Nashville With Kids: The Short Version (2026)
- The 3-day plan: Day 1 downtown on foot (Country Music Hall of Fame, a daytime look at Lower Broadway, the riverfront); Day 2 Nashville Zoo plus Centennial Park or the Adventure Science Center; Day 3 Opryland (Opry Mills, Gaylord Opryland, an early Opry show).
- Broadway with kids: go before 6 PM. Robert’s Western World and Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge both admit all ages until 6 PM and switch to 21+ after that (checked October 2026).
- Ticket math for a family of four (2 adults, kids 8 and 11): about $108 at the Country Music Hall of Fame, $80 at the Adventure Science Center, $50 at the Parthenon; the zoo varies by date.
- Where to stay: Hilton Nashville Downtown (all two-room suites, $0 resort fee) or Drury Plaza (free hot breakfast and 5:30 PM Kickback) downtown; Gaylord Opryland if the trip is about SoundWaves, which needs a package.
- Seasonal: Nashville Shores waterpark has closed for 2026 and reopens in spring 2027; Gaylord’s A Country Christmas runs Nov 6, 2026 to Jan 2, 2027.
Compare Live Nashville Hotel Rates & Availability
Nashville with kids works better than its bachelorette-capital reputation suggests, as long as you plan around two facts: the honky-tonks are family territory only until early evening, and the best kid attractions sit 5 to 11 miles apart, so the trip needs a car or rideshare on at least two of three days. This itinerary is built for children roughly 4 to 14, with mornings for the big outings, a mid-day break at the hotel and early dinners, plus every ticket price and opening hour checked against each attraction’s own website.
Below you will find the 3-day plan at a glance, each day in detail, what Lower Broadway is really like for children by daylight and after dark, a 2026 price table for family tickets, and where to stay downtown versus at Opryland. If you only need a hotel, our best Nashville hotels for families ranking goes deeper on suites and pools.
How we researched this: in October 2026 our editors checked admission prices, age rules and hours on the official websites of the Nashville Zoo, Adventure Science Center, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Parthenon, the Grand Ole Opry, SoundWaves, Robert’s Western World and Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge; hotel fees and parking come from our hotel registry (facts checked October 2026); driving distances were measured from downtown on OpenStreetMap routing. We did not visit with children for this piece, and we say so wherever a detail could not be confirmed.
Nashville With Kids: The 3-Day Family Itinerary at a Glance
The plan groups attractions by geography so you never cross town twice in one day: downtown on foot first, then the zoo south of the city and a park or science museum close to the center, then Opryland 10 miles east. Each day has one anchor outing in the morning, a rest window after lunch, and an easy late afternoon.
| Day | Morning | Lunch & rest | Late afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1: Downtown | Country Music Hall of Fame (opens 9 AM) | Assembly Food Hall, then hotel pool or nap | Lower Broadway and the riverfront before 6 PM | Early dinner, John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge at dusk |
| Day 2: Zoo + park or science | Nashville Zoo (opens 9 AM, 5.4 miles south) | Lunch near the zoo, hotel break | Centennial Park and the Parthenon, or the Adventure Science Center on a weekend | Quiet night in the suite |
| Day 3: Opryland | Opry Mills (opens 10 AM, 11 AM Sunday) or SoundWaves with a package | Gaylord Opryland’s indoor gardens | Rest before the show | Grand Ole Opry (about 2 hours with an intermission) |
Two scheduling traps to know. The Adventure Science Center is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and shuts at 3 PM on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, so on weekdays it belongs in a morning slot. And the Nashville Zoo switches to winter hours (9 AM to 4 PM) from October 13, 2026 through March 11, 2027, which leaves little room for an afternoon visit in fall and winter.
Day 1: Country Music Hall of Fame, Lower Broadway by Daylight and the Riverfront
Start at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (222 Rep. John Lewis Way South), which opens daily at 9 AM. It is the music museum with the most to do for children, because most family programs run in the Taylor Swift Education Center on the third floor, where the museum lists hands-on sessions such as banjo classes, leather crafts and a musical-instrument petting zoo.
