Whether you need to leave your car for a couple of hours or a couple of months, there are plenty of parking options in and around downtown Nashville – though some are pricier than others.
A road in downtown Nashville (Photo: Shane Raynor via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)
Short-stay parking in downtown Nashville
As is the case in all large cities, it’s the main business and commercial districts of downtown that tend to be the busiest in terms of road traffic. Not only are these areas where most commuters descend each day, but they also tend to be a magnet for tourists.
It’s fair to say that parking in Downtown Nashville can be tricky – and expensive, if you’re planning to park all day, where your only option is private garages. But if you’re visiting Nashville by car, then it’s still possible to find a prime parking spot that’s within easy walking distance of the district’s main attractions, but won’t break the bank.
There are around 1,000 metered parking spaces available in downtown, priced at $2.25 per hour from Monday to Saturday – although finding one can sometimes be a challenge, and you can only park for a maximum of 2 hours at a time. Alternatively, if you prefer the security of covered parking and don’t mind paying that bit extra, there are several multi-storey car parks and covered garages in the area.
However, as a general rule, our top suggestion for a place to park in downtown Nashville is the Library Garage at 151 6th Avenue North, where you’ll pay a reasonable $6 per hour or $20 per day – although be warned it can fill up quickly. As an alternative, we’d also recommend the McKendree Parking Center Garage, located at 140 6th Avenue North, between Church and Commerce Streets, which is priced at $6 per hour, or $21 per day.
You can book both of these garages on Spothero.com, as well as at several other parking lots in downtown Nashville.
Free parking in downtown Nashville
It’s fair to say that free parking during the day in downtown Nashville is thin on the ground. But the good news is that if you’re driving into the district during late afternoon, all of the metered parking spaces are free of charge after 6pm and all the way through to 8am. So if you’re heading into downtown to enjoy some evening entertainment, you can usually find a free parking spot relatively easily. And what’s more, Sundays are free all day too. Alternatively, the City also owns two parking garages – on 2nd Avenue. South and 4th Avenue – with approximately 300 spaces each that offer unlimited free parking.
Another useful tip is to check whether there’s an event on at Bridgestone Arena during your visit, because on event days free parking is available at LP Field just across the river.
Long-stay parking in downtown Nashville
If you happen to be based in downtown Nashville for longer than, say, a couple of weeks, but don’t have any private parking at your accommodation, it may be most economical for you to find a long-term parking spot, rather than hunting for metred parking each day (where your time is limited to 2 hour anyway), or paying daily rates in a garage. So, for example, at the Library Garage we recommend above, day rates are $30, but monthly rates are $190 – a saving of around $20 a day. Or an even cheaper option can be found at 4th Commerce Garage, where you’ll pay $185 for a month’s parking.
For the best parking rates in downtown Nashville, go to Spothero.com.