How Are You Getting to Nashville?
You really only have two choices for transportation–roadway or runway–so let’s explore the details of both.
Roadways
Arriving by Car
For most people, traveling to Nashville means driving. Three major interstates–I-24, I-65, I-40–intersect here. I-440 is a southern loop, theoretically less trafficked that driving straight through town.
Want to get a bird’s eye view of the traffic situation? Log onto TDOT SmartWay for real-time traffic (but not when you’re driving). Zoom into any part of the state. There’s even a link to check individual cameras posted along the interstate system.
We call them interstates–not freeways.
A few tips:
- Try to avoid Nashville’s rush-hour traffic on the interstates. That’s inbound (6:30-9:00 am) and outbound (3:30-6pm).
- For road and weather conditions, call 511.
- If you have a flat tire, experience a wreck or see hazardous debris on the interstate, call *847 (that’s THP for Tennessee Highway Patrol) on your cellphone. Your call will automatically be directed to the nearest state trooper dispatch.
- The Tennessee Department of Transportation has a fleet of bright yellow trucks labeled Highway Assistance Response Unit. They respond to motorists experiencing problems and provide assistance for wrecks and construction zones.
- It is illegal to operate a handheld cellphone while driving. (Hands-free usage is okay). Holding your phone could result in a $200 fine (although I’ve yet to hear of anyone being ticketed).
- If you get in an accident, take reference photos and as soon as possible, pull your vehicle off the road. Be advised: police response time to accidents has been slow lately due to staffing shortages.
Bus Service
Greyhound, with a modern terminal just south of downtown, can connect you to the rest of the country. Tip: I wouldn’t recommend walking around the area after dark.
Napaway A new generation of sleeper coaches, passengers have private suites with lie-down beds. These buses travel between Nashville and Washington, DC via Knoxville. Buses arrive and depart from 421 Rep. John Lewis Way, North, (aka as 5th Avenue, N.) across from Municipal Auditorium and Music City Central.
Vonlane, which calls itself a “jet on wheels” has a Nashville-Atlanta route. With only 22 seats, passengers can stretch out in “first-class seats” while taking advantage of electrical outlets, WiFi and complimentary snacks. Omni Hotel at 250 Rep. John Lewis Way, South (aka 5th Avenue, S.) serves as its terminal. The arrival/departure point is near the entrance to Bongo Java.
By Air
Runways and more
Nashville International Airport (BNA) is about five miles east of downtown, just off I-40. Deep into a massive $1.5 billion renovation and expansion, it’s now considered a top-of-class facility. Unique to Music City, there are live music stages near the A/B exit, the C/D exit, and the Concourse C food court.
After checking in with your airline, all passengers proceed through a centralized TSA checkpoint with 24 security lanes. After that, head to the appropriate concourse.
New European direct flights in 2025
*Aer Lingus to/from Dublin 4x weekly starts April 12.
* Icelandic Airlines to/from Reykjavik starts May 25.
Concourse A and B:
Air Canada, Avelo, Breeze, British Airways, Cape Air, Contour, Delta, Flair, Frontier, JetBlue, Sun Country, Swoop, United, Vacation Express, Viva Aerobus, WestJet.
Concourse C and D:
Alaska Air, American, Southwest.
Satellite Concourse (Gates C 4-11):
Allegiant, Spirit (Note: access via electric shuttle located next to Gate C-13)
Check-in tips:
- Plan to arrive at the airport 1.5-2 hours prior to departure.
- Heading to the airport at 5 pm on a weekday from downtown will cause ulcers so try to avoid rush hour departures.
- Oversized bags must be checked. They won’t fit through the 3-D scanners at the security checkpoint. Guitar cases and other odd-shaped luggage will be hand-checked in the same way they inspect strollers.
- If your departure gate is in the satellite concourse (typically Allegiant and Spirit flights), allow an extra 30 minutes for the shuttle.
General tips:
- Free WiFi is available onsite. Connect to !BNA Free Wi-Fi.
- Unlike the generic restaurants of most airports, you’ll find a great assortment of local food and drink options along the concourses.
- Both Uber and Lyft are allowed to pick up travelers at the airport but I’ve recently heard that, at peak times, it’s less chaotic to catch a cab. Currently taxis operate a flat rate of $30 for a single passenger if you’re traveling downtown or the Opryland Hotel area. There’s a small upcharge for additional passengers.
Helpful airport links:
- Airline information
- Ground transportation including rental cars, hotel shuttles, taxis and rideshares.
In-town transportation –whether you need a scooter for a mile or a charter bus for a night on the town.
A footnote: for charters and private planes, there’s a much smaller terminal with its entrance on the other side of the runways, accessed from Donelson Pike.
Make sense of our confusing street names by checking out Decoding Nashville Streets.
