Nashville Airport Parking

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Guide to Nashville Airport

Nashville Airport (BNA) falls within the top 40 busiest airports in the USA and is currently ranked as the fourth-fastest growing amongst them. Catering to more than 10 million passengers a year, it provides over 400 daily flights to more than 50 destinations.

BNA is a focus city for Southwest Airlines, which accounts for over half the flights leaving the airport. Although the majority of Nashville Airport’s routes are domestic, it also offers international flights to the likes of Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Location of Nashville Airport

Nashville Airport is located in south east Nashville, Tennessee, eight miles (12.9 kilometers) from downtown. The airport is well connected to the city center by public transport, with a taxi ride taking just 15 minutes. There’s also the possibility to rent a car from one of the many companies available in the Rental Car Facility there, which is just a short walk from the terminal building.

The cheapest option to get to downtown Nashville is to take a Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) bus. Route 18 provides express and local services, taking between 20 and 45 minutes to make the journey. There are also numerous shuttle services available; click here for the official airport list.

To locate transport services, head to the first floor of the terminal, following signs for the Ground Transportation Area. If you need to get to locations further afield, you can catch a train from Central Station or a Greyhound bus from downtown Nashville. If you prefer to take a taxi, you can see a list of fees for other destinations here.

History of Nashville Airport

Inaugurated in 1937, Nashville’s first airport, Berry Field, was served by American and Eastern airlines and catered to almost 200,000 passengers in its first year. The airport now handles over 10 million passengers a year from its single terminal, the Robert CH Mathews Jr Terminal, which was built in 1987. Berry Field is now the name used to refer to the military part of the airport in use today.

Having been used as a military base during World War II, it later saw vast growth and expansion, which is predicted to continue, with passenger numbers projected to double over the next 20 years. The site is subject to a massive $1.2 billion expansion plan that will see a fourth concourse added (D) and a brand-new on-site hotel built for a more convenient experience for passengers.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Airport facilities

Passengers using Nashville Airport are provided with a variety of shopping and dining options, all chosen to reflect the soul of Nashville, the Music City. The country-music-themed airport has three concourses in its single terminal, with Concourse C offering the widest choices for shopping and dining.

With the ‘drinks on the go’ policy, you can wander around airside at Nashville Airport with a drink whilst you find something to do; there’s travel essentials to be bought, great food to be eaten and thrilling live music to be enjoyed at BNA.

If you have any special requirements for your trip through BNA, you should contact customer services ahead of your arrival on (+1) 615-275-1675. You can also head to the Information Desk in the center of the Baggage Claim level or find one of the Flying Ace Airport Ambassadors, who are easy to spot with their red vests.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of the facilities available at Nashville Airport:

• ATMs

• Short-stay parking

• Long-stay parking

• Cell phone lots

• Car valeting

• Car hire

• Transfers

• Information desk

• Shopping

  • Duty free

  • High-street brands

  • Newsagents

• Food

  • Breakfast

  • Restaurants

  • Fast food

  • Cafés

• Drink

  • Bars

  • Coffee shops

• Art program

• Live music

• Toilets

• Disabled access

• Baby-changing facilities

• Nursing rooms

• Currency exchange

• Business lounges

• Trolleys

• WiFi

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Nashville Airport hotel and parking

Travelers passing through Nashville Airport may want to take advantage of a hotel and parking package. They’re a great way to remove the stress of getting to a very early flight on-time and, indeed, to save money on parking.

You can find a variety of hotels nearby that offer Stay, Park and Fly options. At just one mile (1.6 kilometers) from BNA airport is the Radisson Hotel Nashville Airport. Take advantage of the indoor heated pool and free WiFi to start your trip like you mean to go on. After a night’s rest, you can take the five-minute complimentary shuttle ride to the terminal and leave your vehicle for up to seven days in total.

For a more luxurious option, head to the Embassy Suites by Hilton, where they make you feel welcome at the Evening Reception with complimentary drinks and snacks. The free shuttle service takes you the 2.5-mile (four-kilometer) trip once you’re relaxed and ready for your travels.

