21+ Cheap and Free Things To Do in Nashville, Tennessee

I took a quick trip to Nashville to visit friends and take in one of my absolute favorite cities! What I discovered was…there are so many great cheap and free things to do in Nashville!

Located about 3.5- to 4 hours from Atlanta, driving to Nashville means you get to take in the views of the amazing state of Tennessee. Also, don’t forget: there is a time change when you arrive in Nashville, gaining an hour on the way there and losing one on the return trip.

Nashville is perfect for adult getaways, or a fun-filled weekend for the whole family. We love how much we were able to do and see without breaking the bank. Nashville has so much natural beauty, along with a vibrant art and music scene, so there’s no shortage of opportunities to create memories in the Music City for free or cheap!

PARKS, PARKS AND MORE PARKS!

FANNIE MAE DEES PARK

The first of our favorites is Fannie Mae Dees Park; also known as the ‘Dragon Park’ to locals. The ‘dragon’ is a large mosaic serpent sculpture that slithers through the landscape. 

The sprawling playground is located far enough from the road that you feel comfortable letting your little ones take off and explore. There’s an area for younger ones, with a smaller slide, sand area and large see saw.  For the hot summer days, there’s even a dragon that ‘breathes’ water to help stay cool!

CENTENNIAL PARK

Centennial Park is Nashville’s centerpiece. It houses the Parthenon, a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Greece. You can explore the exterior of the structure for free, but the art museum inside does charge a small fee for admission ($10/adults & $8/kids 4-17).

The park sits on 132 acres; showcasing a fantastic green space that’s perfect for picnics or tossing the football. Centennial also has a one-mile loop for walking or running. Parking is free and this is such a great place to have a picnic, or let your kids burn off energy.

CUMBERLAND PARK

Cumberland Park is another one of Nashville’s unique parks that is open to the public year round. This park on the riverfront features four areas with different activities to entertain your little ones.

• The first area of the park is The Hollow, featuring a nature play area and splash pad.
• The Scoops is a perfect area to cool off with a step stone path and cooling mist.
• The Gorge will be a hit for those climbers in your life, as it has a climbing wall, ropes and nets. It also has a Corian material slide that stays cool in the hot sun.
• The Explorer Trail is made to attract butterflies; weaving through groves and meadows.

Cumberland Park is a 6.5-acre park and a welcome addition to Nashville’s burgeoning riverfront.

• Our favorite waterfall hiking trails not too far from Nashville:
• Fall Creek Falls State Park
• Cummins Falls State Park
• Short Springs Natural Area
• Rock Island State Park

BICENTENNIAL CAPITOL MALL STATE PARK

Located in the shadow of the Capitol in downtown Nashville, Bicentennial Capitol Mall gives visitors a taste of Tennessee’s history, natural wonders and serves as a lasting monument to Tennessee’s Bicentennial Celebration. Don’t miss the maps dotted along the park walk; they are a helpful and informative tool for those wishing to take a self-guided tour of the park.

In our opinion, the best money-saving option for exploring the city is the Nashville Sightseeing Pass. Pick Day Passes or the FLEX Pass, and then select from over 30 different attractions, big and small.

FORT NEGLEY VISITORS CENTER AND PARK

Fort Negley is the largest inland stone fort built during the Civil War and the area is set-up to support self-guided walking tours.

THE JOHN SEIGENTHALER PEDSTRIAN BRIDGE

OK, technically not a park…you still have to visit. The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, formerly the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge, connects downtown Nashville to the residential suburbs of East Nashville.

It’s one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world, taking you right over the Cumberland River. Bring your camera; the views of the Nashville skyline can’t be beat!

Music City is also a short drive away from surrounding small towns that make great day trips from Nashville.

FREE THINGS TO DO IN NASHVILLE: TUNES TO GROOVE BY

• Arrington Vineyards hosts Music in the Vines in the summer, featuring live music from April thru October. Head out to Kix Brooks’ vineyard and listen to live jazz and bluegrass every weekend. Picnic tables or pavilion seats are available on a first come, first served basis, so you might want to bring a blanket or chairs.

