Traveling via plane is fun — jet-setting over beautiful blue waters or rolling hills, taking in cloud formations, and landing in a completely different location in a matter of hours is unlike anything else.
The whole navigating the airport part? Less exciting, and sometimes pretty stressful. To help make your time at the Nashville International Airport (BNA) as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from parking and dining to details on the airport’s ~100 nonstop flights.
What to know
- TSA | Security checkpoints open daily at 3:30 a.m.
- Map it out | If you’re like us and need to completely visualize a place before you step inside, this map of the entire airport will be your saving grace.
- Food and drink | A slew of local and regional restaurants call BNA home, meaning you can sip on your favorite Nashville cup of joe or enjoy a comfort meal before takeoff.
- Reminder | By May 7, 2025, you will need a REAL ID to board commercial flights in the US (see other TSA-approved alternative forms of identification).
- Flight status | While we recommend staying updated via your airline, you can also check the airport’s dashboard for your flight status in a pinch.
Current airport updates
The airport’s $1.5 billion New Horizon plan, which is being phased in through late 2028, will bring major upgrades to concourses, infrastructure, and services. Concourse D will expand from six to 11 gates by July 2025, while Concourse A is set for a complete rebuild with more gates and new concession options. Terminal roadway improvements are underway, and an upgraded baggage handling system will speed up luggage processing.
If you want to see some of these changes up close, Nashville International Airport now offers BNA PASSport, a program that lets you dine, shop, or plane watch without taking flight. The free offering for non-ticketed guests launched on July 1, 2024 and allows access to the airport beyond security.
Parking, shuttles, and rideshare
Not everyone has a bestie who will drop everything to pick them up from their 3 a.m. landing. Parking options and rates vary and include:
- Covered parking garages | $30 per day | Terminal Garage 1 and Terminal Garage 2
- Surface lots | $20 per day | Terminal Lot A, Economy Lot B, and Economy Lot C
- Parking services | $40 per day | Valet
- Short-term parking | $5+ after 30 minutes | Terminal Garage 1 and Terminal Garage 2
Pro tip: BNA’s website includes a complete list of available parking services, including real-time capacity, daily rates, traffic reminders, and a parking cost calculator.
Hate the thought of driving yourself? Try out a shuttle, rideshare, or taxi service. The rideshare pick-up area is located at the Ground Transportation Center (Level 1 of Terminal Garage 2).
Picking someone up from the airport? BNA’s cell phone waiting area is located at 1415 Murfreesboro Pk. (~3 miles from the airport’s main terminal) and features 240 parking spaces and real-time flight information. The existing cell lots are closed for construction.
Nonstop flights
BNA averages 300 daily departures to 100+ nonstop destinations. Here are five nonstop flights to nearby locations.
Pro tip: Remember that flight times and schedules will often change — you should rely on your respective airline for exact timing and to stay updated on any changes.
- Atlanta, GA | Delta and Southwest
- Austin, TX | Delta and Southwest
- Charlotte, NC | American and Southwest
- Columbus, OH | Southwest
- Indianapolis, IN | Southwest (beginning March 6, 2025)
Plus, don’t miss these four international flights launching in spring 2025.
Bonus: Get lower fares by signing up for Going. You’ll get emailed when flights are 40-90% cheaper than usual. Get a two-week free trial of the Premium plan, which lets you set custom destination flight alerts (score).
Food and drink
BNA is a hub of eateries with dozens of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops for fliers to dine before or between flights, like:
- 8th & Roast Coffee Co. | Concourse C and D | Grabbing a coffee when you’re running to your gate is made easy with two locations to choose from.
- Acme Feed & Seed | Central Marketplace | A downtown staple known for its Southern-influenced food.
- Arrington Wine Bar and Grill | Concourse A | The wine bar and grill offers Tennessee wines by the glass or bottle and a chef-inspired menu for dine-in.
- Pig Star by Peg Leg Porker | Concourse B | The concept by local pitmaster Carey Bringle serves up Memphis-style barbecue.
- Slim and Husky’s | Concourse C | Located next to Hattie B’s, this Nashville-based chain serves artisan pizzas made from scratch.
- Smashville | Concourse C | The Nashville Predators-branded hangout offers a food and beverage menu, in addition to live music and team merchandise.
- The Southern Steak & Oyster | Concourse D | This Music City hot spot serves Southern dishes with influences from the Gulf Coast to the Caribbean.
- Voodoo Doughnut | Central Marketplace | The Portland-based donut shop’s first Nashville location features a lineup of well-known favorites like the Bacon Maple Bar, Voodoo Doll, and Homer.
Fly comfortably
While we may not be able to offer solutions for crying babies or unexpected layovers, we do have some tricks up our sleeves for upping your comfort while flying. Browse some of our favorite travel essentials:
- The AirFly Pro | Make sure you can always access in-flight entertainment (while avoiding the wired headphones airlines pass out) by using an AirFly. It plugs into your seat’s headphone jack and connects to your earbuds or headphones via Bluetooth.
- Trtl travel pillow | The Trtl pillow is scientifically designed to provide a better head position when sleeping upright, thanks to an internal support system comfortably cushioned in cozy fleece.
- Bose Noise Canceling Headphones | These headphones are tried-and-true traveling companions, beloved for their crisp sound and ability to block exterior noise.
- Cozy Earth joggers | These Oprah-approved joggers are polished enough to navigate the airport in, but comfy and stretchy enough for long flights.
- Anti-nausea wristbands | Some simple anti-nausea wristbands might relieve a nervous stomach or sensitivity to turbulence while flying.
