Nashville International Airport [BNA] — Ultimate Terminal Guide

Key Takeaways

• Nashville International (BNA) consists of 1 terminal and offers a variety of amenities across 5 concourses.
• BNA has 3 lounges: Admirals Club, Delta Sky Club, and USO Nashville. Priority Pass members get 1 free hour at Minute Suites.
• Ground transportation includes rental cars, shuttles, and rideshares. Bus route 18 takes 20 minutes to downtown.

If you’ve ever flown to Tennessee, it’s likely you already know Nashville International Airport (BNA) — but whether you’re going to be a first-time visitor or just want to get to know this airport better, we’ve got you covered.

One of the fastest-growing airports in the U.S. and the biggest in the state, BNA served more than 22.8 million passengers in 2023. It completed the BNA Vision growth and expansion plan in February 2024, and the airport is currently in the midst of New Horizon, its second growth and expansion plan. An additional parking garage has added thousands of spaces in front of the terminals, and travelers can rest at the new on-site hotel that opened in early 2024. 

Quick Info

Airport: Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Terminals: 1 main terminal with 5 concourses: A, B, C, D, and T gates
Airport Address: 1 Terminal Dr., Nashville, Tennessee 37214
Distance From Downtown Nashville: 8 miles (13 kilometers)
Website: flynashville.com
Phone Number: 615-275-1675
Annual Passengers: More than 22.8 million
Daily Departures: 300
Flight Information: BNA departures and arrivals info can be found online.

Airlines Operating From BNA

BNA Airport Terminals

Nashville International Airport has 1 central terminal with 5 departure concourses. There are 2 concourses at the south end of the terminal and another 2 at the north end. The T gates are straight after the security checkpoint.

Terminal Drive directs one-way traffic around the front of the terminal building, looping back around the terminal garages and rental car facility. Arrivals and departures are on different levels of the terminal, with vehicle access from Terminal Drive on both levels. 

Terminal parking is just a short walk from the terminal, with 2 terminal garages for covered parking. Surface parking lot A is also accessible by foot from the terminal, just beyond the consolidated rental car facility. 

Level 1 — International Arrivals and Ground Transportation

Level 1 has international arrivals and access to the rental car counters once passengers have cleared Customs. The TSA PreCheck enrollment center is also on this level, near the rental car counters.

Level 2 — Domestic Arrivals

The arrivals area on level 2 has baggage claim for domestic arrivals. There are also information counters that can provide assistance with hotels, onward transportation, and general information about exploring Nashville. Curbside access is available on this level for passenger pickup.

Level 3 — Departures

Level 3 has curbside access for passenger drop-off, leading to the airline ticketing desks. There is only 1 cafe outside the secure area, so bear this in mind should you arrive too early to check in for your flight. There are pet relief areas outside either end of the terminal. 

The central security checkpoint is in the Grand Lobby.  

Concourse A

Concourse A is at the north end of the terminal and has 6 gates numbered A1 to A4, A7, and A8. Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United operate from Concourse A. There are a few restaurants and shops in Concourse A, with more at the entrance. A Delta Sky Club is near the entrance to Concourse A.

Concourse B

Concourse B has 10 gates numbered B3, B5, and B6 to B13, with Frontier Airlines and JetBlue operating flights from here. There are a few shops and restaurants along the concourse and a children’s play area toward the far end. More shops and restaurants are near the entrance.

Concourse C

Concourse C is at the south end of the terminal and is the largest concourse, with 19 gates numbered C1 to C3 and C12 to C27.

There’s a good selection of shops and restaurants and an Admirals Club up the staircase near gate C15.

Concourse C — Satellite Terminal

Concourse C has 8 additional gates at a Satellite Terminal. Gates C4 to C11 are accessible by riding the shuttle bus from Concourse C near gate C13. The satellite terminal has several shops, restaurants, and a pet relief area.

Concourse D

Concourse D is at the south end of the terminal and is used solely by Southwest Airlines. There are 6 gates, numbered D1 to D6. There’s a handful of restaurants and shops, including a Burger King. The concourse also has a Minute Suites and a pet relief area.

Under New Horizon, Concourse D is currently being extended to take it from 6 gates to 11.

T Gates

The T gates are just after the security checkpoint and are used by airlines, including Air Canada, British Airways, and WestJet. Passengers departing from gates T1 to T6 also have access to a wide variety of shops and restaurants nearby.