Those programs are included with admission, but space can be limited, so check the museum calendar for your dates and call 615-416-2001 to reserve theater programs. Children under five are always admitted free. Families who live in Davidson or a bordering county get free youth admission and 25% off for up to two adults with proof of residency. Our Country Music Hall of Fame and Hatch Show Print guide covers the exhibits floor by floor; with kids under 10, budget about two hours rather than the half day adults spend.
For lunch, Assembly Food Hall at Fifth + Broadway (5055 Broadway Place) lists more than 30 eateries and bars under one roof, which settles the “everyone wants something different” problem; it opens at 9 AM daily. Then go back to the hotel for a pool session or a nap. Around 4 PM, walk Lower Broadway while the honky-tonks still admit children, end at Riverfront Park, and cross the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge for a free view of the skyline at dusk.
Is Lower Broadway OK for Kids? Daytime vs Night and the 6 PM Age Rules
Yes, by day. Lower Broadway runs live music from late morning, and several honky-tonks admit children until early evening. After that the street turns into a bar crowd, and most venues become 21+. The two we confirmed directly: Robert’s Western World says it is “an all ages honky tonk until 6pm” and 21+ after, and Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge says it is family friendly seven days a week until 6 PM.
Cutoffs elsewhere on the strip vary by venue and by night, and they change, so read the sign at the door rather than relying on a list. Our Lower Broadway honky-tonk guide covers cover charges and tipping the band.
- Best window with kids: late morning to about 5 PM, when the sidewalks are least crowded and there is room for a stroller.
- Ear protection: the music carries onto the sidewalk and is loud inside; foam earplugs or kids’ ear defenders make a 20-minute stop pleasant instead of painful.
- After 6 PM: expect pedal taverns, party buses and crowds; with children, the riverfront or a hotel window is the better view after dark.
- Friday and Saturday nights: plan the walk back to the hotel before dark if your route crosses Broadway between 2nd and 5th Avenues.
Day 2: Nashville Zoo, Then Centennial Park or the Adventure Science Center
The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere (3777 Nolensville Pike) is 5.4 miles south of downtown, about 10 minutes by car with no traffic and noticeably longer at rush hour. It opens at 9 AM every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day, and the rides open at 10 AM. Arrive at opening, when it is coolest and least crowded, and plan on about three hours with young children.
Tickets are priced by date: adults and teens pay $16 to $28, children 2 to 12 pay $4 less than the adult price, and under-2s are free; parking is $10 per vehicle. Stroller and wheelchair rentals are available at the zoo. Our Nashville Zoo guide lists the exhibits worth timing your visit around.
After lunch and a rest, pick one of two afternoons. Centennial Park (2.8 miles west of downtown on West End Avenue) has open lawns, a small lake and the full-scale Parthenon, whose museum charges $15 for adults, $10 for ages 4 to 17 and nothing for under-4s, sold on site only; it closes at 4:30 PM most days, 3:30 PM on Fridays. The Adventure Science Center (800 Fort Negley Boulevard, 1.3 miles from downtown) suits a rainy or very hot day: $22 for ages 13 and up, $18 for ages 2 to 12, free parking, and a $10 add-on for the Sudekum Planetarium. Remember it closes at 3 PM on weekdays and all day Tuesday and Wednesday; on weekends it stays open until 5 PM. The center recommends timed tickets bought online.
Day 3: Opryland, SoundWaves and an Early Grand Ole Opry Show
Opryland is a 9-to-11-mile drive east of downtown, so it makes the most sense as a full day, or as your base. Opry Mills (433 Opry Mills Drive) is the morning stop for rainy days, with the Aquarium Restaurant, Madame Tussauds and a Dave & Buster’s inside the mall. Gaylord Opryland’s nine acres of indoor gardens and waterfalls are next door, and from November 6, 2026 to January 2, 2027 the resort runs A Country Christmas; our Opryland and Music Valley guide maps the whole district.
