There are many ways to save money and still have an amazing and fun time while in Nashville.
Below are some tips to help you plan your next trip to Music City! What you do need is time and patience and every once in awhile you will get lucky and randomly find those last minute deals!
What are some of your favorite ways to save money? A few of my older posts talk away ways to save money on travel. Here are a few money saving tips for Nashville.
Enjoying Nashville on a small budget is entirely possible, while still enjoying the birthplace of country music. There are so many ways to enjoy this spectacular city without breaking the bank in the process.
The experiences on our list will give you some unique, affordable, and sometimes even free ways to get the best out of the city. Whether you’re seeking historical landmarks, natural adventures, good eats, or even free transportation in Nashville, we have what you need to know on how to enjoy Nashville with a small budget. Besides the places that I had a chance to visit while in Nashville, there are a few other FREE or budget friendly things to do. There is so much to see and do in Nashville even for families.
I mentioned a few places that we had a chance to visit on our trip to Nashville in my blog post https://www.chasingthesunshineblog.com/how-to-spend-3-days-in-nashville/
Here are a few more places to add to the list-
*Ernest Tubb Record Shop-You say record shop, we say free museum
*Get around using B-Cycle-Quick and affordable transportation around Nashville
*John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge-An architectural masterpiece with the best view in Nashville
*Lane Motor Museum-an automobile lover’s paradise
*Cooters Place (Dukes of Hazard)Museum & store. Next door to Willie Nelson Museum
*The Parthenon-Take a step into ancient Greece
*Centennial Park- walk around the park and lake
*Float down the Harpeth River-Cool off with friends in the fresh river water
*Eat at the food trucks-No need to dine in when you can dine anywhere
*MTA Music City Circuit-Comfortable transportation… and absolutely free
*Tennessee State Museum-Immerse yourself in Tennessee’s rich history
*Look for FREE events going on
*Check out the beautiful murals in Nashville
*Take advantage of happy hour specials
*Take advantage of hotel “social hour” some hotels like Drury offer 3 free cocktails each evening as well as appetizers.
*Most hotels lobbys offer live music in the evenings. You can drop by & enjoy for free.
*Downtown Nashville is fun to even just people watch, listen to music and take a stroll
*Gaylord Resort is a fun place to spend a few hours. There is a beautiful atrium there. Walk around and enjoy this grand resort. (Park near convention center for free & walk. Parking at the resort is $)
*Old Smoky Distillery. Pay $10 for tasting and get $10 off something in the gift shop. Win/Win!
*Opry Mills-huge shopping center with dining and activities. There is also distillery tastings.
*Lots of things to do in Nature. Natural parks to explore
*Vanderbilt University and Belmont University. Take a self guided tour.
*Tour the State Capitol. We love to check out the State buildings and its FREE!
*Music City walk of fame
*Art galleries
*Vineyards
*Numerous Historical sites – http://www.nps.gov/fodo/index.htm
*Summer Concerts
Ways to help cut costs when in Nashville
1. Lodging
Stay outside the city center
Downtown Nashville can get pretty spendy when it comes to hotels and Airbnbs, and accommodations tend to be where most of your budget goes.
Luckily, there are great neighborhoods minutes from the city center that offer more affordable hotels and still give you access to all that Nashville has to offer. West End, Belmont, and the Gulch are all under 10 minutes from downtown, yet room rates can be up to $50 cheaper per night. If you’re willing to stay 15 or 20 minutes outside of downtown, Brentwood and Green Hills have even more affordable accommodations.
Hotels near the airport are a lot cheaper then staying in Downtown. Some hotels offer shuttles to/from the airport as well as into Downtown where all the action is.
*Also factor in that if you have a rental car then you will be paying for parking at most hotels, especially the boutique hotels. And parking cost be pricey.
I recommend to do your research on hotels and shop pricing. The best time to shop is late at night via your mobile phone. Best deals!
If you decide on booking an Airbnb here is a code to save on your booking as well as activities –http://www.airbnb.com
2. “Dranks” & Grub!
Take advantage of happy hour and free live music
You shouldn’t come to Nashville without sampling the city’s wild array of musical offerings. The best part is that most of it is free. Everyone comes for the food, music and alcohol right?!
Drinks and cover charges can get expensive, this is a good way to help with your trip budget.
The city’s famous Broadway District is lined with bars featuring live music every day and night, and they don’t charge a cover. Open mic and songwriter’s nights are also a regular occurrence and tend to be free. To save money on drinks, check out a happy hour before you hit up the honky-tonk bars.
I highly encourage you to take full advantage of happy hour! Not only do most places have specials on drinks but also food. You can save so much money by doing this!
I also suggest to look into the hotel that you are staying at some offer “social hour” every evening and that typically includes wine and sometimes beer or cocktails. Also Hotels like Drury offer 3 drinks and appetizers for FREE! And don’t forget to take advantage of your “Reward member” benefits if you belong to hotel programs such as Hilton Honors, IHG or Marriott. Sometimes depending on your status tier you also receive free items such as cocktails or a bottle of wine.
Pro Tip: Most places don’t charge a cover fee, but remember to tip the band!