Interterminal Transport

All areas of the terminal and concourses are accessible by foot, so there are no buses or trains to connect between gates. The only exception is Concourse C, where you must ride a shuttle bus to the Satellite Terminal for gates C4 to C11.

After clearing the security checkpoint, you can walk freely between all concourses unless you are arriving on an international flight that requires luggage to be collected to clear customs. 

If you park in economy lots B or C or the BNA Express Park (currently closed), you will need to ride a shuttle bus to and from the terminal. Passengers can track shuttle bus arrivals here.

Hot Tip:

If you’re looking for activities after leaving the airport, check out the best things to do in Nashville.

Security and Customs at BNA

BNA has a central security checkpoint on level 3 (departures), which opens daily at 3:30 a.m. with 24 security lanes providing access to all concourses.

For live waiting times at BNA, check the airport’s home page.

TSA PreCheck and CLEAR

There are dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes at the security checkpoint. Check the TSA website for the schedule, as opening hours vary. There is also a CLEAR lane at BNA.

BNA has a TSA PreCheck enrollment center on level 1 near the rental car counters. The office is open Mondays and Fridays only from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

BNA Airport Lounges

* Hours are subject to change without notice. Lounge access may be restricted at times due to capacity.
** Day Pass for any passenger. Lounges marked as N/A only allow entry for eligible passengers in their premium cabins, frequent flyer programs, or participating credit card programs.

Priority Pass Access 

Minute Suites accepts Priority Pass holders and offers members 1 hour of free access to nap, relax, and work. You can find Minute Suites in Concourse D near gate D3.

Eligible members can receive a discount at 400 Degrees Hot Chicken between gates C19 and C21.

Learn more about how to join Priority Pass or get Priority Pass through a credit card.

Hot Tip:

Avoid paying for an airport lounge day pass with personal and business credit cards for airport lounge access.

Dining and Drinks at BNA

BNA has around 50 restaurants, cafes, and grab-and-go food counters, with only 1 cafe before security. Concourse C has a large selection of restaurants, and the rest are in the A/B rotunda.

BNA Wi-Fi and Charging Points

BNA provides 5 Mbps of free Wi-Fi throughout all public areas. Passengers can connect by selecting “BNA_Free_Wi-Fi.” Paid options are available for faster Wi-Fi.

BNA Airport Lost and Found

To report a lost item at BNA anywhere throughout the airport, passengers need to submit an online ticket.

If you lose an item on an aircraft, you’ll need to reach out to the relevant airline.

Additional Airport Information

Information Services

An information office is on level 1 near the rental car counters. Further information areas can be found throughout the arrivals area.

Children’s Play Area

BNA has a children’s play area at the end of Concourse B with wall games and floor activities.

Baby Facilities

A Mamava pod is near the first restrooms of Concourse A, and a lactation room is in Concourse D near gate D4.

Traveling With a Pet

BNA has 4 pet relief areas :

• In the pedestrian plaza near the terminal garage 1 (dog park)
• Outside the terminals at the north and south ends of level 3
• Concourse D across from gate D2

Smoking Areas

Smoking is permitted in designated areas outside the terminal on all 3 levels. A smoking room is also in the Graycliff Divans Lounge near gate B10.

Money

ATMs are on the departures and arrivals levels.

Luggage Storage

There are no luggage storage facilities at BNA.

Important BNA Phone Numbers

Customer Service: 615-275-1675

Parking: 615-275-1045

Travel to and From BNA

Transport Options

All commercial transportation services operate from the ground transportation center on level 1 of the Terminal Garage 2. Turn right out of the terminal and follow the sidewalk to the terminal garage. Signage will direct you to level 1.

Bus

Bus route 18 operates between BNA and downtown Nashville. The bus route display will state either Route 18 Airport, 18 Airport Express, or 18 Elm Hill. The express route takes 20 minutes to reach downtown, and other services can take up to 45 minutes.

Limousines and Courtesy Cars

Limousine and courtesy cars pick up from the ground transportation area on level 1. The airport recommends these companies.

Taxi

The taxi stand is in the ground transportation area on level 1. The flat-rate taxi fare from the airport to downtown Nashville is $30, plus $2 for each additional passenger.

Ride-Share

Ride-share operators Uber and Lyft are authorized to operate from BNA. Both pick up from the ground transportation area, with Lyft at zone A and Uber at zones B and C.

