Where to Turn in Nashville: Your Guide to Music City

Truck drivers, musicians, music lovers, and more alike will have a grand ole (opry!) time in Nashville, Tennessee. Some would argue that Nashville–the capital of Tennessee and the capital of country music–is a great pit stop for truck drivers and those on road trips, and always a great end destination with how many sights to see and music to hear there is. But how can you decide what to do, what to see, and where to go? Below is your guide on where to turn in Nashville!

Why Stop in Nashville?

First, why should you stop in Nashville, TN, out of all the possible cities and stops? Nashville has been the state capitol almost since the very founding of Tennessee. While Tennessee became a state fairly quickly after the Revolutionary War (in 1796!), Nashville became its capital in 1843. With all of this history, there are many historical markers, monuments, tours, and spots to visit! But revolutionary and civil war history aren’t the only historical markers to make sure you see. 

As its name suggests, “the Music City” is filled with live music, museums, and historical musical monuments about music history’s most outstanding players–Elvis! Dolly Parton! Miley Cyrus! Taylor Swift! Nashville isn’t only famous for its country music relationship, though. With these incredible views and options, Nashville rakes in the tourism cash. In 2022 alone, the music city brought in approximately 8.8 billion dollars in revenue from tourism–a 13% increase from 2021. Of course, COVID-19 case numbers affect tourism even now, but with fewer restrictions, tourism will surely be on the rise. Keep reading to discover the best spots–historical and not–to explore while you’re in this historical and musical city.  

Nashville and Truck Driving

With its prime location next to the Atlantic states (Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware), mid-western states (including Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, etc.), southern states (Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia, etc.), and Gulf Coast states (Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, etc.), Tennessee is the perfect spot to reach so many other cities, transportation hubs, and demographics–which is why TDI has made Nashville one of its many homes. You can earn your CDL with TDI and explore the music city. With this perfect geographical connection, Tennessee can transport many different types of freight. The Tennessee truck driving industry includes medical supplies, medium and large engines for other vehicles and aircraft, cotton, surgical sutures, orthopedic supplies, small computers, whiskies, artificial joints and prostheses, and more. Another famous export is its musicians, of course!

Tennessee also has many highways to help its transportation industry. Tennessee roads include over 200,000 miles of road lanes and 1,100 miles of interstates. Considering this state is 42,144 square miles, that’s a lot of road. Tennessee is home to the Great Smoky Mountains and the Great Appalachian Valley. 

Nashville and the Music Scene

Now, what is more Tennessean than country music? Country music developed out of black folk music groups beginning in the late nineteenth century and becoming increasingly popular in the 1950s and 1960s. Funnily enough, an insurance company is why country music boomed and prospered so well in what is now known as the Music City. Thanks to National Life and Accident Insurance Company, one of the most popular country radio music stations came to be. This insurance company founded WSM (“We Shield Millions” after their insurance slogan) in 1925. A month later, National Life and Accident Insurance Company hired its announcer and program director, who then himself launched WSM Barn–which became what we know today as the Grand Ole Opry!

The Grand Ole Opry is considered the home, the motherland, of country music. Not only did it spread country music over the radio and help popularize it in the early twentieth century, but the building where WSM made its home hosted and debuted country–and in general–music hall of farmers, including:

• Hank Williams
• Patsy Cline 
• Loretta Lynn
• Willy Nelson
• Dolly Parton
• Elvis Presley
• Johnny Cash and June Carter
• Reba McIntire
• Vice Gill
• Alan Jackson
• Carrie Underwood
• And more!

Music Stops to Make

Where are the most important stops to make if you want to see famous music stops in Nashville? The Grand Ole Opry is a fantastic spot to see and feel music history in person and discover new live music, as this auditorium continues to host live music–even after it was almost devastated by flooding in 2010. But what else is there?

• Country Music Hall of Fame: This museum and hall host both permanent and rotating exhibits alike, such as exhibits on Kacey Musgraves, Taylor Swift, and Jewish Rodeo tailor designs. 
• Historic RCA Studio B: Talk about a historic room. RCA Studio B is where Elvis Presley recorded “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” and Dolly Parton recorded her iconic “I Will Always Love You,” which you probably know from Whitney Houston’s cover. 
• The Johnny Cash Museum
• Musicians Hall of Fame
• Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge: A Honky Tonk bar and lounge!

Other Fun Stops

But what about non-music or country-music-related places? Where to turn in Nashville, Tennessee? Below you’ll find other options if you want to discover and explore the many different faces of Nashville. 

• Loveless Motel and Cafe: This cafe is known for its delicious hot biscuits and Nashville ham. Although you can’t stay in the Loveless Motel–now a motel in name only–the previous motel rooms are now cute shops you can peruse and pick up a lovely (and hopefully not loveless!) souvenir. 
• Wildhorse Saloon: What’s more southern than line dancing?! At Wildhorse Saloon, you can learn and experience authentic line dancing, all while keeping refreshed and fun with their many drink and food options. 
• Loretta Lynn’s Ranch: Although she sadly passed away in 2022, Loretta Lynn–country music star–continues to influence her home of Nashville, TN. You can go camping, stay in a cabin, or just explore her former home–which was said to be haunted by a civil war soldier!

Are you looking to explore? 

If you want to explore the United States and get your country music groove on, contact us today to see how you can become a truck driver with Truck Driver Institute!