Getting Around Nashville

By Car
Three major interstates pass through Nashville. Near the heart of the city these highways combine to form a near circle around downtown. Convenient exits provide easy access to major city streets.

The main north-south route is I-65. Closely parallel is the US 31 corridor, which divides into US 31E and US 31W north of Nashville, US 31 and Alt. US 31 to the south, and I-24 to the west.

East-west access comes primarily from transcontinental I-40. A close companion is US 70, another route that spans a considerable portion of the nation; east of Nashville it splinters into US 70N and US 70S.

I-24 runs on a northwest-southeast axis, bringing traffic from other routes in Chattanooga and southern Illinois. A close relative on part of its journey is US 41 and Alt. US 41.

SR 155 (Briley Parkway/Thompson Lane/Woodmont Boulevard/White Bridge Road), a bypass, encircles Nashville and connects all major interstates running through the city.

Street System
Nashville is a fairly easy city in which to navigate, given that the downtown area is ringed by five major interstates: 40, 65, 440, 24 and 840, an outer bypass. The key to deciphering the street system is to remember that the Cumberland River runs north to south, bisecting the heart of the city. The numbered avenues run north to south, west of and parallel to the river. The numbered streets run north to south, east of and parallel to the river. East-west streets are generally perpendicular to the river on both sides.

Four bridges connect the east and west sections of downtown: the Victory Memorial Bridge, Woodland Street Bridge, Shelby Street Bridge and Jefferson Street Bridge. Broadway (US 70) and Charlotte, Church and Jefferson streets are the principal cross-town routes.

US 41 is the main north-south thoroughfare, though it is separated by the James Robertson Parkway for about a half-mile in the area around the State Capitol. James Robertson Parkway also is the link with Victory Memorial Bridge. South of Demonbreun Street, US 41 (also called 8th Avenue) divides, and the 8th Avenue S. part of the fork becomes US 31. US 41 continues south as Lafayette Street.

Broadway and Jefferson, Charlotte, Church and Demonbreun streets are all downtown access exits off the I-40 loop of the circumferential highway. On the eastern side of the river, Jefferson, Main and Woodland streets and Shelby Avenue are exits off the I-24 loop of the highway. The average speed downtown is 30-35 mph. Right turns at red lights are legal unless otherwise posted.

Parking
On-street parking is convenient at meters, with a rate of 25c per half hour. Parking garages and outdoor parking lots average $1-$2 for each half hour.