Directions by Car to BNA

Arriving From Downtown Nashville

Take 1st Avenue N and continue onto Hermitage Avenue. Turn right onto Fairfield Avenue and then left onto Green Street. Merge onto I-24 E/I-40 E and continue on I-40 E. Take exit 216A toward International Airport and continue on to Terminal Drive for access to the terminal.

Arriving From Franklin

Take I-65 N and then exit 80 onto the I-440. Merge onto I-24 W toward Nashville/Knoxville/I-40 E and then take exit 52B to merge onto I-40 E. Take exit 216A toward International Airport and continue on to Terminal Drive for access to the terminal.

BNA Airport Parking Information

Terminal Garages

The terminal garages 1 and 2 have more than 6,000 covered spaces combined and are just a short walk from the terminal. The daily charge for parking is $30.

Hot Tip:

Electric vehicle parking stations are on levels 2 to 6 in Terminal Garage 1 and levels 2 and 3 in Terminal Garage 2. Motorcycle parking is on every level in the northeast corner.

Valet Parking

Valet parking is available on the ground transportation level and costs $40 per day.

Terminal Lot A

Terminal lot A offers uncovered parking further from the terminal but still within walking distance. The daily charge for parking is $20.

Economy Lots B and C

Economy lots B and C are around a mile from the terminal, and passengers can ride the courtesy shuttle bus from arrivals level 2 that runs every 10 minutes. The daily charge for parking is $20.

Pickup and Drop-Off Parking

BNA has a cell phone waiting lot at 1415 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37217. Visitors may check real-time flight information monitors and remain with their vehicles until a passenger calls for pickup.

Off-Site and Hotel Parking

The cheapest daily parking at BNA is $20, but you can find more cost-effective parking at an external lot.

Daily parking starts from around $9 when booked with airportparkingreservations.com, and many parking lots operate shuttle buses to and from the airport.

Parking for Passengers With Disabilities

Parking for passengers with disabilities is available at all official airport parking lots. The Accessible Parking Program offers free parking.

Parking Contact Number

General Inquiries: 615-275-1045

Car Rental at BNA Airport

Passengers must first visit the rental car counters on level 1 of the terminal. Once checked in, they can find vehicles in the consolidated rental car facility next to Terminal Garage 1. To reach the facility, passengers can turn left out of the terminal, walk along the sidewalk past the valet drop-off area, and cross Terminal Drive.

The following rental companies are available on airport property:

Hot Tip:

Get a credit card that includes auto rental insurance as a benefit to avoid paying expensive insurance fees directly with the rental agency.

BNA Airport Hotels

Nashville International Airport has an on-site Hilton hotel just across from the airport terminal. Passengers can also find plenty of alternative accommodation as close as 0.8 miles away from the terminal.

Top 3 Hotel Stays Using Points

The Holiday Inn Express Nashville Airport is an excellent airport hotel for any traveler looking for a comfortable stay, along with amenities like a complimentary breakfast buffet, on-site fitness center, laundry facility, and free airport shuttle service. The hotel is also pet-friendly for those traveling along with their 4-legged friends. The IHG One Rewards program does not have a set award chart, but you can expect award nights to range between 23,000 points per night, depending on the season.

At the Embassy Suites Nashville Airport, every morning starts with a free made-to-order breakfast for all guests. As if that weren’t enough, the hotel also offers a nightly free evening reception featuring complimentary small plates and drink options. Standard amenities include a fitness center, indoor pool, and airport shuttle. With Hilton’s dynamic price model for award nights, a free night at the hotel can cost around 43,000 Hilton Honors points.

Just 2 minutes from the airport and 7 minutes from downtown, Hyatt Place Nashville is a great option for those looking for a comfortable stay. The hotel offers free breakfast, a pool, a fitness center, airport shuttle, and is pet-friendly. Better yet, Hyatt Place is a cost-effective option. As a Category 2 hotel, award nights start at 6,500 points per night for off-peak dates and 9,500 points per night for peak dates.

Hot Tip:

If you’re looking to top off your points to stay at any of these options, see our guides on the best ways to earn more Hilton Honors points, World of Hyatt points, or IHG One Rewards points.

Final Thoughts

With Tennessee’s booming population, it’s no wonder BNA is planning future expansion. The airport is striving to add more nonstop routes, international destinations, and cargo services to its operations and is considering extending one of its runways to accelerate these goals.

Southwest Airlines accounts for over 50% of the passenger capacity at BNA, and Spirit, Delta, and Allegiant have already launched or plan to launch more routes from this growing airport.