• Beachaven Winery offers free Music on the Lawn concert series, with free parking. The concerts are held from May thru October on various Saturdays. Another option? Their DJ on the Dock evening happy hour series on Thursday nights during June and July. It’s family friendly, with tons of fun for everyone.

• Sumner Crest Winery holds outdoor concerts each month from May thru September. Bring your own chairs and blankets, as seating isn’t provided. Kids are welcome (no pets) and you’ll love their wines while taking in the tunes.

• The famous Bluebird Cafe hosts an early show at 6 or 6:30 p.m. and it is almost always free (see their online calendar). Also, most Sunday night writers nights, Sunday Spotlights and Monday Open Mic nights do not have cover charges.  Just remember, almost every show has a $10 food/drink minimum per person, and there is a nominal fee to make online reservations.

• Several Nashville Honky Tonks are great places for live music shows, including those along Honky Tonk Highway. These joints on Lower Broadway pump live music into the streets from 10am to 3am, and there is never a cover charge.

MUST-SEE MURALS

NASHVILLE WALLS PROJECT

One of the best things about Nashville is all the things you can see and experience for free! The Nashville Walls Project has set out to bring new life to Nashville’s skyline by bringing in renowned mural and graffiti artists. You can find several interesting ones in the Gulch, including the iconic large wings begging for your picture.

We meandered over to Barista Parlor on Magazine Street and found a brightly colored vector shapes wall, as well as a beautiful warrior princess. No mural tour in Nashville is complete without visiting the ‘I Believe in Nashville’ wall in the 21th Ave South neighborhood.

Another must-see is the Guido Van Helton’s silo project in the Nations. Its depiction of 91-year-old West Nashville resident Lee Estes is breathtaking.

Read More: Visitors Guide to 11 Walkable Neighborhoods Nashville Loves

In our opinion, the best money-saving option for exploring the city is the Nashville Sightseeing Pass. Pick Day Passes or the FLEX Pass, and then select from over 30 different attractions, big and small.

MUSEUM MADNESS

TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM

The Tennessee State Museum is a gem tucked away beneath the Tennessee Performing Arts Center and admission is absolutely free! The museum was a welcome respite from the hot, humid day we were experiencing. We spent two hours exploring everything it had to offer.

The boys loved all the Native America arrowheads and artifacts they had on display. There was a large section devoted to President Andrew Jackson and his impact on the country. The museum also had strategically placed ‘Story Baskets’ throughout the exhibits. These contained hands on activates and books to further help little brains understand what they were seeing.

Tennessee has a rich history and its story is well told at this completely free Tennessee museum!

TENNESSEE STATE CAPITOL

Visitors are welcome to take a free guided tour of the Tennessee State Capitol, offered several times a day. Reservations are not required. If you can’t make the time slots or they are full, a self-guided tour is always an option. Interestingly, it is one of 12 United States capitols that did not originally have a dome.

FRIST ART MUSEUM

The Frist Art Museum offers FREE admission to kids 18 and younger. Adult tickets are $15.

If you’re looking for a completely free option, the Frist does offer Free Family Days throughout the year; so check their calendar for dates on those.

The Martin ArtQuest Gallery provides over 30 hands on activities to keep your little ones occupied and engaged.  This award winning area is meant to encourage creativity through painting, sketching, collage or print making.

COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME

While there is an admission charge at the Country Music Hall of Fame, it pays to be in the know. If you are in town visiting a local, ask them to check out a Community Counts Passport from any Nashville Public Library.  You just show the passport at the museum box office and it gets two people in for free.

DUKES OF HAZZARD MUSEUM

Anyone else grow up watching this family constantly get into trouble? Cooter’s Place is home to Nashville’s one and only Dukes of Hazzard Museum and Shop, operated by Cooter himself — Ben Jones.  See pictures, costumes, props and more. Also displayed are Cooter’s Tow Truck, Daisy’s Jeep, Rosco’s Patrol Car, and of course, a 1969 Dodge Charger General Lee.

