How to get around Nashville: the interstates, WeGo buses and the Route 18 airport bus, bike share and greenways, and downtown parking zones and enforcement hours.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Facts come from WeGo Public Transit and its airport service page, the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure’s parking, paid parking and enforcement pages, Metro Parks’ trail resources and the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Three interstates, I-24, I-40 and I-65, meet around downtown Nashville, linked by I-440 and Briley Parkway. Public transit is run by WeGo Public Transit, whose Route 18 links the airport with downtown. Downtown on-street parking is metered and, in the Central Parking District, enforced around the clock. Parking questions: NDOT customer service, 615-862-8775.

Who to call

  • Parking meters, signs and permits: NDOT, 615-862-8775, or hubNashville at 311
  • Bus routes, schedules and the trip planner: WeGo Public Transit
  • Live road conditions: TDOT SmartWay or dial 511
  • Potholes on Metro streets: hubNashville, 311 (615-862-5000)

Main roads

  • Interstates: I-24, I-40 and I-65 meet around downtown, with I-440 as an inner connector. TDOT exit numbers to know include I-40 Exit 210 (the I-65 interchange), I-65 Exit 80 (I-440) and I-24 Exit 49 (Shelby Avenue, for East Nashville and Shelby Park).
  • State routes: Thompson Lane is part of State Route 155; Nolensville Pike and Dickerson Pike are State Route 11; Murfreesboro Pike is State Route 1.
  • Major pikes with their own WeGo routes: Gallatin Pike, Dickerson Pike, Nolensville Pike, Murfreesboro Pike, Charlotte Pike, Hillsboro Pike and West End Avenue.

TDOT is working on several of these this fall, including nightly lane closures on I-65 at the Hamilton Avenue bridge. See our weekly road construction and closures page.

WeGo buses and the Star train

WeGo runs local buses across Davidson County and regional routes to nearby cities, all meeting at the Elizabeth Duff Transit Center at WeGo Central downtown. Local routes are numbered for the roads they follow, including:

Route Name
3 West End
4 Shelby
7 Hillsboro
18 Airport
22 Bordeaux
23 Dickerson Pike
50 Charlotte Pike
52 Nolensville Pike
55 Murfreesboro Pike
56 Gallatin Pike
70 Bellevue
76 Madison

Regional routes include 84 Murfreesboro, 86 Smyrna-La Vergne, 87 Gallatin-Hendersonville, 89 Springfield, 94 Clarksville and 95 Spring Hill-Franklin. The WeGo Star commuter train is Route 90, with downtown shuttles 64 and 93. Plan a trip with the trip planner on wegotransit.com, the Transit app or Google Maps. WeGo also runs service to Titans home games.

Getting to the airport

Nashville International Airport (BNA) is served by WeGo Route 18:

  • At BNA: board at the Ground Transportation Center, Level 1 of the Terminal 2 Garage. Follow signs from baggage claim and look for the purple WeGo stop sign.
  • Downtown: board at the Elizabeth Duff Transit Center at WeGo Central; the route also makes stops along the way.
  • Time: about 20 minutes on express trips, 35 to 45 minutes on local trips.
  • Fare: $2 each way for adults, by QuickTicket, contactless card or phone, or exact cash. Each fare is a two-hour pass. Luggage is allowed.

Bikes and greenways

Metro’s greenways add up to more than 99 miles of paved trail, and B-cycle bike rental kiosks stand around the city, including 16 at greenway trailheads. NDOT’s bikeways program maps bike lanes and routes. Greenways are open dawn to dusk. See our parks and trails guide.

Parking downtown

Meters. NDOT runs multi-space pay stations in the Central Parking District (downtown, SoBro and the Gulch) and in the West End, Vanderbilt Hospital, Music Row, Midtown, Edgehill and Hillsboro Village areas. Pay by phone, card or coin, or scan to pay. Read the posted signs.

Zone Areas Enforcement
Central Parking District Zone 1 Downtown, Zone 2 SoBro, Zone 3 Gulch, Zone 8 Economy 24 hours
All other paid zones Zone 4 Music Row, Zone 5 Edgehill, Zone 6 Midtown, Zone 7 Hillsboro Village, Zone 9 Economy 6 a.m. to midnight
  • Time limit: up to 10 hours. You can extend from your phone twice; after the session ends, move the car out of the zone for at least 30 minutes.
  • Rates vary by zone and length of stay and are posted on NDOT’s paid parking page; economy zones cost less.
  • Garages: Metro runs the Public Square Garage, 101 James Robertson Parkway (entrances on James Robertson Parkway and Gay Street). The Church Street Plaza Garage at the Downtown Library, 151 Sixth Ave. N., is temporarily closed for repairs.
  • Enforcement: NDOT Parking Enforcement and the Metro Nashville Police Department write tickets.
  • Responsible Ride: if you leave your car downtown and get home by rideshare, taxi, transit or a designated driver, NDOT will waive one parking ticket from that time if you send proof within 24 hours through its waiver form.

What this means for you

  • Flying out? Route 18 runs from WeGo Central to the Terminal 2 Garage, with luggage allowed.
  • Parking downtown overnight? The meters never stop in the Central Parking District; use a garage.

Related guides: moving to Nashville, things to do this month and who to call at Metro.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Nashville airport to downtown by bus?

Take WeGo Route 18 from the BNA Ground Transportation Center on Level 1 of the Terminal 2 Garage to the Elizabeth Duff Transit Center at WeGo Central downtown. Express trips take about 20 minutes and local trips 35 to 45 minutes; the adult fare is $2.

What are downtown Nashville parking enforcement hours?

In the Central Parking District (downtown, SoBro, the Gulch and Economy Zone 8), on-street parking is enforced 24 hours a day. In other paid zones, such as Music Row, Midtown and Hillsboro Village, enforcement runs 6 a.m. to midnight.

How long can I park at a meter in Nashville?

Up to 10 hours. You can extend a session from your phone twice, and once it expires you must move the car out of that zone for at least 30 minutes.

Where are Metro’s public parking garages downtown?

Metro runs the Public Square Garage at 101 James Robertson Parkway, under the Historic Metro Courthouse, and the Church Street Plaza Garage at 151 Sixth Ave. N., which is temporarily closed for repairs.