SoundWaves, the resort’s four-acre water attraction, is the reason many families book Gaylord, but it is not included with a room. SoundWaves states that room-only reservations do not include admission and that an overnight package is the only guaranteed way in; anyone age 4 and over needs a ticket. The indoor attractions are open year-round, while the outdoor areas open on select dates from mid-May through Labor Day. There are adult-only pools for guests 18 and over, and the FlowRider surf machine has a 42-inch minimum for body boarding.
Finish with the Grand Ole Opry. The Opry says each show runs about two hours with a 15-minute intermission, and children under 4 get free show admission but must sit with their guardian. Strollers must be collapsible and checked at the door, and outside food and drinks, including water, are not allowed. For school-age kids the Opry House is the better first show; save the Ryman’s church pews for older children who will sit still. Our Grand Ole Opry vs Ryman guide compares the two.
Summer swap: Nashville Shores instead of Opry Mills
From roughly May to September, swap the Day 3 morning for Nashville Shores (4001 Bell Road, Hermitage), the lakeside waterpark about 13 miles east of downtown. The 2026 season opened in May and the park has now closed until spring 2027; check its website for next season’s dates and prices, and read our Nashville Shores guide for cabanas and slides.
How Much Do Family Tickets Cost in Nashville? 2026 Prices and Hours
For two adults and two school-age children, the paid attractions in this itinerary cost roughly $225 to $300 including zoo parking, before the Opry and SoundWaves, with the zoo’s date-based pricing as the main variable. Every figure below comes from the attraction’s own website and was checked in October 2026; age bands differ from venue to venue, so check each child’s age against the right column.
| Attraction | Adult | Child | Free | Hours (fall 2026) | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country Music Hall of Fame | $31.95 (13+) | $21.95 (6–12) | Under 5 | Daily 9 AM–5 PM | Nearby garages; museum discount at two |
| Nashville Zoo | $16–$28 by date | Adult price minus $4 (2–12) | Under 2 | 9 AM–4 PM to Mar 11, 2027; 9 AM–6 PM from Mar 12 | $10 per vehicle |
| Adventure Science Center | $22 (13+) | $18 (2–12) | Under 2 | Mon, Thu, Fri 9 AM–3 PM; Sat–Sun 9 AM–5 PM; closed Tue–Wed | Free |
| Sudekum Planetarium add-on | $10 | $10 | — | Show times vary | — |
| The Parthenon | $15 | $10 (4–17) | Under 4 | Mon–Thu & Sat 9 AM–4:30 PM; Fri to 3:30 PM; Sun 12:30–4:30 PM | — |
| Grand Ole Opry show | Varies by show | Varies by show | Under 4 (sitting with a guardian) | About 2 hours | Check opry.com |
| SoundWaves (Gaylord) | Package with a room | Ticket needed from age 4 | Under 4 | Indoor year-round; outdoor mid-May to Labor Day | Hotel parking |
The Country Music Hall of Fame and the Adventure Science Center publish fixed prices; the Nashville Zoo prices by date, so a weekday in winter is the cheap end and a summer Saturday the expensive one. The Parthenon sells tickets only at its counter and adds a 2.3% fee on card payments.
Where to Stay in Nashville With Kids: Downtown Suites vs Opryland
Stay downtown if Days 1 and 2 matter most and you want to walk to dinner; stay at Gaylord Opryland if the water park and indoor gardens are the point and you are happy to drive to everything else. Downtown, two-room suites and free breakfast beat a pool; at Opryland, the package price matters more than the room rate.