Admission to the museum is FREE.

NASHVILLE ATTRACTIONS

NASHVILLE MUSIC ROW

This is an especially exciting venture if you are a country music fan. Music Row is littered with record labels, songwriting houses and production studios. Almost all of them showcase their talent and achievements with giant signs and banners displayed on their front lawn.

It’s a truly fun street to walk or drive down and fan girl/fan boy your heart out!

GOO GOO SHOP AND DESSERT BAR

The Goo Goo Cluster candy confection was created in Nashville in 1912. Whether you’ve tried a Goo Goo Cluster before or not, a stop at the Goo Goo Shop and Dessert Bar is perfect for all ages. It’s located just off Broadway, in an area known as SoBro.

In addition to sampling the featured treat, you can watch the clusters being made behind a glass wall. If chocolate and caramel isn’t your thing, they have retro candy, sodas and coffee available to purchase as well.

MCKAY’S BOOKS

If you’re looking for a new book to take to the park with you, or something to watch for a movie night at home, this is the place to go! McKAY’s is a large second hand store for books, movies and music. You can even find some gently loved electronics here too.

While the store is expansive, it’s very organized and well laid out, so you don’t have to spend hours sorting through bins. Their prices are so much better than retail.

They even have audio books for those summer road trips. If you’re looking to make a little money, you can bring in your own items and McKAY’s will give you an offer for anything they’d like to buy. They offer deals for trades too, what’s better than that??

NASHVILLE FARMERS MARKET

Located in north Nashville, the Nashville Farmers Market is a great place the whole family will enjoy visiting. The market is open everyday, with a variety of special events happening throughout the week.

Be sure to check their calendar for community celebrations, cooking classes, or the Night Market. Night Market takes place on the third Friday of every month, offering live music, family activities, food trucks and adult beverages.

Admission is free, so anything you spend on food or drinks is up to you. The Market House Restaurants and Shops offer everything from Chinese, to bbq, to Jamaican fare. It’s a fun, affordable place to taste flavors from around the world.

DOWNTOWN FRANKLIN

Visiting Downtown Franklin is like going back in time. It’s located about 20 miles south of Nashville, but it is well worth the drive. The city has done a tremendous job of preserving its small-town feel, while opening its doors to trendy boutiques, upscale home décor stores and fun restaurants.

One of the best perks is that ALL of the parking in downtown Franklin is free! One of our favorite places to go is the Franklin Theater. It has resided in downtown Franklin since 1937. The theater now offers live theater performance, live music, first run movies, as well as classic films.

One of my favorite Christmas memories was going to see White Christmas at the Franklin Theater with my husband as newlyweds. It was the perfect venue to watch such a classic movie, and the audience all stood and gave applause at the end, having enjoyed the experience so much.

Movie tickets range from $5-$7; beer and wine is available for purchase as well. Franklin is a don’t miss experience for any trip to Nashville!

We loved our time in Nashville once again. The renaissance that’s happening in the city means that every time we visit, there’s something new to discover. If you visit with friends or another family, you can find plenty of Airbnb’s to accommodate your group and save even more money. It’s truly a budget friendly, bustling city that appeals to both young and old.

MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO TENNESSEE

• YOUR TENNESSEE VACATION
• GETAWAY NASHVILLE: Unplug and Refresh at Nashville’s Newest Tiny Homes
• GRAND OLE OPRY: Visiting Gaylord Opryland Resort & The Famous Grand Ole Opry and Concert Hall With Kids
• MORE NASHVILLE: 35 Best Things To Do In Nashville With Kids
• WATERFALLS: 13 Amazing Waterfalls In Tennessee You Should Chase

WHERE TO STAY IN NASHVILLE

This post was originally submitted by Shana Hamrick, but has since been updated.