hey everyone so i just landed at bna, nashville international, and honestly its my first time really navigating this place properly, and i figured id share some thoughts and tips for anyone else who’s a first-timer because honestly, i wish someone told me some of this before i got here and started walking around confused and tired.
basically, bna is one of those airports that feels like its constantly under construction and expanding but also kinda small and intimate at the same time, which is a weird vibe and it gets super busy and packed, especially during peak travel times, so prepare yourself for that and dont expect a lax or o’hare level of calm because it aint happening here.
Getting your bearings
so first off, its basically one main terminal and then the concourses branch off from there and its not too complicated to understand the layout but everything feels a lot farther than it looks on the map and the signage is sometimes okay but sometimes a bit confusing like where exactly does this moving walkway even take me or am i going the right way to security.
you land, you walk a bit, you find baggage claim on the lower level, and then to get to security if youre departing its all on the main level and there are a couple of checkpoints but they all eventually funnel you to pretty much the same place and just know that those lines can get long, like really long, so mentally prepare for that wait and have your stuff ready to go because people get impatient.
- those long walks: literally everything feels like a trek here, especially if youre going to the D gates, which seem like theyre in a whole other zip code and there are some moving walkways but they dont cover nearly enough ground and sometimes theyre just broken so just be ready to walk a lot and wear comfy shoes, seriously because its not like some of those huge airports with trains.
- hidden shortcuts: okay so not exactly hidden shortcuts but more like strategic movements and if youre headed to the A or B gates and the main concourse is swamped, sometimes just sticking to the outer walls or even trying to cut through some of the less crowded food areas can save you a few minutes of dodging people and if youre getting dropped off for departures, sometimes heading to the far end of the terminal near one of the smaller airline check-in counters can give you an easier security line entrance but its a gamble.
The peak hour survival guide
this is where things get real, especially if you have a morning flight or an evening one on a thursday or friday and its just chaos and i dont say that lightly.
- security lines: if you dont have tsa precheck or clear, honestly, just add an extra hour to whatever time you think you need to get to the airport and go through security because its better to be early and bored than stressed and missing your flight and the lines literally snake forever and ever and ever.
- food and drinks: during peak hours, every single food establishment has a line that looks like disneyland and i mean it and mobile ordering is your friend if available but sometimes even that takes ages so if youre hungry or thirsty grab something before security if you can or just pack a snack and a water bottle because you might be waiting a while and prices are airport prices, obviously.
- ground transportation: the uber and lyft pickup situation is kinda organized but also a total mess during busy times and its on the ground level and you follow signs to the ride share zone and its usually packed with people and cars so be patient and make sure you confirm your car because everyone is grabbing for what they think is their ride and if youre doing rental cars, the shuttle bus to the off-site facility also gets packed so just factor in more time for everything post-landing or pre-departure. its a lot of waiting for shuttles and then waiting in line at the rental place.
overall, bna is fine, its just busy and feels like its bursting at the seams so basically, just give yourself plenty of extra time for everything, especially walking and waiting and dont expect a super smooth experience if its a peak travel day and good luck out there and safe travels everyone!