3. Get a Music City Total Access Pass
The Music City Total Access Pass isn’t cheap, especially if you’re traveling with a big family. That said, it is an excellent deal if you already plan to visit a few of the included attractions.
You get free admission to six major Nashville attractions (four of which you get to choose) and discounts at another six, from the Grand Ole Opry to the Country Music Hall of Fame to a treetop adventure park. Do the math to make sure the pass will save you money, but considering some of these attractions cost $30 or more, there’s a good chance it will.
If you plan to visit numerous places that are on the access pass list then it is a good deal.
4.Save Money on Food
A lot of people recommend not dining out on vacation to save money, but going to Nashville without trying hot chicken, biscuits, or barbecue feels like you’re doing something wrong! While the city has plenty of great fine dining options, it really shines when it comes to casual spots like chicken and BBQ joints, food trucks, and family-style Southern dining — great news for your taste buds and your wallet. Hattie B’s is a must for hot chicken, and Jack’s Bar-B-Que or Edley’s is a great choice for everything from brisket to ribs to pulled pork. If you’re after some Southern comfort food, Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant, Arnold’s Country Kitchen, and The Loveless Cafe have you covered, and you don’t have to shell out much for huge portions of food.
There are also food trucks and food halls available that are sure to please. I also recommend to take advantage of happy hour pricing on food. Eat Breakfast at the hotel if they offer a free breakfast or grab fast food. There is a fast food joint called “Bojangles”. We had an easy and fast breakfast on the go one day. Fresh made biscuit sandwich and hashbrown rounds for less then $3! Total deal and that defiantly fits in the budget. Most boutique style hotels also offer free gourmet coffee in the morning.
Another budget friendly idea is to rent an airbnb or hotel with a kitchenette and make your own meals. For long trips we do this often. I can only eat so much fast food or restaurant food before my body craves healthy at home meals. I have even heard that some people on road trips bring an insta-pot or crockpot with them!
5. Free or Affordable Entertainment
Visit the city’s murals, parks, flea markets, and museums
Nashville is packed with free and cheap activities. No trip to Nashville is complete without an Instagram photo in front of one of the city’s many beautiful murals. You’ll find a lot of great street art concentrated in downtown Nashville as well as the 12-South neighborhood, East Nashville, and the Gulch, which houses the famous wings mural. We went on a mural scavenger hunt! For more info on this visit my blog+++++
Most of the city’s museums boast very affordable and sometimes free entrance fees. A few times a year they also offer free museum days for Teachers, Veterans,Disabled and Low income. So make sure to check out the dates. Consider browsing one of Nashville’s many flea markets, a particularly Southern experience. Finally, Percy Warner is one of the city’s most beloved parks, and has miles of hiking and biking trails, two golf courses, a garden cafe, and more.
Whether you’re visiting for the music, the food, the sights, or all three, it’s easy to have a great time on a budget in Music City.
Tip-Also look into local sites such as Groupon for deals
Average amount you will spend
Please remember that this is just an “estimate” of average prices. You are sure to spend more or less while in Nashville and make note that during peak season prices do go up.
Cocktails– range from an average of $6-12 (Happy Hour)and $12 to $18- depending on where you go (Plus tip)
Beer– $7-$12 each
Parking– varies from a few dollars for street parking to $5- $25 for lot parking.
Valet– average of $25-$60 if it is “valet parking” at hotel. If not then most places are $3-5 for tip.
Hotels Downtown– peak/off peak varies from $185-$500 for a moderate hotel.
Hotels near airport -$105-$200 for basic accommodations
Airbnbs– average $220 a night
Uber– approximately $15-30 (local)
Taxi– flat rate of $25 plus extra fee P.P
Rental Car– EXPENSIVE! tripadvisor says-$153 a day. I found the average to be $60+
Food– $12-18 on average at a restaurant. I thought the food pricing was affordable compared to California
Travel is expensive, is it worth it?
Yes… Travel is Worth It!
Yes, travel does cost money BUT if you spend the time to research and plan then you can save a lot of money. Travel CAN be affordable! I get “those looks” sometimes and hear from others…
“She’s traveling AGAIN”?! and the answer is….
YES, I AM!!! For me, travel heals the Soul! I enjoy nice things and I live a decent life, but honestly I would rather spend money on travel then an super expensive handbag. Travel is not only healing but you are making memories. You cant put a price on that!
My older Son is a History Major. We exposed him early on to museums, events, travel, and now he has a huge appreciation for those things. Of course we did the typical fun kid stuff too and loved hitting up the theme parks! But exposing your children to different cultures, food, art and more is worth more to me than materialistic things. My younger Son thanked me a few days ago for all the fun experiences that we have been able to experience. He also had a deep conversation with me about how seeing the World has taught him a lot and he is very thankful. It was very touching and made me happy to know that even though it may seem “boring” to a kid at times, they really do appreciate it.
I hope these tips as well as all the other information that I have shared helps you plan the “Perfect Nashville Trip”. Please drop by my IG page #chasingthesunshineblog and share your story with me about the places that you had a chance to visit.
https://www.chasingthesunshineblog.com/how-to-spend-3-days-in-nashville/
https://www.chasingthesunshineblog.com/3-must-see-attractions-in-nashville/
Until next time…..
Stay safe and live life XO Christy
