Nashville International Airport is much closer to downtown than many major-city airports.
BNA to Lower Broadway is roughly eight road miles.
In light traffic, the drive can be around 10 to 15 minutes.
Then Nashville traffic remembers you have plans.
Rush hour, construction, downtown events and road congestion can stretch the same trip considerably.
So I would think of BNA as:
close geographically, variable by traffic.
No, You Cannot Walk From the Airport to Broadway
I am including this because somebody will ask.
No.
Do not walk from BNA to Broadway.
This is not a cute airport-to-downtown pedestrian route.
Take transportation.
Your vacation has not become more authentic because you dragged a suitcase alongside an interstate.
Uber and Lyft: The Simple Default
Uber and Lyft are the easiest default for many visitors.
BNA currently handles ride-app pickups through the Ground Transportation Center on Level 1 of Terminal Garage 2.
Follow the airport signs after baggage claim.
You are not standing directly outside baggage claim waving at traffic and hoping your driver recognizes your shirt.
Use the designated ground-transportation area.
Pricing changes with demand.
Check both apps.
Waymo: Available in Nashville, But Check Airport Service First
Waymo now serves public riders throughout a large part of Nashville.
That includes downtown and multiple central neighborhoods.
But its latest public airport update still describes Nashville International Airport service as testing, not normal passenger pickup/drop-off service.
That will likely change eventually.
For BNA specifically, check the current Waymo app/service map before assuming the airport is available.
The evergreen rule is:
Waymo is a Nashville option. Verify BNA coverage for your actual trip.
Taxi: Still Exists, Still Works
Taxis operate from BNA too.
They are not as culturally fashionable as opening three apps and comparing a surge algorithm, but they remain a legitimate airport option.
Follow ground-transportation signage and current airport instructions.
WeGo Route 18: Cheapest Practical Downtown Option
WeGo Public Transit runs Route 18 Airport between BNA and downtown Nashville.
Current service uses the Ground Transportation Center at the airport.
The standard adult fare is currently $2 each way.
WeGo currently describes express trips as about 20 minutes and local trips as roughly 35 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.
Service frequency increased in 2026, with buses running every 30 minutes through much of the day and somewhat less frequently later.
Check the current schedule because public-transit times change.
If you are traveling light and staying downtown, Route 18 can turn an airport transfer into one of the cheapest things you buy in Nashville.
A statistical anomaly.
Hotel Shuttles
Some Nashville hotels offer airport transportation.
Many do not.
Do not assume.
If your hotel provides a shuttle, ask whether it serves BNA, whether it is complimentary, whether reservations are required and what hours it operates.
Rental Car: Only If the Rest of the Trip Needs It
Renting a car solely to drive eight miles downtown and place it into an expensive garage is not my favorite plan.
If you are staying downtown and spending most of your trip downtown, use another airport option.
Rent if your Nashville itinerary actually needs the car.
Do You Need a Car in Downtown Nashville?
How Long Should You Budget?
Do not build your schedule around the absolute fastest 10-minute drive.
Traffic happens.
Events happen.
Airport construction happens.
Downtown closes streets for things Nashville forgot to ask you about.
If you have a dinner reservation or show, give yourself room.
On departure day, BNA currently recommends arriving at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight, before you even add your drive from downtown.
Big Event Weekends
Titans games.
Predators games.
Concerts.
Festivals.
Major downtown events.
Anything that changes the normal traffic pattern can change your BNA transfer too.
If your arrival coincides with a major event, check traffic before leaving the terminal.
Which Option Would I Choose?
For easiest door-to-door:
Uber or Lyft.
For cheapest practical option:
WeGo Route 18.
For a traditional airport car without app shopping:
Taxi.
If your hotel genuinely has a convenient shuttle:
Use it.
If your whole trip needs a car:
Rental car.
If you want Waymo:
Use it around Nashville, but verify current BNA availability first.
The Practical Answer
BNA is roughly eight road miles from Lower Broadway.
That is close.
But transportation choices still matter.
For most downtown visitors I would skip the rental car, take Uber, Lyft, taxi or Route 18 downtown, and begin walking once the suitcase reaches the hotel.
Broadway does not require you to arrive with a vehicle.
It has enough traffic already.