Hotels Near Vanderbilt University Medical Center: The Short Version (2026)
- Closest of the hotels near Vanderbilt University Medical Center: Kimpton Aertson Hotel (2021 Broadway), 0.6 mile and about 13 minutes on foot to the hospital at 1211 Medical Center Drive, 16 minutes to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital.
- Also walkable: Graduate Nashville (about 20 minutes), Virgin Hotels Nashville (22) and Conrad Nashville (26); each is a few minutes by car.
- Low-cost and free lodging: Ronald McDonald House (2144 Fairfax Avenue, 11 minutes on foot to Children’s Hospital, $15 a night requested) and the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge (2008 Charlotte Avenue, free for cancer patients in treatment); both need a referral.
- Medical rates: Children’s Hospital says many Nashville hotels give discounted rates to VUMC patients and families, subject to availability; we found none published by the four hotels below, so ask when you book.
- Parking: hotel valet costs $48–$58 a night, and VUMC does not publish visitor parking rates online; walking or a short rideshare is usually cheaper.
Compare Live Nashville Hotel Rates & Availability
Finding hotels near Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a different job from booking a city break. Patients and families need a short, safe walk or ride to a specific entrance, a quiet room, somewhere to eat outside normal hours, a pharmacy and, for longer stays, a kitchen or a low-cost nonprofit option. This guide is written for that trip: appointments, surgery, a hospital stay or a child’s treatment at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
It covers walking distances from each nearby hotel to the adult hospital and the children’s hospital, the Ronald McDonald House and Hope Lodge, how to ask for a medical rate, parking, pharmacies and food. If you are visiting the university campus for a tour, game or graduation instead, our hotels near Vanderbilt University guide is the better fit.
How we researched this: in November 2026 our editors checked VUMC’s and Children’s Hospital’s official pages for addresses, valet stations, pharmacies and the family accommodations service; the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville and American Cancer Society pages for eligibility and costs; each hotel’s fees and parking in our hotel registry; and measured walking routes with OpenStreetMap pedestrian routing from each hotel’s address to 1211 Medical Center Drive and to the Children’s Hospital building. Our searches found no published medical rate for any of the four hotels.
Where Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Children’s Hospital are
Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s main address is 1211 Medical Center Drive, Nashville, TN 37232 (main line 615-322-5000), on the eastern edge of the Vanderbilt campus about 2 miles southwest of Lower Broadway. Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt is a block south, at 2200 Children’s Way.
The medical center is a dense cluster of buildings, including Vanderbilt University Hospital, The Vanderbilt Clinic, the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and the Vanderbilt Eye Institute, so check which building your appointment is in before you choose a hotel; the difference between the north and south ends of the campus can add 5–10 minutes on foot. The hotels closest to it are in Midtown, along Broadway, West End Avenue and Music Row; our Midtown, Music Row and Vanderbilt hotels guide describes the neighborhood in more detail.
Hotels near Vanderbilt University Medical Center: walking distances
Kimpton Aertson is the only full-service hotel within a 15-minute walk of the main hospital address; Graduate, Virgin and Conrad are 20–28 minutes on foot or a few minutes by car. Distances are to 1211 Medical Center Drive and to the Children’s Hospital building, measured in November 2026 at an easy walking pace.
| Where you stay | To VUMC (1211 Medical Center Dr) | To Children’s Hospital | Nightly fee | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kimpton Aertson Hotel, 2021 Broadway | 0.6 mi, about 13 min | 0.7 mi, about 16 min | $28 + tax | Valet $50 |
| Graduate Nashville, 101 20th Avenue North | 0.9 mi, about 20 min | 1.0 mi, about 22 min | $25 + tax | Valet $48 |
| Virgin Hotels Nashville, 1 Music Square West | 1.0 mi, about 22 min | 1.1 mi, about 24 min | $34 + tax | Valet $58 + tax |
| Conrad Nashville, 1620 West End Avenue | 1.2 mi, about 26 min | 1.3 mi, about 28 min | $30 + tax (waived on points stays) | Valet $56 |
| Ronald McDonald House, 2144 Fairfax Avenue | 0.7 mi, about 14 min | 0.5 mi, about 11 min | $15 requested; no family turned away | — |
| ACS Hope Lodge, 2008 Charlotte Avenue | 1.3 mi, about 28 min | 1.4 mi, about 30 min | Free | — |
Every hotel bill also carries 16.75% tax plus $2.50 per room per night, and the nightly fee is taxed too; our Nashville hotel taxes guide shows the math. The Kimpton Aertson’s own FAQ says it does not run a complimentary local shuttle, and we found no hospital shuttle advertised by the other three, so plan to walk or use a rideshare.
