How Far Is Nashville From Atlanta? Your Complete Distance and Travel Guide

Planning a trip between Atlanta, Georgia and Nashville, Tennessee is very common for locals, visitors, and people moving between the two cities. Whether you’re heading to Nashville for a weekend from Atlanta or trying to understand the best way to get from Nashville to Atlanta, it helps to know how far it is, how long it takes, and the best ways to travel.

The Distance From Atlanta to Nashville at a Glance

The distance between Atlanta and Nashville depends slightly on your route and travel mode, but here’s the basic picture:

By road (most common route):

• Atlanta to Nashville distance: about 250–260 miles
• Typical drive time: around 4 to 4.5 hours in normal traffic
• Main route:I‑75 North → I‑24 West, connecting near Chattanooga

Many people in Atlanta think of Nashville as a long but manageable day trip or an easy weekend road trip, especially compared with longer drives to Florida or the Carolina coast.

Driving From Atlanta to Nashville

For most people in Atlanta, driving is the simplest and most flexible way to get to Nashville.

Main Driving Route

If you’re leaving from Downtown Atlanta (near Five Points or the State Capitol), a common route is:

1. Take I‑75 / I‑85 North out of central Atlanta.
2. Continue on I‑75 North toward Chattanooga.
3. Near Chattanooga, merge onto I‑24 West toward Nashville.
4. Stay on I‑24 West all the way into Downtown Nashville.

This route is roughly 250 miles and usually takes about 4 hours in light traffic, up to 5 hours or more if traffic is heavy or weather is poor.

What to Expect on the Drive

You’ll pass through or near:

• Marietta and Kennesaw as you head out of metro Atlanta
• Calhoun and Dalton in northwest Georgia
• Chattanooga, Tennessee, a common stop for food, gas, or a short break
• Then up through middle Tennessee into Nashville

Traffic can be heavier:

• Leaving Atlanta on weekday mornings and late afternoons
• Around Chattanooga, especially where interstates converge
• Approaching Nashville, particularly during rush hours or special events

If you’re used to Atlanta’s interstates, the drive will feel familiar: mostly multi‑lane highways with a mix of city, suburban, and mountain‑edge driving.

Approximate Driving Time vs. Distance

Flying From Atlanta to Nashville

If you’re already in Atlanta, you have access to one of the busiest airports in the world, which makes flying to Nashville straightforward.

Distance and Flight Time

• Air distance: roughly 215–230 miles between Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Nashville International Airport (BNA)
• Typical nonstop flight time: about 1 to 1.5 hours in the air

However, when you factor in:

• Getting to ATL
• Parking or transit time
• Security screening
• Boarding and deplaning
• Travel from BNA into Nashville

… the door‑to‑door time from central Atlanta to central Nashville can easily reach 3.5 to 5 hours, which is often similar to driving.

When Flying Makes Sense

Flying between Atlanta and Nashville can be helpful if:

• You’re already at or near ATL (for example, making a connecting flight).
• You prefer not to drive long distances.
• You’re traveling for business and want a quick flight rather than a long drive.

Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

• Location: Just south of downtown Atlanta, off I‑75 and I‑85
• Accessible from MARTA’s Airport Station on the Red and Gold lines

If you’re staying in Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead, MARTA often offers the most predictable way to reach ATL without worrying about traffic or parking.

Bus and Other Ground Transportation Options

If you don’t want to drive yourself, there are bus options between Atlanta and Nashville that follow a route similar to the highway drive.

Intercity Bus Services

Typical features:

• Departures from bus stations or central locations in Atlanta, often near Downtown or close to MARTA connections
• Routes that use I‑75 North and I‑24 West
• Travel time of about 4.5 to 6.5 hours, depending on:
  • Number of stops
  • Time of day
  • Traffic conditions

Buses can be a budget-friendly option if you:

• Don’t have a car in Atlanta
• Prefer not to drive long distances
• Are comfortable with a fixed schedule and set pick‑up/drop‑off points

Using MARTA to Connect to Bus or Airport

If you’re in metro Atlanta without a car:

• MARTA Rail can connect you from:
  • Downtown (Five Points)
  • Midtown (Arts Center, Midtown stations)
  • Buckhead
  • Parts of Decatur and other areas
• …to the Airport Station at ATL or central bus departure locations, depending on where your ticket instructs you to arrive.