| Hotel | Area | Price level | Walk to Broadway | Pool | Resort fee | Parking | Booking.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Nashville Downtown | Core Downtown (1 Block off Lower Broadway) | Upscale | Half a block (100 yards) from Lower Broadway Honky Tonks (1-minute walk) | No pool — 100% all-suite hotel right behind Bridgestone Arena & Country Music Hall of Fame | None ($0 mandatory resort fee) | Valet only: $65/night with in-and-out privileges (no self-parking) | Check prices |
| Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Downtown | SoBro / Downtown Nashville | Mid-range | 3 blocks south of Lower Broadway (5-minute walk) | Indoor/outdoor heated rooftop pool & whirlpool with skyline views | None ($0 resort fee + FREE hot breakfast + FREE 5:30 Kickback dinner & drinks!) | On-site garage self-parking $45/night + tax (per the hotel’s site, October 2026) | Check prices |
| Margaritaville Hotel Nashville | SoBro / Downtown Nashville | Upscale | About 0.4 mile south of Lower Broadway (about an 8-minute walk) | Heated year-round pool deck with Fins Bar, fire pits & live acoustic music | $25 + tax per night | Valet only: $65 + tax per night (no vehicles over 6'8") | Check prices |
| The Westin Nashville | SoBro (Directly Across from Music City Center) | Upscale | About 12 minutes (0.6 mile) on foot to the honky-tonks at Broadway & 5th | Seasonal 27th-floor L27 rooftop pool (guests + day passes, 21+) + indoor pool at Rhapsody Spa | $30 + tax per night (Destination Amenity Fee) | Valet only: $64/day (Music City Center garage across the street: $45 overnight, no in-and-out) | Check prices |
| Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center | Opryland / Music Valley | Upscale | 15-min drive to Lower Broadway (about a 14-min walk to the Grand Ole Opry House) | 4-acre SoundWaves indoor/outdoor upscale waterpark + 2 outdoor resort pools | $45 + 16.75% tax per night ($52.54/night total) | Self-parking $38/night; Valet $50/night | Check prices |
Hilton Nashville Downtown (121 4th Avenue South) is all two-room suites with no resort fee, half a block from Broadway and steps from the Country Music Hall of Fame; the trade-off is that it has no pool. Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Downtown (300 Korean Veterans Boulevard) is the value play: no resort fee, a free hot breakfast, the free 5:30 PM Kickback with hot food, and an indoor/outdoor heated rooftop pool, with self-parking at $45 a night plus tax. Margaritaville Hotel Nashville has a heated rooftop pool deck three blocks from Broadway but charges a $25 + tax daily fee. The Westin Nashville adds the 27th-floor L27 rooftop and an indoor pool at Rhapsody Spa, but it carries a $30 + tax fee and is set up more for couples and conventions; ask the hotel which pool areas are open to children before you book it for that reason.
Gaylord Opryland has 2,888 rooms, the indoor gardens and SoundWaves, but its $45 + tax resort fee comes to $52.54 a night, and self-parking is $38. Every Nashville hotel bill also carries 16.75% tax plus $2.50 per room per night. Compare the resort side by side in our Gaylord Opryland vs downtown hotels breakdown, and if a year-round pool is non-negotiable, see Nashville hotels with an indoor pool.
Hilton Nashville Downtown
- 100% Two-Room Suites (separate living room + bedroom)
- NO Resort Fee ($0/night)
- About 4 min on foot to Bridgestone Arena, 5 min to the Ryman
- Soaring sunlit atrium
The closest all-suite hotel to Honky Tonk Highway—located half a block off Lower Broadway across from Bridgestone Arena and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Downtown
- NO Resort Fee ($0/night)
- FREE daily hot breakfast buffet
- FREE 5:30 Kickback (hot evening food + 3 free cocktails/beer/wine per adult)
- Indoor/outdoor rooftop pool & $45 self-parking
Unquestionably downtown Nashville’s #1 value hotel: three blocks from Broadway with zero resort fees, free hot breakfast, and free evening food and cocktails.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
- 9 acres of indoor glass-enclosed botanical atriums
- 4-acre SoundWaves indoor/outdoor waterpark
- Delta flatboat river ride inside hotel
- Walk to Grand Ole Opry & Opry Mills
Nashville’s iconic 2,888-room resort featuring nine acres of climate-controlled indoor tropical gardens, indoor waterfalls, a quarter-mile riverboat ride and the SoundWaves waterpark.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Margaritaville Hotel Nashville
- Heated rooftop pool & Fins Bar with live music
- 3 blocks from Lower Broadway & Country Music Hall of Fame
- JWB Grill & full Starbucks on-site
- Spacious rooms & Jimmy Buffett suites
Island hospitality meets Music City in SoBro, just three blocks off Broadway with a heated rooftop pool deck, Fins Bar and JWB Grill.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Pacing, Strollers and Weather: Making Nashville Work for Small Kids
Plan one big outing a day, start it at opening time, and be back at the hotel by early afternoon. Nashville summers are hot: NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the airport put the average July high at 90.9°F, so midday belongs indoors or in a pool from June through August.
