12 South is about three miles south of Broadway, and the distance is significant enough that it functions as a separate destination rather than a neighborhood you visit on the same walk as downtown.
The Numbers
By car, 12 South is approximately 15 minutes from downtown in normal traffic. By WeGo bus, the trip takes about 25 minutes. On foot, the walk from Broadway to the center of 12 South takes roughly 50 to 60 minutes, depending on your pace and the exact route, Frommers describes a walking route that moves through Hillsboro Village and the back side of Vanderbilt to reach 12 South in about an hour. No Uber pool is going to cost more than $10 to $12 in typical conditions.
Why the Distance Matters
12 South is a standalone destination. You don’t end up there while exploring downtown; you make a specific trip. This is partly what defines its character: the people who show up at 12 South chose to come specifically, which filters the crowd toward people with some local knowledge or intentionality, rather than the tourist overflow from Broadway a couple miles north.
The separation also means 12 South operates on its own rhythm. Its brunch crowds are weekend-specific and start filling up by 9 am. Its boutiques are often closed by early evening. It’s a daytime neighborhood in ways that Broadway isn’t. If you’re staying downtown and want to visit 12 South, budget a dedicated half-day rather than treating it as an add-on to a downtown evening.
The Routing
The direct car or rideshare route runs south on 8th Avenue or 12th Avenue, through the Wedgewood-Houston area, continuing south to 12th Avenue South. The walking route Tripadvisor locals recommend is to head west to 21st Avenue first (to avoid rougher blocks south of downtown), then south through Hillsboro Village, which adds some walking distance but passes through a more pleasant corridor.
What’s Between Downtown and 12 South
Three miles of south Nashville, which includes the following: the edge of the Music Row area, the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood (which has its own growing food and arts scene worth a stop), and the Belmont University area. Hillsboro Village, a small commercial district adjacent to Belmont and Vanderbilt, sits along the walking route and has its own restaurants, coffee shops, and the Belcourt Theatre. The walk is not without stops, which is worth knowing if you’re doing it on foot.
The Practical Answer
12 South is close enough for a dedicated rideshare trip and far enough that you won’t walk it on impulse after a night downtown. Plan it as its own outing, ideally in the morning or early afternoon when the brunch scene and boutiques are at full operation, and rideshare both directions. The trip costs and time are both modest.
Sources
- Expedia, “Visit 12 South: Nashville Travel Guide”: expedia.com
- TripAdvisor, “Walking in Nashville” forum: tripadvisor.com
- GIS Geography, Nashville Neighborhood Map: gisgeography.com/nashville-neighborhood-map/
- Rome2rio, Nashville transport options: rome2rio.com