Driving through Nashville Rush Hour

[Tuffy4God]

Hi! We are headed to WDW from MN at the end of August. We are planning on leaving at 3:00 am and that unfortunately puts us in Nashville at 5:00 pm on a Thursday night...right in the middle of rush hour.

We will be taking 24 south through Nashville. How bad will rush hour be at that time? Are there any carpool lanes on 24 that would make the drive through Nashville quicker? Is there a better route we should take?

TIA!

 

[Disneyliscious]

Hello from Nashville!

We have 3 interstates that cross Nashvile:

I-24 East/West
I-65 North/South
I-40 East/West

They are all connected by Briley Parkway (about the same as an interstate but a lower MPH and there are a couple of red lights on it).

Coming from MN you will most likely be traveling I-24 East. You will hit some traffic in Nashville around 5pm but it will only be on the other side of Nashville (the Florida side or farthest side from you).

You will go from I-24 East and merge onto I-40 East for a short period and then merge back to I-24 East towards Chattanooga. Though you will hit traffic, it normally flows pretty good and is only about a 2 mile stretch as people merge onto the other interstates. Though there a few alternate routes around it, the additional length of time would likely be =/= to the slow down in speed due to traffic. Nashville isnt a huge city compated to places like San Fran, NY and the such. Its usually not an issue to get through really.

You can tune your car radio to 1640AM for traffic alerts before getting to Nashville. There are also occasional digital signs above the interstate alerting you of any traffic delays.

Edited to add - there are carpool lanes for 2+ people during rush hour. But be careful of them because they are on the left of the interstate and you will be merging to the right to go towards Chattanooga.

 

[Tuffy4God]

Thanks so much for the info! I really appreciate it!

 

[smidgy]

I say definitely take the 155 Briley Parkway. we have approached Nashville from boht 24 and 65 ( we live in Illiniois.. sometimes we taook 65 thru Indiana, sometimes we took 57 theru Illinois)

eith way, we found the 155 much more relaxing,less hectid.. tyes, there are a couple stoplights just before you join back up with 24, heaeding for chatanooga. and you don't have to worry about jumping on 40 for a little bit, and watching for the exits.

 

[smidgy]

you basically bypass downtown nashvile, and all the rush hour traffic. you do go by Opreyland and the mall.

 

[Disneyliscious]

you basically bypass downtown nashvile, and all the rush hour traffic. you do go by Opreyland and the mall.

Opryland was torn down about 20 years ago and replaced by Opry Mills Mall. Us locals have hated it ever since.

Yes, Briley Parkway will have less traffic but it will be a bit longer route, thus why I told the OP that it will probably equal out in time of getting to the Chattanooga split (interstate).

If they want to see the city of Nashville they should not take Briley parkway as Nashville can't be seen from it. It will be less traffic, longer driving.

If seeing Nashville is important, take the interstate. Shorter driving distance but more traffic.

=/=

Also, you could hit traffic before getting to Nashville which puts you in Nashville later than 5pm. Even 1 hour, 6pm will make a HUGE difference.

No matter what you choose though, you are on your way to Disney!

 

[Spoony Bard]

Ditto on recommending Briley over I-24. Briley will dump you off near the airport, and you'll need to hop back onto I-40 to get back to I-24.

If, for some reason, you find yourself east or west of the city, I would recommend taking the new 840. I love west of Nashville, and it saves me up to an hour if I need to go south (Murfreesboro). This is probably an unlikely scenario for you, but something to keep in mind. 840 is a ghost town - it's very uncommon to see more than a few other cars on it.

 

[smidgy]

we thought so too at first. it was a hassle to get on 40 and look for the exit right away.

but you do not have to get on 40 at all. only if you absolutely must stay on an interstate at all times. if you stay on Brily, it does turn into a regular city street, with a few stoplights. but only for a little bit. then you jyust jump right on 24 and you've bypassed the whole city!

yes, you wil miss "seeing" Nashville this way. that's the whole definition of the word "bypass". we loved briley. going thru the downtown was confusing to us, esp when 65 and 24 come together then split off you really have to keep an eye on the signs to know when to exit, when to stay right, when to stay left. it was stressful for us.

I'm sure if you live in the area, you know it like the back of your hand. Just like us and Chicago.

the new 840? never heard of it.. sounds like it would have been PERFECT for us when we took 57 thru Illinois to 24. we have stayed in Murphreesboro a couple times. unfotunately, due to vision problems we don't drive down anymore.. miss the road trips