- Strollers: downtown sidewalks are wide, but Broadway rises gently from the river to the Bridgestone Arena block and keeps climbing west of it, so a light stroller beats a heavy one. The zoo rents strollers; the Opry requires them folded and checked at the door.
- Nap window: the zoo, the Adventure Science Center and the Country Music Hall of Fame all open at 9 AM, so a 9-to-noon outing and a 1-to-3 PM rest fits naturally; the Parthenon’s later Sunday opening (12:30 PM) suits a post-nap visit.
- Food: a food hall or a hotel breakfast takes the stress out of picky eaters; for a first taste of hot chicken, order the lowest heat level on the menu.
- Car or no car: Day 1 is walkable from a downtown hotel; Days 2 and 3 need a car or rideshare, and downtown hotel parking runs about $45 to $58 a night, so compare that with a few rides per day.
- Season: spring and fall give the most comfortable walking weather; in winter, Day 3 at Gaylord’s indoor gardens is the itinerary’s best rainy-day insurance.
Booking around school breaks: Nashville hotel rates move with the event calendar, so check our Nashville hotel prices by month before you lock in dates; a family trip that collides with CMA Fest (June 10–13, 2027) pays event prices for crowds that are no fun with a stroller.
Sources and How We Verified This
- Nashville Zoo at Grassmere: seasonal hours, holiday closures, date-based ticket prices and the $10 parking fee.
- Adventure Science Center: admission, planetarium add-on, weekday hours and free parking.
- Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: under-5 free admission, local-kids program and Taylor Swift Education Center family programs.
- The Parthenon (Centennial Park): admission by age, daily hours and on-site-only ticket sales.
- Grand Ole Opry FAQ: show length, under-4 admission, stroller and outside-food rules.
- SoundWaves at Gaylord Opryland: package access, indoor and seasonal outdoor dates, age and height rules.
- Robert’s Western World and Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge: all ages until 6 PM, 21+ after.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Nashville a good place to visit with kids?
Yes, if you plan days around the family attractions rather than the bars. The Nashville Zoo, the Adventure Science Center, the Country Music Hall of Fame’s family programs, Centennial Park, Opry Mills and Gaylord Opryland’s indoor gardens fill three days easily. Lower Broadway is fine by day; several honky-tonks admit children until 6 PM, then become 21+.
Can kids go into honky-tonks on Broadway?
Some can, during the day. Robert’s Western World and Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge both admit all ages until 6 PM and are 21+ after that (checked October 2026). Other venues set their own cutoffs, which can differ by night of the week, so check the sign at the door. Earplugs help: the music is loud even in the afternoon.
How much does the Nashville Zoo cost for a family?
The zoo prices tickets by date: adults and teens pay $16 to $28, children 2 to 12 pay $4 less than the adult price, and children under 2 are free. Parking is $10 per vehicle. A family of two adults and two children therefore pays roughly $56 to $104 plus parking, depending on the day.
Can you use SoundWaves without staying at Gaylord Opryland?
Not as a regular day visit. SoundWaves states that room-only reservations do not include admission and that an overnight package is the only guaranteed way in. Some limited options, such as party rooms for groups of 10 to 30, do not require an overnight stay. Everyone age 4 and over needs a ticket.
What is the best area to stay in Nashville with kids?
Downtown or SoBro if you want to walk to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Broadway by day and the riverfront; Hilton Nashville Downtown’s two-room suites and Drury Plaza’s free breakfast and evening food are the strongest family picks. Choose Gaylord Opryland if the water park and indoor gardens are the trip, and plan to drive downtown.
