, but maybe not fast enough for everyone to consider purchasing a mobile home.
If you see the value in a newer mobile home, consider looking for a mobile home community that contains many of today’s growing list of amenities. This includes a pool, spa, clubhouse, barbecue area, and playground.
With a nicely built modular home and a modern park to live in, the value rises dramatically.
Is It Safe to Live In a Mobile Home in Tennessee?
We’d like to say yes, but the fact is, it’s complicated.
We’ve all seen devastating photos of mobile home parks destroyed by tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters. Sometimes, it seems as if tornadoes look for mobile home parks to destroy.
However, like traditional housing, many mobile homes can now survive major storms. That’s especially true if they were built after 1994 and up to the current Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidelines for the proper wind zone.
Tennessee is considered a Wind Zone I state, where manufactured homes must withstand winds that reach 70 mph. Mobile homes in Wind Zone II areas (mostly along the Gulf Coast) must resist 100-mph winds, and those in Wind Zone III areas (the southern tips of Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi) must weather 110-mph winds.
Still, hurricanes and tornadoes can reach wind speeds that far exceed these guidelines. So, mobile homes (and traditional homes) are at risk, especially if they are in the direct path of a storm.
Mobile homes are far safer today than in the past. As construction technologies keep adapting, mobile homes will continue to increase in safety. But if it falls right under a tornado, nothing may be able to keep a mobile home completely safe.
5 Resident-Owned Manufactured Home Communities in Tennessee
Outside our top 10, here are five other mobile home parks that feature a majority of resident-owned homes.
- Fairway Mobile Home Park, La Verge, TN
- Farragut Park, Knoxville, TN
- Hillview Acres, Goodlettsville, TN
- Duck River Estates, Columbia, TN
- Allentown, Memphis, TN
5 Upscale Manufactured Home Communities in Tennessee
Here’s another group of excellent communities in the state. They didn’t make our top 10, but they are certainly worth a look.
- Hendersonville Mobile Village, Hendersonville, TN
- Belleglade Mobile Home Community, Clarksville, TN
- United Mobile Homes, Memphis, TN
- Whispering Pines, Chattanooga, TN
- Madison Place, Knoxville, TN
Final Thoughts
Clean, attractive, and secure mobile home communities are located almost everywhere in Tennessee. The best ones offer attractive views, good neighbors, stable ownership, and a list of amenities. These include clubhouses, outdoor pavilions, barbecue areas, pools, spas, and playgrounds.
We’ve provided you with our list of the top 10 mobile home communities in Tennessee by taking these criteria. Also consider the cost to live in trailer parks throughout the state. It’s easy to find great mobile home communities near the state’s major cities, but if you look in the suburbs and small towns, you might be surprised to see so many enchanting possibilities.
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