VUMC’s cancer-center lodging page also lists hotels closer to the medical center along West End Avenue and Broadway, among them Embassy Suites at 1811 Broadway and Courtyard Vanderbilt/West End at 1901 West End Avenue, which it notes have offered free shuttles, plus Hampton Inn Vanderbilt and Holiday Inn Vanderbilt. The page says medical rates change and depend on availability, so call each hotel to confirm the shuttle and the rate.
Which hotel near VUMC to book: closest, quietest, longest stay
Book Kimpton Aertson if being closest matters most, Conrad Nashville if you need the quietest room and can take a 26-minute walk or short ride, and Virgin Hotels if a fridge and a separate sleeping area help a family share one room. Graduate Nashville is the budget-friendliest of the four but the least restful.
| Hotel | Area | Price level | Walk to Broadway | Pool | Resort fee | Parking | Booking.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kimpton Aertson Hotel | Midtown / Vanderbilt / Music Row | Upscale | 6-minute Uber (1.5 miles straight down Broadway) to Lower Broadway | 8th-floor seasonal rooftop pool for guests and residents (closed for the season in November 2026; reopens in spring) | $30 + tax per night guest amenity fee (internet, Social Hour, coffee, loaner bikes, one-time $15 Henley credit) | Self-parking $50 + tax; valet $54 + tax per night | Check prices |
| Conrad Nashville | Midtown / Music Row (Broadwest) | Luxury | 4-minute Uber (1 mile) straight down Broadway to Lower Broadway | 3rd-floor heated outdoor pool terrace with cabanas & Thistle & Rye bar | $30 + tax per night (waived on Hilton Honors points stays) | Valet $56/night (Broadwest underground self-parking garage available) | Check prices |
| Virgin Hotels Nashville | Music Row / Midtown | Upscale | 5-minute Uber (1.3 miles) to Lower Broadway; right on historic Music Row | 14th-floor Pool Club rooftop pool, cabanas & DJ lounge | $34 + tax per night (Destination Fee per the hotel’s FAQ; includes Wi-Fi, 24/7 gym, water on request, in-room coffee and tea) | Valet $58/night + tax (street & Midtown lot options nearby) | Check prices |
| Graduate by Hilton Nashville | Midtown / Vanderbilt (West End Ave) | Mid-range | 6-minute Uber (1.5 miles) down Broadway to Honky Tonk Highway | No hotel pool: the Governor's Pool is part of the White Limozeen rooftop bar (reservations required, May–September) | Destination charge: booking sites list $23.49 + tax per night (confirm at booking) | Valet only: $55/night (no self-parking) | Check prices |
Kimpton Aertson Hotel
- 8th-floor rooftop pool deck in Midtown (seasonal)
- Hosted evening Social Hour (in the amenity fee)
- Henley restaurant & Woodhouse Spa in the Aertson Midtown complex
- 1 block from Hattie B’s Hot Chicken & Vanderbilt
Sophisticated Midtown boutique hotel at 20th & Broadway with an 8th-floor rooftop pool, a hosted evening Social Hour and the Henley restaurant.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Kimpton Aertson Hotel is the practical first choice: the closest walk, the Henley restaurant on site, a nightly hosted wine hour included in the $28 + tax fee, and a pet-friendly policy. Its eighth-floor pool is seasonal. Skip it if you need a kitchen. Full details are in our Kimpton Aertson review.
Conrad Nashville
- Hilton’s flagship 5-star luxury hotel in Nashville
- Champalimaud-designed rooms (425+ sq ft)
- Heated outdoor pool terrace & Thistle & Rye rooftop lounge
- Peaceful Midtown location 1 mile from Broadway
Hilton’s five-star flagship in Midtown’s Broadwest complex, offering Champalimaud-designed 425-square-foot rooms, Blue Aster dining and a heated pool terrace.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Conrad Nashville is the calm, five-star option, with rooms from about 425 square feet and soundproofed floor-to-ceiling windows; Hilton Honors members avoid the $30 fee on points stays. The trade-off is price and a walk of almost half an hour to the hospital. See our Conrad Nashville review.
Virgin Hotels Nashville
- $34 + tax Destination Fee (confirm at booking)
- 14th-floor Pool Club rooftop pool & bar
- Clever 2-Chamber room layout with sliding privacy doors
- Street-level minibar pricing & no pet fees
Richard Branson’s lifestyle hotel at the entrance to historic Music Row, offering a 14th-floor rooftop Pool Club, two-chamber rooms and street-priced minibars.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Virgin Hotels Nashville at the top of Music Row has two-chamber rooms with a sliding privacy door and a mini fridge, useful when one person needs to sleep while another is up. It charges the highest fee of the four ($34 + tax) and its 14th-floor Pool Club is a lively scene, so ask for a room away from it. Our Virgin Hotels review covers the room types.
