Yes, there are shuttle options between BNA and downtown Nashville, and the landscape changed meaningfully in 2025 with the launch of a new scheduled service. Shuttles sit in the middle of the transportation spectrum: slower than a direct Uber, cheaper than a taxi, faster than the bus, and better than nothing if you hate surge pricing.
Gray Line’s airLINE Shuttle
The most notable new addition is Gray Line Tennessee’s airLINE service, which launched in April 2025 and operates on a fixed schedule between BNA, downtown Nashville, and Cool Springs/Franklin. The downtown route costs $25 per person one way. The service runs on luxury motorcoaches with professional drivers and has a dedicated pick-up and drop-off lane at BNA in the Ground Transportation area, near the “Scheduled Service” signage.
The downtown Nashville stop is at the Music City Center on John Lewis Way South, outside Bob’s Steakhouse. That location puts you within a few blocks of Broadway and most downtown hotels.
The service runs Sunday through Thursday from 3:00am to 10:40pm with a mid-day break in the schedule. Friday and Saturday service details should be confirmed at graylinetn.com or by calling 615-883-2879 before your trip. For travelers who want predictable pricing without the anxiety of surge pricing, this is the most structured shuttle option Nashville has had at BNA in years.
Prime Time Shuttle
Prime Time Shuttle operates 24/7 between BNA and downtown Nashville with flat-rate pricing. It is a good option for travelers arriving on late-night or early-morning flights when rideshare availability can be thin and surge pricing is unpredictable. Shared van shuttles from Prime Time start around $18 per person, though prices vary depending on demand and group size. Call ahead or book online; the service requires more coordination than just opening Uber.
Metro SmartConnect
Metro SmartConnect operates a shared shuttle between BNA and downtown Nashville hotels and the West End area at $20 per person, running every 30 minutes around the clock. It serves primarily hotels in the downtown and West End corridor. As with most shared shuttles, this option involves waiting for the van to aggregate other passengers before departing, which extends overall travel time relative to a direct rideshare.
Hotel Shuttles
Many hotels in the Nashville area offer complimentary airport shuttle service. This varies widely by property. If your hotel offers it, it is usually your best option: free, direct, and reliable within its schedule. Call your hotel before you land and confirm pickup location at BNA, arrival instructions, and whether advance notice is required. Most hotel shuttles pick up from the Ground Transportation Center signage area.
What Shuttles Are Not Good For
Shared shuttles are slower because they aggregate passengers and may make multiple stops before reaching your hotel. If you are landing with a tight schedule or want to go directly to a specific address that is not one of the fixed stops, a shuttle will frustrate you. The $25 airLINE fare is also only marginally cheaper than an off-peak Uber, and it requires you to be at a specific downtown location rather than your hotel door.
The Bottom Line
If you want the cheapest non-bus option with predictable pricing and no surge risk, the airLINE shuttle at $25 or a shared van shuttle around $18 to $20 makes sense. If you want door-to-door service and are indifferent to surge pricing, Uber or Lyft is still the most convenient option for most travelers. The hotel shuttle, if your hotel offers it, beats everything else on price.
Sources
- Gray Line Tennessee, airLINE service launch press release, April 2025
- Gray Line Tennessee, airLINE memberships and route information, graylinetn.com
- Prime Time Shuttle, Nashville airport shuttle service page
- Metro SmartConnect, BNA to downtown shuttle page, metrolivery.com
- ShuttleFare.com, Nashville Airport BNA shuttle guide
- Vanderbilt University ISSS, Transportation Options from BNA