What Is the Best Way to Get from East Nashville to the Airport?

February 19, 2026

East Nashville is actually one of the best-positioned Nashville neighborhoods for airport trips. BNA sits roughly 4-6 miles east of Five Points, depending on exactly where in East Nashville you start. The drive on a clear weekday morning is 12-18 minutes. Rush hour on I-40 heading east can extend that to 25-35 minutes.

Option 1: Rideshare (Best for Most Trips)

Uber or Lyft from East Nashville to BNA typically runs $18-30 during normal hours, less during off-peak times. It is the most convenient option because it eliminates parking logistics entirely and door-to-door travel is direct.

Key facts:

  • Rideshare pickup is at the Ground Transportation Center, Level 1, Terminal Garage 2 (zones A, B, C). Drop-offs as of June 2025 must use Zone D inside the Ground Transportation Center.
  • Lyft picks up from Zone A, Uber from Zones B and C.
  • Friday and Saturday night surge pricing can push fares to $40-50. Book 15 minutes before you need to leave rather than at the peak of surge.
  • Scheduling a ride in advance (both apps offer this) locks in a price and gives you peace of mind for early morning flights.

Option 2: Drive Yourself and Park (Best for Long Trips)

If you are leaving for more than 4-5 days, driving yourself and using off-site parking at BNA is often cheaper than multiple rideshare trips. BNA has Terminal Garages (more expensive, walking distance to terminal) and Economy Lots B and C (cheaper, shuttle to terminal). Off-site lots like Flight Park on Murfreesboro Pike offer even lower rates with shuttles.

From Five Points, the fastest route to BNA is:

  • Take Gallatin Avenue or Shelby Avenue to I-24 East or I-40 East
  • Exit at Exit 216B for Donelson Pike South
  • Follow signs to Terminal Drive

Drive time is approximately 12-18 minutes without traffic.

Option 3: WeGo Bus Route 18 (Cheapest Option, Not Always Practical)

WeGo Route 18 connects downtown Nashville to BNA for $2 one-way. It runs every 30 minutes on weekdays, hourly on weekends, from approximately 6:17 AM to 11:15 PM. The bus stops at the Ground Transportation Center at BNA.

The catch for East Nashville residents: Route 18 starts at Riverfront Station downtown. Getting to Riverfront Station from East Nashville requires either another bus (transfer needed) or a short rideshare. With luggage, this becomes impractical unless you live near a bus route and travel light. The total trip including transfer adds 40-60 minutes versus 15-20 minutes by rideshare.

Option 4: Taxi (Flat Rate Option)

Nashville taxis charge a $30 flat rate between the airport, downtown, and Gaylord Opryland Resort, plus $2 per extra passenger. For East Nashville specifically, the meter may run slightly higher than the flat rate since East Nashville is adjacent to the downtown zone but not technically included. Confirm with the driver before departure. Taxis pick up at Level 1, Terminal Garage 2 alongside rideshare.

The East Nashville Advantage

Unlike downtown or The Gulch, East Nashville has no traffic congestion between the neighborhood and the airport. You go east on Gallatin Pike or Shelby, merge onto the interstate, and within minutes you are at the BNA exit. Residents of Five Points, Lockeland Springs, and Inglewood have a materially shorter and simpler airport run than anywhere west of downtown.

For a 6 AM departure, East Nashville residents can realistically leave at 5:15-5:30 AM and arrive with comfortable time. From the same origin, someone driving from Green Hills or 12 South might need to leave 15-20 minutes earlier to account for the longer route and any highway traffic.

Sources

  • BNA airport transportation overview: flybna.com
  • Visit Nashville: “Travel and Transportation Information” (taxi flat rate $30, WeGo $2)
  • WeGo Transit Route 18: WeGo Nashville schedule
  • GlobalAirportParking.com BNA guide (airport 8 miles from downtown, 12-15 min drive)
  • Uber BNA airport pages: uber.com/global/en/r/airports/bna
  • Rome2Rio: Nashville Airport to Downtown Nashville (9 miles driving distance)

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