Graduate by Hilton Nashville
- Home to the White Limozeen rooftop bar (reservations)
- Cross-Eyed Critters animatronic karaoke bar
- Maximalist Grand Ole Opry & Minnie Pearl decor
- Walk to Vanderbilt & Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
Playful, Dolly Parton-inspired boutique hotel in Midtown, home to the pink White Limozeen rooftop bar and the Cross-Eyed Critters animatronic karaoke bar.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Graduate Nashville has the lowest fee ($25 + tax) and valet ($48) of the four and a lobby coffee shop, but its 12th-floor White Limozeen rooftop bar and karaoke bar attract bachelorette groups, especially on weekends. Families who need rest should request a low floor or look elsewhere; see our Graduate Nashville review.
Ronald McDonald House, Hope Lodge and other low-cost lodging near VUMC
Families of children in treatment should ask about the Ronald McDonald House, and cancer patients about the Hope Lodge, before booking a hotel: both are close to VUMC and cost little or nothing, but both require a referral and have eligibility rules.
Ronald McDonald House Nashville (2144 Fairfax Avenue, 615-343-4000) has 36 bedrooms, each with a private bathroom, one room per family and up to four people per room. The house asks for $15 a night and says no one is turned away for inability to pay. To qualify, the child must be 18 or younger, critically ill and receiving inpatient or outpatient care at a Nashville-area hospital; the family must live more than 40 miles away; adult guests complete a background check; and a hospital social worker must make the referral, which is not a reservation. Hot meals, laundry, two kitchens and playrooms are provided, and families with children at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital can use a weekday shuttle; the walk is about 11 minutes.
American Cancer Society Hope Lodge (2008 Charlotte Avenue, 615-342-0840) has 41 guest rooms and is free for cancer patients in active treatment and a caregiver traveling from home for outpatient care. Requests start with a referral from the patient’s treatment facility, rooms go to the first referred, guests under 18 cannot stay, and check-in normally runs from noon to 8 PM. VUMC’s lodging page lists a weekday shuttle to The Vanderbilt Clinic; confirm it with the lodge.
Other options. VUMC’s cancer-center page also lists the Hospital Hospitality House (214 Reidhurst Avenue), with one- and two-bedroom units by referral from VUMC’s Patient Lodging Coordinator (615-322-2278). For other families, Children’s Hospital runs a Family Accommodations Service through Guest Services that helps find nearby hotels and other lodging to fit a budget and can make the reservation for you.
Ask the social worker on day one
Referral-based lodging fills on a first-referred basis, so ask the unit’s social worker or the cancer center’s lodging coordinator about Ronald McDonald House or Hope Lodge as soon as a long stay looks likely, and book a refundable hotel room for the first nights in case the referral takes time. A referral is not a guaranteed room.
Medical rates, longer stays and quiet rooms: what to ask the hotel
Ask every hotel for a Vanderbilt or medical rate, a flexible cancellation policy and a quiet room; for stays of a week or more, consider a hotel with a kitchen. Children’s Hospital says the discounted rates many local hotels offer are subject to availability and that some hotels ask for proof of the patient’s appointment or stay, so keep a letter or appointment printout handy.
- Rate: ask for the Vanderbilt patient or medical rate by phone, then compare it with the best public rate; a discount on a higher base rate is not always cheaper.
- Cancellation: treatment dates move, so choose a rate you can cancel or shorten without penalty.
- Quiet room: request a high floor away from the elevators and, at Graduate and Virgin, away from the rooftop bars.
- Accessibility: ask for a roll-in shower or a room near the elevator if mobility is limited; our accessible Nashville guide covers the details.
- Longer stays: none of the four hotels above has full kitchens. Residence Inn Vanderbilt/West End (1801 Hayes Street) and Hyatt House Nashville at Vanderbilt (2100 Hayes Street) have suites with kitchens; our hotels with kitchens and suites guide compares the options.
