Tennessee · Kentucky · the United States

Nashville and Mammoth Cave

The capital of country music, home to the Grand Ole Opry and Broadway’s live-music bars, and Mammoth Cave, the largest known cave system.

South (Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee)

In the photo: Downtown Nashville and the Cumberland River

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Nashville, Tennessee’s capital, is the center of the country-music industry. Record labels, studios and songwriters settled there through the 20th century around the Grand Ole Opry radio program, broadcast since 1925. Downtown, Lower Broadway gathers the live-music bars — the honky-tonks — open from late morning until the early hours, and the Ryman Auditorium, the Opry’s former home.

The city has the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Johnny Cash Museum and, in Centennial Park, a full-scale replica of the Parthenon of Athens. Bands and singers perform every night, on big stages and in small venues where songwriters play their own songs.

About 150 km to the north, in Kentucky, Mammoth Cave National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protects an underground network of passages unparalleled on the planet in extent. Guided tours depart from the visitor center, and Cave City, on I-65, is the nearest base.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Nashville, Cave City.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

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Where Nashville and Mammoth Cave is

Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Nashville and Mammoth Cave

✈ Nashville International Airport (BNA), in Nashville · 13 km to Nashville

Nashville International Airport (BNA) lies east of the city, about a 15-minute drive from downtown. To reach Mammoth Cave, follow roughly 150 km north on I-65 to the Cave City exit. Entry requirements to the country depend on your nationality: confirm them before you travel.

Suggested arrival point: Nashville

Tennessee · Nashville and Mammoth Cave Capital Suggested arrival point

Nashville

Capital of Tennessee and of country music. Lower Broadway has live-music bars and the Ryman Auditorium; the Grand Ole Opry radio program is presented live in its own theater in the Opryland area. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum tells the story of the genre, and the Parthenon in Centennial Park is a full‑scale replica of the temple in Athens.

Kentucky · Nashville and Mammoth Cave

Cave City

A small Kentucky town on I-65, about 15 km from the Mammoth Cave visitor center. It’s the nearest base for cave tours, with motels, restaurants and gas stations along the highway.

The local experience

Things to do in Nashville and Mammoth Cave

Nashville · Tennessee · Performance venue

Grand Ole Opry

The oldest continuously broadcast country‑music radio show, presented live at the Opry House, with several artists each night.

Cave City · Kentucky · National park

Mammoth Cave National Park

An underground network of passages in Kentucky, with more than 680 km already mapped, visited with park rangers. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nashville · Tennessee · Performance venue

Ryman Auditorium

Former brick temple from 1892 that was the Grand Ole Opry’s home for 31 years, with daytime visits and evening shows.

Nashville · Tennessee · Museum

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Downtown museum about the history of country music, with instruments, stage costumes, recordings and the Hall of Fame rotunda.

See 2 more places in Nashville and Mammoth Cave

Nashville · Tennessee · Street

Lower Broadway

The stretch of Broadway in downtown Nashville with honky-tonks, live music bars open from late morning until the early hours.

Nashville · Tennessee · Museum

The Parthenon

Full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Athens, in Centennial Park, with an art gallery and a 12.8-meter statue of Athena.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From April to June and from September to October, days are usually pleasant. July and August are hot and humid; in winter it gets cold and sometimes snows. The temperature inside Mammoth Cave stays around 12 °C year-round.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three days in Nashville and one day for Mammoth Cave; with two in Nashville and one at the cave you can see the essentials.

Which city to stay in

Downtown and the Broadway area are close to the bars and the Ryman but are noisy at night. The Gulch and Midtown are quieter and just minutes away. For Mammoth Cave, Cave City and the park itself have accommodation options.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Nashville and Mammoth Cave

How to get to Nashville?

Via BNA airport, about 13 km from downtown, or by car on I-40, I-65 and I-24.

How many days to stay in Nashville?

Two or three days for the music and museums; one extra day for Mammoth Cave.

What is the best time to visit Nashville?

From spring to early summer and in autumn, when the heat is milder. In June, a country-music festival fills the city.

Do you need a car in Nashville?

Not downtown; for the Grand Ole Opry and for Mammoth Cave, a car is the most practical option.

Can you visit Mammoth Cave from Nashville?

Yes, in a day: it’s about 150 km on I-65, with a guided tour booked in advance.

What time zone are Nashville and Mammoth Cave in?

Both are in the Central Time Zone: UTC−6, and UTC−5 during daylight saving time, from March to November.

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Nashville and Mammoth Cave

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip