If you’re in Atlanta and wondering how long a flight from Atlanta to Nashville takes, the good news is: it’s one of the shortest and easiest trips you can make by air from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Most nonstop flights from Atlanta (ATL) to Nashville (BNA) take about:
Because you’re flying between two major Southern cities that are relatively close together, it’s often quicker to fly than to drive, especially if you’re already near the airport in Atlanta.
For a nonstop, direct flight:
You’ll usually spend more time boarding, taxiing, and deplaning than you do actually cruising in the air.
Even on such a short route, several factors can change the total time:
For planning your day, it’s safer to think of it as about 2.5–3 hours door-to-door from arriving at ATL to stepping out of Nashville International Airport, not counting your trip to and from each airport.
| Item | Typical Range / Info |
|---|---|
| Nonstop flight time (air) | ~45–60 minutes |
| Scheduled gate-to-gate | ~1:00–1:15 hours |
| Distance (ATL–BNA) | About 215–250 miles by air |
| Time zone difference | None – both in Central Time part of the year (Nashville) and Eastern Time (Atlanta) – check when comparing arrival times |
| Major Atlanta airport | Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) |
| Nashville airport | Nashville International Airport (BNA) |
| Typical check-in lead time | 1.5–2 hours before departure for domestic flights |
Note: Atlanta is in the Eastern Time Zone, while Nashville is in the Central Time Zone. This means your watch will “go back” one hour when you land, so sometimes your arrival time may look closer to your departure time than you expect.
If you’re deciding whether to fly or drive from Atlanta to Nashville, the travel time is a big factor.
Flying is usually faster if:
Driving can be appealing if:
Most flights will depart from:
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
6000 N Terminal Pkwy
Atlanta, GA 30320
Main info line: (800) 897-1910
ATL is a major hub, so flights to Nashville are frequent, especially in the morning and late afternoon.
You’ll land at:
Nashville International Airport (BNA)
1 Terminal Dr
Nashville, TN 37214
BNA is a relatively easy airport to navigate, which helps keep the deplaning and pickup process quick.
Even though the flight itself is short, you should still treat it like any other domestic trip.
For flights from ATL to BNA:
Security wait times at Hartsfield–Jackson can vary a lot, especially:
You can depart for Nashville from:
If you’re taking MARTA to the airport, it drops you directly at the Domestic Terminal, which often saves time versus driving and parking.
For people living in or visiting Atlanta, factor in:
This is how a 45-minute flight can realistically turn into 3–4 hours of total travel time door-to-door.
Because Atlanta (Eastern Time) is one hour ahead of Nashville (Central Time):
Keep this in mind when planning meetings, concerts, or events in Nashville the day you arrive.
On such a short hop, comfort and convenience matter more than in-flight entertainment:
If you’re based in Atlanta or staying in-town:
For official transit information, you can contact:
MARTA Customer Information Center
+1 (404) 848-5000
From an Atlanta traveler’s perspective, flying is often worth it if:
On the other hand, if:
then the 4–5 hour drive from metro Atlanta to Nashville can be a realistic and flexible option.
In summary, a flight from Atlanta to Nashville typically takes about 45–60 minutes in the air, with scheduled times of around 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. When planning your trip from Atlanta, think in terms of 2.5–3 hours total travel time from ATL to BNA once you include check-in, security, boarding, and arrival—still much shorter than the drive for many travelers.