Parking at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and getting there
VUMC offers valet at several entrances, and Children’s Hospital offers free weekday valet inside the South Garage, but VUMC does not publish a visitor parking rate table on its parking website (checked November 2026). From a Midtown hotel, walking or a rideshare is usually simpler than paying for both hotel valet and hospital parking.
| VUMC valet station | Hours (Monday–Friday unless noted) |
|---|---|
| Main Hospital Drive | 5 AM–7 PM |
| The Vanderbilt Clinic | 6:30 AM–5 PM |
| Children’s Hospital (inside the South Garage entrance on Children’s Way) | 5 AM–8 PM |
| Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center / Preston | 7 AM–5 PM |
| Vanderbilt Eye Institute | 7 AM–5 PM |
| Adult Emergency Department | 24 hours, 7 days |
| East Garage, Level 1 | Temporarily suspended |
At Children’s Hospital, the South Garage entrance is on Children’s Way, and the garage connects to the hospital by a skywalk on Level 2. For extended stays, the hospital points families to the parking office at 615-936-1215 about longer-term options. At the hotels, valet costs $48 (Graduate) to $58 + tax (Virgin) a night; Conrad also has self-parking in the Broadwest garage. If you are flying in, our BNA airport transportation guide compares rideshare, taxi and bus to Midtown.
Pharmacies, food and essentials near the medical center
The Children’s Hospital outpatient pharmacy keeps the longest hours on campus, 7 AM to 11 PM every day; the adult outpatient pharmacy is weekdays only. Late-night food close to the hospital is limited, so plan for it.
- Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy: second floor near the South Garage entrance, 2200 Children’s Way; open daily 7 AM–11 PM, closed on most VUMC-recognized holidays; 615-936-6337.
- The Vanderbilt Clinic Outpatient Pharmacy: Room 1815, first floor of The Vanderbilt Clinic, 1211 Medical Center Drive; Monday to Friday 8 AM–6 PM, closed weekends; 615-322-6480.
- CVS, 426 21st Avenue South: CVS lists the store as open 24 hours, but the pharmacy counter keeps shorter hours; call the store before a late visit.
- Breakfast: Pancake Pantry in Hillsboro Village (1796 21st Avenue South) opens daily 6 AM–3 PM, a short drive south of the medical center.
- Dinner: Henley at the Kimpton Aertson and Hattie B’s Hot Chicken on 19th Avenue South, a block from the hotel, are the closest sit-down and counter options; we could not confirm any kitchen near the hospital that serves past 11 PM, so the 24-hour CVS is the fallback for snacks.
Sources and How We Verified This
- VUMC Parking and Transportation, valet service: valet stations and hours.
- Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Family Accommodations Service: hotel help and discounted rates for patients and families.
- Ronald McDonald House Nashville: rooms, nightly donation, eligibility and shuttle.
- American Cancer Society, Nashville Hope Lodge: rooms, free lodging and referral rules.
- VUMC Radiation Oncology, patient accommodations: Patient Lodging Coordinator, nonprofit houses and nearby hotels.
- VUMC Outpatient Pharmacy, Children’s Hospital and The Vanderbilt Clinic pharmacy: locations and hours.
- Pancake Pantry: Hillsboro Village address and hours.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the closest hotel to Vanderbilt University Medical Center?
Among full-service hotels, Kimpton Aertson Hotel at 2021 Broadway is the closest: about 0.6 mile and 13 minutes on foot to 1211 Medical Center Drive, and 16 minutes to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital. It charges a $28 + tax nightly fee and $50 valet. Graduate, Virgin and Conrad are 20–28 minutes on foot.
Do Nashville hotels offer a medical rate for Vanderbilt patients?
Many do. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt says numerous Nashville hotels give discounted rates to VUMC and Children’s Hospital patients and families, subject to availability, and some ask for proof of the appointment or stay. We found no such rate published online by the four Midtown hotels in this guide, so call the hotel and compare its offer with the best public rate.
How do you get a room at the Ronald McDonald House in Nashville?
Ask the hospital social worker for a referral. The house at 2144 Fairfax Avenue serves families of critically ill children 18 or younger receiving care at a Nashville-area hospital who live more than 40 miles away. It asks for $15 a night and turns no one away for inability to pay, but a referral is not a reservation.
Where can cancer patients stay for free near Vanderbilt?
The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge at 2008 Charlotte Avenue offers free rooms to cancer patients in active treatment and a caregiver who travel from home for outpatient care. A referral from the treatment facility is required, rooms go to the first referred, and guests must be 18 or older. VUMC’s Patient Lodging Coordinator (615-322-2278) can help with the referral.
Is parking free at Vanderbilt University Medical Center?
Children’s Hospital offers free valet Monday to Friday, 5 AM to 8 PM, inside the South Garage entrance on Children’s Way. For the adult hospital and clinics, VUMC lists valet stations and hours but does not publish visitor rates on its parking site, so call the parking office at 615-936-1215, especially before a long stay.
Is there a late-night pharmacy near Vanderbilt hospital?
The Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy is open every day from 7 AM to 11 PM, except most VUMC holidays. The Vanderbilt Clinic pharmacy is open weekdays 8 AM to 6 PM. The CVS at 426 21st Avenue South lists its store as open 24 hours, but its pharmacy counter closes earlier, so call ahead.
