Is a show at the Grand Ole Opry included in this schedule?

No. The timed plan focuses on daytime family museums and outdoor parks instead of an evening performance; adding an Opry show would require substituting one of the main ticketed activities and confirming family seating separately.

Does this plan include entering The Parthenon?

No. The stop at Centennial Park covers viewing the full-scale exterior replica and walking the surrounding grounds; museum entry into the interior is omitted to keep the daily schedule balanced.

When is a rental car necessary during the trip?

You will pick up the rental car at Nashville International Airport upon arrival, leave it parked during day one's downtown walking route, and use it to reach Adventure Science Center, Centennial Park, Midtown, and the Nashville Zoo.

What alternative dinner spots are suggested for families?

On the first evening downtown, The Southern Steak & Oyster serves as an alternative to Puckett's, while Cook Out on West End Avenue provides a drive-up alternative to Hattie B's Hot Chicken in Midtown.

Where are bags kept after checking out on the final day?

You check out of the downtown hotel before morning breakfast, loading luggage securely into the rental car trunk before driving south to the zoo, Whitfield Park, and the airport car return.

Neon honky-tonk signs along Broadway in Nashville

Photo: mana5280 / Unsplash

Sample itinerary · 3 days

3-Day Nashville Itinerary with Kids

Introduce the kids to Music City with hands-on science, animal encounters, and approachable Southern comfort food.

Going to: Nashville, Tennessee
Length: 3 days
Travelers: Families
Trip total: $1,871–$3,578

$1,871–$3,578

The total covers flights from Chicago, Illinois, lodging, getting around and tickets and tours for the whole party, plus food, gas and parking estimated in the breakdown below.

Things to do

Rental pickup · Nashville International Airport (Day 1)
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (Day 1)
Riverfront Park (Day 1)
Adventure Science Center (Day 2)
Centennial Park (Day 2)
The Parthenon · Exterior (Day 2)
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere (Day 3)
Whitfield Park (Day 3)
Rental car return · Nashville International Airport (Day 3)

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Why this plan works

An early arrival leaves room for one substantial music museum visit, a restorative hotel break, and an easy downtown evening on foot.

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8:00 AM
Southwest Airlines · MDW → BNA
8:00 AM
A morning nonstop preserves an unhurried afternoon; both cities use Central Time.
Book ahead · Fares typically open ~11 months out and are usually cheapest 2–4 months ahead
Target Southwest nonstop MDW 08:00 → BNA 09:30; confirm actual flight times before booking and arrive two hours before departure; grab breakfast at Midway's Dunkin'.
10:15 AM
Rental pickup · Nashville International Airport
10:15 AM
One vehicle handles the family comfortably and supports the science center and zoo days.
Book ahead · Tours this size often sell out weeks ahead — confirm the operator's group policy
Collect one midsize SUV for four people and luggage; confirm whether your younger child's height and age require a booster.
11:00 AM
Drive · Nashville International Airport → Downtown
11:00 AM
Leaving the car parked avoids repeated downtown parking searches.
Allow 35 minutes to reach the hotel, then park once for the downtown portion; confirm overnight parking charges with the property.
11:35 AM
Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville-Downtown
11:35 AM
One room with two queen beds accommodates four within a short walk of the museum.
Book ahead · Rooms usually open ~12 months out; book 2–3 months ahead for choice
Drop bags and request a two-queen room; confirm an operating pool before purchase, since this property is suitable only if that essential amenity is available.
11:55 AM
Walk · Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville-Downtown → Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint
11:55 AM
A nearby lunch keeps the family fed before the museum.
Walk approximately five minutes along downtown sidewalks to lunch.
12:00 PM
Lunch · Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint
12:00 PM
Barbecue and flexible sides offer a low-effort Southern introduction for both kids.
Choose pulled pork, chicken, and familiar Southern sides; check current lunch hours and allow extra time if there is a line.
1:00 PM
Walk · Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint → Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
1:00 PM
The short connection keeps most of the afternoon indoors.
Allow ten minutes for the walk and street crossings, with another few minutes to find the entrance.
1:15 PM
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
1:15 PM
Tangible objects make country-music history approachable for school-age children while avoiding June's midday exposure.
Book ahead · Timed-entry slots typically release 30–60 days ahead; weekends book out first
Focus on instruments, stage outfits, and recording history; check current hours, ticket prices, and available family materials before committing to your flight schedule.
3:15 PM
Walk · Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum → Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville-Downtown
3:15 PM
The nearby base makes a real recovery break practical.
Walk back to collect your room keys and bags.
3:25 PM
Room break · Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville-Downtown
3:25 PM
A substantial pause offsets the early flight and typically warm, humid June afternoon.
Complete check-in, unpack essentials, and cool down in your room; confirm the property's check-in timing before travel.
4:45 PM
Walk · Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville-Downtown → Riverfront Park
4:45 PM
The river is close enough for an easy outing without retrieving the car.
Take approximately 15 minutes via downtown sidewalks, using signalized crossings near Broadway.
5:00 PM
Riverfront Park
5:00 PM
An easy outdoor counterpoint gives the kids movement after the museum without another admission.
Take a short Cumberland River stroll with water and shade breaks; check the forecast and leave promptly if thunderstorms approach.
5:35 PM
Walk · Riverfront Park → Puckett's Restaurant
5:35 PM
A generous walking allowance avoids rushing younger legs before dinner.
Allow 20 minutes for the gradual uphill walk toward Church Street; choosing the dinner alternative instead requires about 15 minutes toward Third Avenue South.
6:00 PM
Dinner · Puckett's Restaurant
6:00 PM
A relaxed dinner gives the family time to reconnect after the early travel start.
Make this your unhurried Southern dinner with comfort-food mains and familiar sides; confirm current hours and seating for four before heading over.
7:15 PM
Walk · Puckett's Restaurant → Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville-Downtown
7:15 PM
An early return protects everyone's energy for tomorrow's science visit.
Allow 20 minutes back to the hotel; if you chose The Southern Steak & Oyster, the return walk is approximately ten minutes.

