How to avoid Nashville’s crowds while still getting the full experience

Some people love the energy of a crowd, but that is absolutely not me. I try to avoid crowds whenever I can. Partly because of my personality and partly because I grew up in a town so small, that the entire population could fit into the Ryman Auditorium with room left over. 

Nashville had nearly 17 million visitors last year, but surprisingly, I rarely deal with the level of crowds you would expect.

I’m not just sitting at home. I make an effort to get out to see some of Nashville’s biggest attractions, try out new restaurants, and explore neighborhoods besides the ones I live in. 

Obviously, it’s not possible to completely avoid large groups of people, especially if the reason you’re in Nashville is for an event that attracts a lot of people. But, you can find some ways to get away from the busyness.

I don’t usually have to wait in super long lines or constantly battle the crowds to see attractions and take photos. You can steal my secrets to enjoy Nashville without all the extra fuss.

Spend most of your time in Nashville’s less touristy neighborhoods

The honky tonks and bars on Broadway downtown are by far one of the biggest draws for visitors. This means that downtown can get incredibly crowded. 

However, that’s only one side of Nashville, and most locals don’t actually spend all that much time around downtown unless we’re going to an event.

Here’s the thing though, you can avoid the downtown chaos and still hear great live music. Music venues like The Basement and The 5 Spot and bars like Jane’s Hideaway and The Local are just a few of the places outside of downtown to listen to live music. 

I especially recommend attending event series like Musician’s Corner or the Full Moon Pickin’ Party for live music if those are happening during your visit. 

You should also venture outside of the more popular neighborhoods for meals. The Nations and Sylvan Park in particular have a number of spots that visitors tend to overlook – like the restaurants at Sylvan Supply and L&L Market. 

You can even find less crowded Nashville staples like the Charlotte Pike location of Hattie B’s. In my guide to Nashville’s best restaurants, I give you the scoop on which locations of popular restaurants are less likely to be busy.

Save popular attractions for January through March

Sometimes it isn’t possible to avoid tourist hotspots that draw crowds. 

One of my top recommendations for anyone in Nashville, local or tourist, is the Country Music Hall of Fame. You have to go downtown to get to the museum, and there are going to be lots of people at the museum because country music is such a big part of Nashville’s music legacy.

If you want to see the most popular attractions in the city during the least crowded time, then January through March is the best time to visit. I try to go downtown more frequently during the first few months of the year and avoid it the rest of the time. With the exception of concerts or Predators games, of course.

I will admit that I love Nashville more in the spring than in the winter. The weather is not always ideal from January through March, so you need to be prepared to deal with cold weather and the possibility of hitting one of the few snowy days of the year.

You’ll also want to check opening hours for restaurants, attractions, and businesses because some of them have more limited hours. January through March is the closest Nashville comes to having an off-season.

Try to visit restaurants and other hot spots on weekdays rather than on the weekend

As a Nashville local, I mostly visit restaurants Tuesday through Thursday (a lot of places close on Mondays). Sunday evenings also work well unless it’s a holiday weekend or during the summer.

Lines are usually shorter at the most popular restaurants. Sometimes, there’s just a handful of people at a restaurant that would usually be completely packed on the weekend. Even downtown tends to be much easier to get around on the average weekday.

If you’re able to include more weekdays in your Nashville trip, you’ll have a better chance of getting away from the crowds. Even just leaving Monday morning rather than on Sunday can make you feel like you have the city to yourself.

Almost no one does anything early on Saturday morning, so get an early start

They say the early bird gets the worm. If the worm is peace and quiet, then that’s the case here.

A lot of people visiting Nashville (and a number of locals as well) stay out late on Friday night. People are slower getting started on Saturday mornings. 

If you’re able to wake up early on Saturday, you can usually be one of the first ones to arrive when attractions, shops, or brunch spots open up.

This trick typically works during even the busiest season in Nashville, but there are still a few breakfast and brunch places that are crowded first thing in the morning. It works best for museums, shopping, popular landmarks, and taking social media-worthy photos with murals.

Plan around massive events like CMA Fest, stadium concerts, and NFL games

The suggestions I’ve mentioned so far work pretty well for avoiding crowds with one major exception – huge events that draw an additional influx of visitors. Nashville is still small enough that when 50,000 or more people all arrive at once, it’s going to shake things up.

If you have some flexibility when planning your trip to Nashville, I’d suggest avoiding times when CMA Fest, stadium concerts, and NFL games are happening. There’s a lot more traffic on the roads, restaurants are busier, bars are full, and it’s just generally more difficult to find spots away from the crowds.

You can easily check to see what’s going on at Nissan Stadium, and the dates for CMA Fest are released well in advance. 

Other events to keep in mind are college graduations in the spring. The graduates’ friends and families usually go out to restaurants to celebrate or visit some attractions before and after graduation.

Try to check for one-off events as well. I once made the mistake of trying to go downtown when Nashville was hosting the NFL draft, and it was nearly impossible to find a place to park. Events of that size are few and far between though.

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Sometimes, I brave the crowds when it’s really worth it – like seeing Elton John at Nissan Stadium. The rest of the time, I plan out my days to enjoy the best of Nashville without having to navigate my way through packed streets or wait forever to order something to eat. Now, you can, too!

If you’re visiting the city for the first time, be sure to check out my best insider tips for seeing Nashville.