How to Prepare for the Summer Traffic Influx in Nashville, Tennessee
May 27, 2025
Why is There so Much traffic in Nashville, TN?
Summer is coming, and that means one thing for Nashvillians: Traffic is going to swell. While Nashville already has the 11th worst traffic in the US, the summer months show a spike in travel times and number of cars on the road. Summer festivals, tourist traffic, construction projects, and road trippers passing through add to Nashville’s tendency for high traffic and long commute times, leaving locals and travelers wondering, is there a way to get around the crazy amount of traffic in Nashville?
In The Article
What are the Busiest Months in Nashville?
June, July, and August tend to be the busiest months for Nashville, as summer kicks off and more festivals and events get underway. You may think that Nashvillians should be used to this type of influx; however, the traffic is growing (it’s not just your imagination). In 2024, Nashville events such as “Let Freedom Sing! Music City” and “CMA Fest” brought in a a record number of people.
Although festivals are hot attractions for the city, June, July, and August are also peak months for construction, leading to lane closures and slower commute times.
When Should You Avoid Traffic in Nashville?
Visiting or commuting in Nashville is “one of those things” that you just must bear when you’re driving in the city. Unfortunately, there is no “good time” to drive into the city. Construction goes on throughout the nighttime hours, and lane closures are set throughout the days. Weekend traffic and weekday traffic both carry heavy congestive loads. Events happen throughout the week.
Luckily, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced that it would not have lane closures for Memorial Day Weekend, 2025, but there has been no word on reducing lane closures throughout the rest of the summer months or for other events.
How to Avoid Traffic in Nashville
A simple answer might be to encourage you to use public transportation. However, one of the biggest issues Nashvillians have when it comes to their commutes is the fact that public transportation is weak, at best. The area only offers three morning trains and three afternoon trains, the latest arriving at the station and 5:40PM, and one of these trains doesn’t even reach all of the stations. Commuters can plan a route using connecting bus services, but it becomes cumbersome to travelers who have to take these commutes daily.
When you compare the public transportation in Nashville to larger cities, like Chicago and New York (both of which still have high levels of congestion and traffic), Nashville’s public transport system is virtually non-existent for both tourism and vehicle traffic.
The best thing you can do, whether you’re a daily commuter or a visitor, is to plan your trips very carefully. Use the public transportation systems as much as possible, even if you have to spend an extra hour mapping out train and bus routes, it could save you several hours in the long run. If you’re driving, use tools from TDOT to help you adjust your drive in the moment.
Why is Condensed Traffic Dangerous?
More cars in a tighter area means a higher chance of collisions. Even if you’re going at slower speeds, rear-end collisions while in traffic can cause injuries and damage to your vehicle. With people in a rush to get to appointments, work, and events, stress on the roadways increases, and can lead to people making poor judgement calls while driving.
If you’ve been in a fender bender in Nashville, contact the Nashville accident lawyers who get it done. Call Hughes & Coleman today, 800-800-4600.