Checking bus departure locations and nearby MARTA stations ahead of time can help reduce confusion, especially if you’re not familiar with Downtown streets.

Comparing Travel Options From Atlanta to Nashville

If you live in or are visiting Atlanta and trying to decide how to get to Nashville, it often comes down to time, comfort, and flexibility.

1. Driving

Best for:

• Flexibility with departure time
• Making stops along the way (Chattanooga, scenic overlooks, food breaks)
• Groups or families traveling together

Pros:

• Leave when you want
• Easy to carry luggage and personal items
• Straightforward highway route from Atlanta

Cons:

• You handle all the driving and traffic
• Gas, potential tolls (depending on your route), and parking in Nashville

2. Flying

Best for:

• Travelers already using Atlanta’s airport for other flights
• People who strongly prefer flying over highway driving

Pros:

• Short actual flight time
• Familiar experience for frequent fliers

Cons:

• Airport arrival early for security
• Travel from Atlanta to ATL, and from BNA into Nashville
• Often similar total travel time to driving, depending on your starting point in metro Atlanta

3. Bus

Best for:

• Budget‑minded travelers
• People in Atlanta without a car
• Those comfortable with a longer but lower‑effort ride

Pros:

• No driving stress
• Fixed cost, often cheaper than flying and sometimes cheaper than driving solo

Cons:

• Set schedules and bus stations
• Longer total travel time than driving yourself in many cases

Practical Tips for Atlanta Travelers Heading to Nashville

A few Atlanta‑specific considerations can make your trip smoother.

Plan Around Atlanta Traffic

From within metro Atlanta, your departure time can drastically change how long it takes to just get out of the city.

• 🚗 Avoid leaving Atlanta:
  • Weekday mornings (roughly 6:30–9:30 a.m.)
  • Weekday afternoons (roughly 3:30–7:00 p.m.)
• If possible, aim for:
  • Late morning departures (after peak rush)
  • Early afternoon departures

Getting past Marietta and Kennesaw on I‑75 can be a bottleneck during commuter times.

Factor in Nashville Traffic at Arrival

Nashville, like Atlanta, has:

• Highway congestion near downtown
• Slowdowns during rush hours and major events

If you’re traveling for a concert, sports event, or festival, assume heavier traffic near your arrival time and plan some buffer.

Which Part of Atlanta Are You Starting From?

Your real‑world door‑to‑door time varies depending on where you are in the Atlanta area:

• From Downtown/Midtown Atlanta:
  • Usually the shortest drive time, close to the interstates.
• From Eastside areas (Decatur, Stone Mountain, Tucker):
  • Expect extra time getting over to I‑75/I‑85, especially during rush hours.
• From Southside (College Park, East Point, Jonesboro):
  • You may need to navigate I‑285 to reach I‑75 North, so allow more time.
• From North Metro (Alpharetta, Roswell, Cumming):
  • You’re already closer to I‑75/I‑575, but you may still experience commuter traffic depending on the time of day.

When people say the drive from “Atlanta to Nashville” is about 4 hours, they usually mean from close to central Atlanta. If you’re farther out in the suburbs, add extra time to reach the main interstate.

Key Takeaways for Atlanta–Nashville Distance

• The driving distance from Atlanta to Nashville is typically around 250–260 miles, mostly via I‑75 North and I‑24 West.
• Expect about 4 to 4.5 hours of drive time under normal conditions, longer with rush‑hour or event traffic.
• The air distance is roughly 215–230 miles, with 1–1.5 hours in the air, but total travel time is similar to driving once you include airport steps.
• You can travel by car, bus, or plane, depending on your budget, schedule, and comfort with driving.
• From an Atlanta perspective, Nashville is far enough to feel like a real trip, but close enough for a long day trip or an easy weekend getaway.

This gives you a clear sense of how far Nashville is from Atlanta and what to expect when planning your trip from here.