For a budget option, try the Nashville Airport Inn and Suites. Only four miles (6.4 kilometers) from BNA, it’s free to park there, including RVs and trucks. It is also just a 10-minute drive to the famous Grand Ole Opry, so you could even take in a bit of live music before your flight.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Top things to do in Nashville Airport

Arts at the airport

There are both indoor and outdoor exhibitions on offer throughout Nashville Airport to keep you busy before your flight. Be sure to head outside to the Rental Car Facility to see Ned Khan’s famous Wind Reeds and, for those with children, take a trip to see Flights of Fantasy outside the Ground Transportation level and let them burn off some energy playing on the flight-inspired sculptures.

Music City’s Music Airport

Nashville is synonymous with live music and the airport lives up to its location’s moniker, the Music City. Stages throughout the airport provide concerts by over 80 bands each year. Click here to find out what’s on during your trip.

A meat-and-three

For a true taste of the South, a visit to Nashville’s landmark Swett’s is a must. It‘s been serving the traditional meat-and-three since the 1950s and has an outlet in the airport. If you’re not familiar with southern cuisine, a meat-and-three is a choice of one meat and three side dishes from a large selection of southern-inspired foodstuffs. Call in for a taste of home away from home; they’re located between Concourse 4 and Concourse 7.

Smoke indoors

Nashville Airport is home to the Graycliff Cigar Company, which provides a wide selection of cigars and its very own in-store smoking lounge. Located in Concourses B and C close to Gate 10, you can kick back, relax and have your pre-flight smoke airside.

Pamper yourself

Airport stress? What airport stress? Any pre-trip anxiety can be massaged away in one of the Massage Bars located in Concourse B (near Gate B1) and Concourse C (near Gate C14).

Alternatively, if you don’t have much time to spare, have a seat in one of the airport massage chairs located in Concourses B and C.

Blue Coast Burrito

If you can’t leave Tennessee without a burrito, Blue Coast is the place to do it. Famous for its signature homemade salsas and fish tacos, you’ll find it located in the Food Court in Concourse C.

Try a local brew

Start your vacation early with a locally brewed beer. BNA offers a Tennessee Brew Works kiosk at the Concourse A/B Food Court Rotunda and a Yazoo Brewing Company stand in Concourse C, opposite the Food Court.

With the on-the-go license, you don’t have to hang around to drink your beer, so why not take it with you while you explore?

Vino Volo

Wine-lovers do not fear: Vino Volo, the shop-come-wine-bar, has an outlet in BNA. It offers a wide variety of wines to drink by the glass or the bottle and you can even have the wine of your choice shipped home if you don’t want the hassle of carrying it around.

Located in Concourse C near Gate C15, it also provides small dishes for those who can’t go without a snack with their drink.

Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge

Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, the ultimate honky-tonk bar, has an outpost in Nashville Airport. Located airside in Concourse C, it offers live music and hearty BBQ meals and snacks – what more could you want from an airport bar?

Airport Sun Project

If you are in Nashville Airport on a sunny day, have a look at the breathtaking effect created by the Airport Sun Project by Dale Eldred. The mixture of mirrors and diffraction panels creates a spectacular display of changing colors at the terminal entrance.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Top things to do near Nashville Airport

Grand Ole Opry

Nothing says Nashville like the Grand Ole Opry, the iconic location for live performances of country music. At only 15 minutes’ drive from BNA, it’s a must for all lovers of country music. The world’s longest running radio show offers you the opportunity to be part of the audience for one of its live recordings. If your trip doesn’t allow for that, don’t worry; you can take a backstage tour to learn about all the country music greats that have graced this place.

Country Music Hall of Fame

All music enthusiasts have to visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, just seven miles (11.3 kilometers) from Nashville Airport.

It houses one of the world’s most extensive collections of country music and memorabilia; you can even marvel at Elvis’ gold Cadillac. It’s worth checking their calendar before you go as your trip could coincide with one of the many concerts or events they host throughout the year.

Fontanel Mansion

Treat yourself to a trip to the mansion once owned by one of country music’s greats, Barbara Mandrell. The 186 acres (75.3 hectares) of land are home to an amphitheater, an adventure zip-line area, walking trails, a winery, a café and a hotel.

You can book a night in the hotel to take a tour and have a look at their calendar to see if one of the live outdoor performances coincides with your stay.

Frist Center for the Visual Arts

Gigantic as Nashville is on the music scene, there are other forms of art on offer. The Frist Center for the Visual Arts has an extensive collection of art housed in a spectacular Art Deco building. It prides itself on exhibiting new pieces every six-to-eight weeks to keep the exhibitions fresh and innovative.