If you fall behind

If arrival runs late, cut Riverfront Park rather than rush the museum or dinner.

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Bookings & costs

$1,871–$3,578

0 of 7 bookable items booked

Food not included: about $530, listed below

0 of 7 bookable items booked

Locked in

paid or reserved

Still to book

$2,550

est. $1,740–$3,360 · 7 items

Gas & parking

$170

est. $131–$218

Booked prices are exact. Everything else is an estimate.

Know before you go

Practical notes for this trip — the things worth sorting before you leave.

Booking windows & timing

Before booking Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville-Downtown, confirm an operating pool and a room configuration suitable for all four travelers. Check parking charges too, since the rental car will sit while you explore downtown on foot.
Time-sensitiveHampton Inn & Suites Nashville-Downtown
Check current hours and ticket prices for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Adventure Science Center and Nashville Zoo before choosing flights. Keep arrival early enough for the museum and departure late enough for an unhurried zoo visit plus airport procedures.
Time-sensitive
If the Grand Ole Opry is essential, check the performance calendar and confirm show times and family seating before changing the plan. Treat it as a replacement for a major attraction, not an extra promise on an already full day.
Time-sensitive
Check Puckett’s current dinner hours and how it accommodates a table of four before relying on it for the sit-down meal. The Southern Steak & Oyster is only a workable alternative if its hours, menu and availability suit the same slot.
Time-sensitivePuckett's Restaurant

Getting around & driving

Use the rental car for Adventure Science Center, Centennial Park and the zoo, but walk between the downtown stops. Check Tennessee child-restraint requirements against each child’s age and height, and request any needed booster with the rental.
On departure day, check out before the zoo and keep luggage concealed before parking. Skip Whitfield Park if time tightens, allowing for traffic, refueling, rental return and arrival at the airport about two hours before departure.

Weather & packing

June is typically hot and humid, with thunderstorms possible; keep the zoo in the morning and preserve the second day’s early-afternoon pool or rest break. Carry water and sun protection, and leave exposed park areas if thunder develops.

Crowds & timing

At Hattie B’s on 19th Avenue South, confirm current hours and allow a flexible dinner window for a possible line. Ask about the mildest or non-spicy options for the kids rather than assuming a familiar heat label will feel mild.
Hattie B's Hot Chicken
The Parthenon stop is an exterior visit within Centennial Park, not a museum admission. Check park access and weather before heading west; adding the interior would change the day’s ticketed-attraction plan.

Want this trip on your dates?

Make this yours — free, no account, no card.

Plan a trip like this

Questions about this plan

Is a show at the Grand Ole Opry included in this schedule?: No. The timed plan focuses on daytime family museums and outdoor parks instead of an evening performance; adding an Opry show would require substituting one of the main ticketed activities and confirming family seating separately.
Does this plan include entering The Parthenon?: No. The stop at Centennial Park covers viewing the full-scale exterior replica and walking the surrounding grounds; museum entry into the interior is omitted to keep the daily schedule balanced.
When is a rental car necessary during the trip?: You will pick up the rental car at Nashville International Airport upon arrival, leave it parked during day one's downtown walking route, and use it to reach Adventure Science Center, Centennial Park, Midtown, and the Nashville Zoo.
What alternative dinner spots are suggested for families?: On the first evening downtown, The Southern Steak & Oyster serves as an alternative to Puckett's, while Cook Out on West End Avenue provides a drive-up alternative to Hattie B's Hot Chicken in Midtown.
Where are bags kept after checking out on the final day?: You check out of the downtown hotel before morning breakfast, loading luggage securely into the rental car trunk before driving south to the zoo, Whitfield Park, and the airport car return.