Day Trips to Nashville from Memphis, TN

One-Day Itineraries

The cosmopolitan capital of Tennessee, Nashville has earned several nicknames over the years. These include Athens of the South for being a center of higher education and the Country Music Capital of the World because of the important role that it plays within the industry. Nashville also has earned a place in U.S. history. Depending upon your interests, you can use these itineraries to plan your Nashville day trip.

Music lovers will enjoy visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in the morning followed by lunch on the Honky Tonk Highway. You will see memorabilia related to celebrated performers as well as the clubs where many of the entertainers got their start. Tour the nearby Ryman Auditorium, the Mother Church of Country Music, where you can stand center stage in this world-famous venue. Head over to Hatch Show Print to learn how their distinctive posters and show bills are made. Learn about the multifaceted life and career of the Man in Black at the Johnny Cash Museum before crossing the street for a quintessential Nashville treat at the Goo Goo Shop. Enjoy an evening meal and live music at the famous Bluebird Café.

History buffs can see a scale-replica of the Parthenon located at Centennial Park. The attraction features a faithful reproduction of the 42-foot-tall statue located in Athens as well as several monuments and memorials. Enjoy lunch at Prince’s Hot Chicken, the birthplace of Nashville’s spicy signature dish. Take a leisurely walk through Bicentennial Mall and State Park where you can learn about the culture and history of the Volunteer State from the various outdoor exhibits. Reconstructed during the Great Depression, Fort Negley was the largest inland fortification built during the Civil War. If the weather does not cooperate, you can substitute for tours of the Tennessee State Museum, the Tennessee State House and historic Belmont Mansion. After dinner, stroll along the riverfront, view the iconic Shelby Street Bridge lit up against the night sky and then view the neon lights of the city from this iconic pedestrian walkway.

If you want to take in as many popular music sights as possible while learning about the history of Nashville, climb aboard the Old Town Trolley. The tour has numerous stops near more than 100 attractions around Nashville related to country music and Tennessee history. The hop on hop off privileges enable you to disembark and explore an attraction more in-depth at your own pace. You can resume the tour right where you left off when the next trolley comes by. Riding the trolley enables you to sit back and relax while experiencing all that Nashville has to offer without having to navigate city traffic or find places to park around Nashville.

Country music, Southern charm and a well-preserved history play a big part in Nashville’s allure. There is so much to see and do in this popular destination. A day trip from Memphis to Nashville is a great way to experience what makes the city special and enjoy the things that interest you the most.

Where to Stop on Your Way to Nashville

You can travel a short distance off the highway to enjoy these popular eateries during your Nashville day trip:

Beacon Light Tea Room in Bon Aqua is open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. weekdays. The restaurant opens three hours earlier on weekends. It is closed Mondays.

Carl’s Perfect Pig BBQ in White Bluff is open from 10:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The eatery closes four hours earlier Sundays.

B. E. Scott Bar-B-Que in Lexington is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. They close two hours earlier on Saturdays.

Traveling by car also enables you to stop along the way to visit other attractions like the Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum that memorializes the famous train engineer.