Tennessee State Museum

If you consider yourself a history buff, you can get immersed in the history of Tennessee at the Tennessee State Museum. The museum houses some of the best collections of Civil War artefacts in the USA and even peers as far back as the prehistoric times in the land we now call Tennessee.

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

With 200-acre (80.9-hectare) grounds, over 350 species and a Jungle Gym, your little ones will have a fabulous time in this spot, which is just a 20-minute drive from BNA.

Tours of the original historic plantation house and train rides to hidden areas of the zoo are available to all visitors, so it’s a great place to make some great family memories.

General Jackson Showboat

Cruise down the Cumberland River while you take in an afternoon or evening show on the General Jackson paddle wheel showboat. You get the chance to see Nashville from a different perspective on the four-hour trip, which includes a meal and entertainment in the price of the ticket.

Music Row

Take one of the tours of Music Row at the heart of Nashville’s entertainment industry. Hop on a bus, sing along to all the classics produced in the district, learn about the history of the industry and be dazzled by the endless music studios, record labels, radio stations and publishing houses that have made the Music City what it is today.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Which terminal?

All airlines fly from the Robert CH Mathews Jr Terminal from the concourses located on the third floor at Nashville Airport. There are three concourses in use: A, B and C, which are connected by a large hub where the security checkpoints are located.

For more information on which airlines are stationed at which terminal, visit the official Nashville airport website.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

How to get to Nashville Airport

Car

Nashville Airport is located on I-40 at exit 216A. You can navigate there via the ZIP code TN 37214.

If you are traveling from downtown Nashville, take I-40 east to exit 216A. From the south, simply take I-24 west to I-40 east and exit 216A.

If you are traveling from the north, you need to take I-65 south and change to I-40 east at exit 50B after the Silliman Evans Bridge.

From the east, take I-40 west to Donelson Pike South to exit 216 and turn left to head towards the airport.

Bus

Nashville Airport is served by the number 18 Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) bus route. The express service takes just 20 minutes to arrive from downtown Nashville, whereas the local service can take up to 45 minutes. The bus starts at the Music City Central bus terminal in Nashville's central business district, where you can connect from services arriving from other locations.

Services run every hour and you can check the timetable here.

Shuttles

Shuttles to BNA run from many of the large hotels in the city and numerous companies offer private services throughout Nashville directly to the airport. Enquire with your hotel about the service when you book. Jarmon Transportation is the official shuttle operator at BNA, taking passengers from there to downtown and the surrounding areas.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Useful tips

There’s a walk-in clinic at BNA

There’s a Care Here! Walk-in Clinic and Wellness Store at BNA; it’s located in Concourse C next to the exit. There’s no need to travel whilst you’re feeling under the weather, so feel free to walk in-to the Clinic for free blood pressure tests, flu shots and many other services.

Don’t pay for picking someone up

If you are collecting someone from Nashville Airport, head for one of the cell phone waiting areas that have real-time updates on flight arrivals. Alternatively, if you know exactly when they are leaving the airport, the short-term parking garage offers 20 minutes free parking.

Keep track with the app

You can check your flight status and avoid wasting time waiting around.

Check in curbside

At BNA, most airlines offer curbside check-in, which means you can check your bags in before you even enter the airport and have more time to enjoy the facilities. There’s curbside check-in on the Ticketing Level and Baggage Level, but be sure to check with your airline in advance.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Nashville Airport FAQs

How much is parking at Nashville airport?

We always recommend pre-booking your Nashville airport parking lot space ahead of your travel date. This allows for you to take advantage of great savings using Looking4.com. There are a range of parking lots available, including long term and short term. Booking in advance with Looking4.com couldn't be any easier. Get a quote now to take advantage of up to 60% in savings!

How much is long term parking at the Nashville airport?

Using the Looking4.com quote form above will give you the most accurate price for your travel dates. Long term parking is better for those having longer vacations and booking ahead means you can avoid those costly on the day fees for long term parking lots! Prices for long term parking at Nashville airport also depends on the season and demand for spaces.

Where to park at Nashville airport?

There are a variety of parking lot options available at Nashville airport. Looking for a specific lot type to use? Make sure to compare and book your Nashville airport parking using the Looking4.com quote form at the top of this page. We generate the best quote for the lot that suits your requirements.