Car Hire in Nashville - Getting to Nashville

Nashville is located in the middle of Tennessee in Davidson County and, although fairly remote, it has a well appointed international airport, several interstate highways converging on the city, and good bus connections.

Nashville International Airport is served by most major airlines and is located about 13kms east of downtown Nashville, just south of I-40. It takes about 15 minutes to reach the city from the airport. Many hotels near the airport offer a complimentary shuttle service, while others slightly farther away have their own free shuttles.

The Gray Line Airport Express operates shuttles between the airport and downtown and West End hotels. These shuttles operate from the airport every 15 to 20 minutes daily between 06:00 and 23:00, and rates are US$11 one-way and US$17 return.

Metropolitan Transit Authority buses connect the airport and downtown Nashville. The number 18 Elm Hill Pike bus runs between 08:13 and 19:15 Monday to Friday, with shorter hours and fewer departures on Saturday and Sunday. The fare is US$1.45 each way, and the ride takes approximately 40 minutes. Metered taxi fares from the airport into downtown Nashville will cost you around US$20.

From Nashville, I-65 leads north into Kentucky and south into Alabama, and I-24 leads northwest into Kentucky and Illinois and southeast into Chattanooga and Georgia. I-40 traverses the state east-west, connecting Knoxville with Nashville and Memphis. I-440 connects I-40, I-65 and I-24, and helps circumvent clogged major arteries during Nashville's rush hour.

There is no rail service to Nashville, but Greyhound Lines offers services to Nashville from around the country, operating along interstate corridors or local routes. The fare between New York and Nashville is about US$98 one-way and US$175 return; the fare between Chicago and Nashville is about US$65 one-way and US$118 return. The Greyhound bus station is on the south side of downtown Nashville at 200 Eighth Avenue.