Nashville International Airport [BNA] — Ultimate Terminal Guide

Nashville International Airport (BNA) served more than 18 million passengers in 2019 and is one of the fastest growing airports in the U.S.

BNA Vision is the airport’s growth and expansion plan to accommodate more than 23 million passengers by the end of 2023.

An additional parking garage has created thousands of spaces in front of the terminals, and other developments include a new international arrivals facility and an on-site hotel to open later this year.

Quick Info

Airport: Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Terminals: 2 terminals (North and South) and 4 concourses — A, B, C, and D
Airport Address: 1 Terminal Dr., Nashville, TN 37214
Distance From Downtown Nashville: 8 miles (13 km)
Websites: flynashville.com
Phone Number: 615-275-1675
Annual Passengers: More than 18 million
Daily Departures: 585
Flight Information: BNA departures and arrivals info can be found online

Airlines Operating From BNA

BNA Airport Terminals

While construction takes place for the BNA Vision project, the airport has 2 terminals and 4 departure concourses. The main terminal has been split into a North and South Terminal. To connect between these 2 terminals, passengers will need to exit the building and walk along the sidewalk outside the secure area. Access roads run in front of the terminal across 3 different levels — departures, arrivals, and ground transportation.

Terminal parking is just a short walk from the terminal, and a new parking lot is currently under construction directly opposite the terminal building. All airport facilities, including the rental car center, are on-airport property and can be reached from I-40 and Donelson Pike.

Level 1 — Ground Transportation

Level 1 provides access to the ground transportation area for public transport, taxis, and shuttle buses.

Level 2 — Arrivals

The arrivals area on level 2 is connected between the North and South Terminals and provides access to baggage claim, rental car counters, and curbside pick-up. There are information counters that can provide assistance with hotels, onward transportation, and general information about exploring Nashville.

The TSA Enrollment Center is also located on this level, near the rental car counters.

Level 3 — North and South Terminal Departures

Level 3 has curbside access for passenger drop-off, leading through to the airline ticketing desks. The North and South Terminals are not connected on the departures level, so check which terminal your airline check-in desks are located in before being dropped off. Both terminals have 1 security checkpoint each, with the North Terminal providing access to Concourses A and B and the South Terminal for Concourses C and D.

Concourse A

Concourse A is located at the north end of the terminal and has 6 gates numbered A1 to A4, A7, and A8. Cape Air, Spirit, and United operate from Concourse A, which is also used for international arrivals. There are just a couple of restaurants and shops in Concourse A, with more situated at the entrance.

Concourse B

Concourse B has 11 gates numbered B3 to B13, and airlines such as British Airways, Delta, and JetBlue operate from this concourse. There are a few shops and restaurants along the concourse and a children’s play area towards the far end. More shops and restaurants are near the entrance, as well as a Delta Sky Club.

Concourse C

Concourse C is at the south end of the terminal and is the largest concourse with 20 gates numbered C4 to C22 and C25.

There’s a good selection of shops and restaurants, an Admirals Club, and a USO Lounge near the entrance of the concourse.

Concourse D

Concourse D opened in July 2020 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.

Inter-terminal Transport

All areas of the terminal and concourses are accessible by foot, so there are no buses or trains to connect between gates. During the ongoing construction work, passengers must exit the building to connect between terminals.

Once inside the north security checkpoint, passengers can walk freely between concourses A and B, unless arriving on an international flight that requires luggage to be collected to clear customs. When inside the secure area of the south terminal, passengers can walk between concourses C and D without having to re-clear security.

If passengers are parking in economy lots B or C, or the BNA Express Park, they will need to ride a shuttle bus to and from the terminal.

Hot Tip: If you’re looking for some activities after leaving the airport, check out all of the best things to do in Nashville.

Security and Customs at BNA

BNA has 2 security checkpoints on level 3 of the North and South Terminals open daily at 3:30 a.m. The north checkpoint provides access to Concourses A and B, and the south checkpoint provides access to Concourses C and D.

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

TSA PreCheck

There are dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes at the security checkpoint. Check the TSA website for the schedule as opening hours vary.

BNA has a TSA Enrollment Center located at the north end of 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, located between gates C15 and C17.

Learn more about how to join Priority Pass (or get Priority Pass through a credit card) in our dedicated Priority Pass article.

Hot Tip: Check out these personal and business credit cards for airport lounge access if you want to avoid paying for a lounge day pass at the airport.

Dining and Drinks at BNA

BNA has 35 restaurants, cafes, and grab-and-go food counters, with only a few before security. Concourse C has a large selection of restaurants and the rest are located 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.” For faster Wi-Fi, faster paid options are available.

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 located on level 1 near the ground transportation area. Further information areas can be found throughout the arrivals area.

Children’s Play Area

BNA ranks as one of the least kid-friendly airports in the U.S. in our study, though there is an aviation-themed children’s play area located at the end of Concourse B.

Baby Facilities

A Mamava lactation pod is located at the entrance of Concourse B, and a lactation room is located in Concourse D near gate D4.

Traveling With a Pet

BNA has 5 pet relief areas located:

• 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
• Concourse B (speak to a gate agent for access)

Smoking Areas

Smoking is permitted in designated areas outside the terminal on all 3 levels. A smoking room is also located in the Graycliff Divans Lounge near gate B9.

Money

ATMs are located 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. 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 located 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.

Rideshare

Rideshare 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 towards International Airport and continue onto 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 towards Nashville/Knoxville/I-40 E and then take exit 52B to merge onto I-40 E. Take exit 216A towards International Airport and continue onto Terminal Drive for access to the terminal.

BNA Airport Parking Information

Terminal Garages

The terminal garages 1 and 2 have more than 4,000 covered spaces and are just a short walk from the terminal. The daily charge for parking is $26.

Hot Tip: The terminal garages have electric parking stations located on levels 2 and 3, and motorcycle parking is located on every level in the northeast corner.

Valet Parking

Valet parking is available on the ground transportation level and costs $36 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 $18.

Economy Lots B and C

Economy lots B and C are located around a mile from the terminal and passengers can ride the courtesy shuttle bus that runs every 10 minutes. The daily charge for parking is $16.

Pick-up and Drop-off Parking

BNA has 2 cell phone waiting lots, and both are located near economy lot C. Visitors may check real-time flight information monitors and remain with their vehicles until a passenger calls for pick up.

Off-site and Hotel Parking

The cheapest daily parking at BNA is $16, but you can find more cost-effective parking at an external lot.

Daily parking starts from around $8 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. Parking is free of charge for those who sign up for the Accessible Parking Program.

Parking Contact Number

General Inquiries: 615-275-1045

Car Rental at BNA Airport

The rental car facility is located near terminal lot A. 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: Register for 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

While there are no hotels onsite at Nashville International Airport, a Hilton-branded hotel is expected to open directly adjacent to the main terminal by late 2023. Until then, passengers can find plenty of accommodation options located 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 17,000 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. You’ll also find standard amenities like a fitness center, indoor pool, and an airport shuttle. With Hilton’s dynamic price model for award nights, you can expect a free night at the hotel to cost around 37,000 Hilton Honors points.

Located 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 extensions to one of its runways to accelerate these goals.

Southwest Airlines account for over 50% of passengers capacity at BNA, and Spirit, Delta, and Allegiant have already launched more routes — or are planning to — from this growing airport.