Transportation Options
Getting Around Downtown (and Beyond)
Whether you want to rent a scooter or charter a bus, we’ve got lots of ways to set your plans in motion.
Taxis and rideshares
Taxis offer a flat-rate triangle comprised of Airport-Downtown-Opryland Hotel. Travel from one to another for $30 (it goes up a tad for additional passengers). Heads up: there are fake taxis on the road; certified taxis will have a secured top light, professional decals, tagged meters, a visible driver’s permit, and a taxi rate card displayed.
Ride-shares like Uber and Lyft only pick up from the airport in Garage 2. Request your car; the app will direct you to the appropriate zone to meet your driver.
When departing, rideshares are no longer allowed to drop you at the Departures area; instead they drop you at Garage 2, then walk to the main teriminal and take the elevator or escalator up to Departures.
During non-peak hours a rideshare (Lyft, Uber) may be more affordable but, if demand is great, rates can be as high as $65 for the same route. If you just need to travel a short distance–say, Germantown to downtown–$10-15 is common. Expect to pay higher rates following a big event such as a Titans game or concert at Bridgestone.
TIP: Need a ride from the tourist zone (Lower Broadway, Bridgestone Arena) when things are really busy? Walk a few blocks away from the crowd. It’s easier to secure a ride, easier to get on your way, and may result in a lower fare. Some drivers refuse enter the area but happily serve the perimeter.
Rental cars
Need a rental car? Eleven of the major rental companies have locations at the Nashville International Airport with most maintaining satellite offices around town.
Turo is also in the Nashville market if you prefer that approach.
Charter cars and limos
- Nashville Electric Transportation Get trendy and eco-friendly in their all-Tesla fleet.
- EarthRideShare Yes, it’s another Tesla-powered provider.
- NashRovers Bibake can hook you up with private black-car service for six passengers and an on-call connection for a seven-seater.
- Mr. Jones Driver Services Capacity of 11 guests, operated by Eric Jones. Recommended by AirBnB owners.
- RideswithTJ.com Travel in a 12-passenger Springer with TJ Bernstein. Recommend by AirBnB owners.
- NashPinkRide Available to all but catering to women and LGBTQ+ customers with point-to-point transportation as well as airport pick-ups and drop-off. Also available for 4+-hour blocks of time.
Fleets
I’m using the term for vendors with more than two vehicles or who maintain a number of transportation options.
- JoyRide It began with turbo-charged golf carts zipping around downtown. But over time, their fleet has expanded to include a variety of tours as well as party tractors and monster trucks. Their coaches can transport 38 people (3-hr. minimum for $450).
- Burton Transit Nashville They run the gamut–luxury sedans to charter buses. Instant quotes available online.
- Signature Transportation Services Their extensive fleet includes limos, Suburbans, passenger vans, motor coaches–pretty much anything for any size group. They also offer tours to Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg, local attractions, wineries, and other destinations.
- InShuttle Offers a range of options from private cars to busses, including an airport shuttle. Available from out-of-town destinations.
- Honky Tonk Shuttle Whether you need a ride from the airport to your lodging, a tour around town, or a trip to a distillery or other location, these folks can accommodate. A one-way shuttle for up to 25 passengers from the airport runs $200 or round-trip for $350.
- Anchor Transportation The largest family-owned motorcoach company in the area, choose a 25-passenger mini-bus or a 55-passenger coach.
- Wise Coaches Offering 25-passenger mini-coaches excellent for shuttling your people around the area as well as full-size buses for larger groups and longer excursions.
- Stewart Transportation Solutions Although based in Nashville, these folks travel everywhere it seems. Hit them up, especially if you’ve got a lot of people to move.
- Nashville Shuttle They’ll pick you up at the airport, take you around town, or provide a tour. Vehicles range from 24-passenger vehicles to a party bus.
- Nashville Express Shuttle Offering door-to-door service within the Metro Nashville area using ?15-passenger vans, this may be ideal if you’re not bringing a really large crew.
- Executive Travel Airport shuttles, point-to-point, tours–these folks have you covered with a fleet that can accommodate a group of any size. Coverage includes surrounding middle Tennessee cities.
- Dove Transportation Okay, it’s a charter bus–not a fleet–but owner Frank Murray is dedicated to offering personalized service.
- Fetii You can think of it as Lyft or Uber for larger groups–with a vehicle like an upscale 10-passenger van. Download the app and order a ride. Keep the gang together instead getting multiple taxis or rideshare cars.
Hop-on Hop-off buses
What’s primarily a tour bus doubles as in-town transportation. Two companies offer this hop-on/hop-off service:
- Olde Town Trolley Tours–They offer 15 stops around downtown including Bicentennial Mall and the Country Music Hall of Fame but ventures as far as Belmont University and Centennial Park. You’re welcome to hop on and off at your discretion with a one-day pass priced at $42.95 if booked online. TIP: If you’re visiting a friend with a Davidson County address, they can ride with you for free via the Hometown Pass program.
- Grayline–They’ve been in the tour business locally for 50 years. There’s a good chance they offer a mode of transportation that fits your needs.
Metro bus system (WeGo)
Nashville is desperately working to make our mass transit system more viable for locals as well as tourists. I use the bus whenever I can–especially for trips downtown.
WeGo bus Our bus system isn’t as comprehensive as most major cities but it’s useful to travel along our main corridors. It’s not your best choice if you’re only needing to travel a few blocks; however, if you need to get to or from downtown, it’s an economical option. For most visitors, paying $2 in cash is your easiest option. If you’d like to go electronic, buy your fare; $2 for a 2-hour pass (with free transfers available) and $4 for an all-day pass. Children under 19 and seniors 65+ ride for half-price.
For $15 make a reservation for a Grayline coach that runs between the airport and the Music City Center downtown or Cool Springs (between Brentwood and Franklin).
Connecting the Opryland area and downtown
Back in the days of the Opryland theme park, that area was the center of Nashville tourism. With the closing of the park, the focus shifted downtown. Here are two ways connect the two.
Gaylord Opryland shuttle For travelers looking for a simple commute between downtown and Gaylord Opryland Hotel, this shuttle may be just the ticket. The schedule varies depending on the season but this link should provide the info you need. Current price for a one-way ticket is $11.
Music City Shuttle It connects visitors staying in the hotels and campgrounds along Music Valley Drive (near Opryland Hotel) to downtown. There’s not much information on their Facebook page so it’s best to call them at (615) 999-6651.
E-bikes and electric scooters
Bring your e-bike back to where you started or drop it off at any of its dozens of Bcycle locations. Rates start at $27.31 for 120 minutes used over a 3-day period. Check with local bike shops for traditional bike rentals.
Lime, Bird and Spin have a total of 2,100 electric scooters spread all around downtown. Download the app, enter your credit card info, scan the code on the vehicle and off you go. Leave it when you reach your destination–but not where it blocks sidewalks or handicap-accessible ramps. Note: 1) You must be 18 or older and have a valid driver’s license to rent one. 2) Only one rider per scooter. 3) It is illegal to ride a scooter on a sidewalk in a business district. 4) Where it is legal to ride on the sidewalks, you must yield to pedestrians and notify them if you are passing them.
Pedal-powered Carts
You like the idea of riding around in a bicycle but want to leave the pedaling to someone else, try Nashville BikeCab.
