Tennessee Secondary Route 89: Kenton to Dresden

Tennessee Secondary Route 89 offers a quiet but scenic 23-mile journey through the rolling farmland and wildlife preserves of northwest Tennessee. Beginning in the small town of Kenton, this rural stretch of highway connects travelers with the communities of Sharon and Dresden, passing through a mix of agricultural fields, river bottoms, and gently wooded terrain. If you’re looking for a backroad alternative to the more heavily trafficked U.S. highways, this route delivers a peaceful and visually engaging drive.

Our journey starts at the intersection of TN-89 and U.S. Route 45W in Kenton. From there, the route heads briefly east before curving north at Walnut Grove Road. As we leave the edge of town, the surroundings quickly shift to open countryside. Not long after, the highway enters the Obion River Wildlife Management Area, a patchwork of wetlands and floodplain forests that’s popular with local hunters, birdwatchers, and nature lovers. The crossing over the Obion River itself is a subtle but scenic highlight, especially when the river is high and the surrounding bottomlands fill with water.

Once clear of the WMA, TN-89 swings eastward again, continuing for about eight miles toward the town of Sharon. As we enter Sharon, the route becomes Main Street, giving us a brief taste of small-town life. There are a few local shops and eateries here worth checking out if you’re ready for a quick pit stop. Leaving Sharon, the road becomes known as the Sharon Highway, and it begins to angle northeast. Just outside of town, the Persimmon Hills Golf Course sits near the route, offering a nicely manicured contrast to the wild natural scenery earlier on. This stretch also features several small lakes and creeks that wind quietly through the countryside.

As we reach Dresden, Route 89 meets Tennessee Route 22 and continues a short distance north before taking a jog eastward at TN-239. The final leg turns back north at TN-54, climbing gently into the heart of town. The journey concludes just west of downtown Dresden at the intersection with Main Street, not far from the Weakley County Courthouse and other civic landmarks. This last segment provides a quick glimpse of Dresden’s local charm and sets up connections to several other area routes, including the continuing stretch of TN-89 for those heading farther north.

Whether you’re a local commuter, a scenic-route enthusiast, or just exploring backroads across Tennessee, the drive from Kenton to Dresden on TN-89 offers a pleasant mix of natural landscapes and rural character. It’s the kind of route that reminds us why taking the “long way” can be worth the extra time.

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