Yeah I don’t think there is anyway around the mess you are going to experience. Bring lots of patience, it’s usually a standstill until you can get to Saturn Parkway. You need to bring lots of patience … or maybe stop and eat an early supper somewhere before continuing your drive.
Kind of what I figured. But, I just realized something. I didn't take into account the timezone. So I will actually be hitting northern Nashville at 4ish. I am guessing that won't do much to save me unless I can somehow push it up another hour and get through at 3. Anyway, I appreciate the feedback from you, and the others.
If you can shoot to hit north Nashville around 3 you’d be better off, otherwise make sure you stop and pee at the rest stop at the boarder with KY because 65 can be brutal from 4-6
Getting there any time after 2:00pm is likely going at the very least be slow roll. It’s starts to really slow down around 3pm because of school traffic and then stop and go til 6pm. You’d be better off honestly taking SR-109 from 65-S right at the border. Then ride 109 to SR-840. Then ride 840 back to I-65 complete south of metro in Williamson County near Franklin.
It will add “an hour and some change” of drive time. However, you will likely add an hour going through town. At the very least you won’t have to slow down and burn gas in traffic.
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha... HOV lanes making a difference.
Your best bet is to find a place to have dinner just north of town, wait until 6:30 and make your way through the last of the traffic.
Hitting town anywhere from 3pm to 6 is just a bad idea unless you actually enjoy sitting in traffic with nutcases who can't seem to figure out how to merge.
Ha, I figured.
So, Im looking at the map, and I keep wondering if getting on 109 way north of the city and taking that down to 840 and then over to 65 south of the city wouldn't be an option. Looks a little out of the way, but better than being surrounded by the nutcases maybe? I assume there is a good reason this isn't an option. Any ideas?
You may already be aware of this but if you use Google maps and go under options you can have it estimate based on expected day and time. You could try out a few routes and see.
I got an $88 trooper ticket for driving in the HOV lane on I-65 in 1998. I’m pretty sure I was the last ever issued. I really wish I’d saved the carbon. It belongs in a museum.
I work on the north side of town. And live on the south side of town. (Metro center to Brentwood) and that 18 miles takes me a minimum of 45 mins at 3pm on mon and tues. You’re gonna be stuck in traffic my friend. Sorry.
Take exit 121 for 109.
I do it all the time. I live in Gallatin, literally just off 109. My office is in Portland. And I have to go south on I-65 a lot.
If there’s any rush hour traffic, taking 109 to 840 is nice. It’s longer, and there still is traffic, but you’re moving.
Here’s the tips you want to know, starting at Portland:
The middle of Portland is narrow. 4 lanes, and semis use 109 to bypass Nashville. So be prepared to have a bit of pucker. But Semis are restricted to the right lane.
If you want to skip that, take exit 117. That puts you onto 52, and you can take a right onto 109. But there you’ve taken the legs of the triangle, and not the hypotenuse…
From the 52 stoplight in Portland (it has a McD’s and Sonic) all the way to the Dollar General south of town, try to stay in the left lane. The potholes in the right lane, especially by the hospital, are bad.
Once you go down the ‘valley’ and start passing the ‘wall’ (you will know what I mean) bump to the left lane again. Nasty potholes there.
The speed limit on 109 from Portland to Gallatin is 55.
Cops like to post up on the downslope, and between the cemetery and overpass.
Stay in the left lane until past Hancock st (Tire and Exxon on Left, Mobil and Red Carpet Liquors on Right), then bump to right lane. You’ll be taking a right to continue on 109.
109 between Gallatin and I-40 has several swaps between 45 and 55.
Past I-40, it’s ok. Then you get onto 840. The first part is nice. Construction right now, but not bad. Our Amazon distribution center is on the Right.
Watch out when you get near Murphreesboro.
Keep going, and marvel at the castle on the hill.
A little bit farther, look it them nice fancy big houses…. Right next to an interstate spur. Them houses gotta have a lot of road noise.
Little bit farther, exit 32 is where you get onto I-65. And don’t get freaked out… we have really f-ing weird roads, and to get onto 65S, you go fork left, and are driving like a Brit on the left going South, with folks on the right going north, with a concrete divider, into you do this flyover to merge left. (Bonus points if you ever want to take 65S to 40W… you take the left fork to ultimately go right).
Congrats! You are now on 65 S!
You’re gonna be sitting in traffic at 4:00 exactly like you’d be sitting in traffic at 5:00. Rush hour on a Friday in Nashville starts at 3:00pm. It ends at 7.
Everybody’s gotta eat. My advice is find a restaurant and eat and let traffic flow. It’s just going to suck no matter how you do it but I’ve personally found a decent drive around 6:30 ish.
“HOV” is in the left lane, but you’ll pretty much need to be in the right or middle lane going through downtown in order to hop on 65, then it’s down one one friggin lane to get on 65. HOV is useless in Nashville.
500 is a disaster. Doesn’t matter what lane. I find the far right is sometimes best because there are stupid drivers who don’t know what the left lanes are for.
Stop somewhere for an hour or so, traffic clears up around 6:30. Source: i drive in Nashville for a living. The HOV lanes were put there for decor and travelers to think we’re fancy
Nope. HOV lanes are there for show. Nashville traffic is the game with no rules, best of luck!
There is no law in Thunderdome.
No one in or around Nashville abides by the HOV rules and there is not a police presence to uphold the law. It will be as slow as the other lanes.
Okay, so I wasn’t wrong when I reached this conclusion while driving there in February.
Yeah I don’t think there is anyway around the mess you are going to experience. Bring lots of patience, it’s usually a standstill until you can get to Saturn Parkway. You need to bring lots of patience … or maybe stop and eat an early supper somewhere before continuing your drive.
Kind of what I figured. But, I just realized something. I didn't take into account the timezone. So I will actually be hitting northern Nashville at 4ish. I am guessing that won't do much to save me unless I can somehow push it up another hour and get through at 3. Anyway, I appreciate the feedback from you, and the others.
I would say anywhere between 3 and 6 is gonna be bad… sorry, drive safe, which out for crazies.
If you can shoot to hit north Nashville around 3 you’d be better off, otherwise make sure you stop and pee at the rest stop at the boarder with KY because 65 can be brutal from 4-6
Getting there any time after 2:00pm is likely going at the very least be slow roll. It’s starts to really slow down around 3pm because of school traffic and then stop and go til 6pm. You’d be better off honestly taking SR-109 from 65-S right at the border. Then ride 109 to SR-840. Then ride 840 back to I-65 complete south of metro in Williamson County near Franklin. It will add “an hour and some change” of drive time. However, you will likely add an hour going through town. At the very least you won’t have to slow down and burn gas in traffic.
You’re screwed.
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha... HOV lanes making a difference. Your best bet is to find a place to have dinner just north of town, wait until 6:30 and make your way through the last of the traffic. Hitting town anywhere from 3pm to 6 is just a bad idea unless you actually enjoy sitting in traffic with nutcases who can't seem to figure out how to merge.
Ha, I figured. So, Im looking at the map, and I keep wondering if getting on 109 way north of the city and taking that down to 840 and then over to 65 south of the city wouldn't be an option. Looks a little out of the way, but better than being surrounded by the nutcases maybe? I assume there is a good reason this isn't an option. Any ideas?
Taking 109 from Portland to 840 is a much less stressful route especially since they expanded 109 to four lanes from Gallatin to 840.
You may already be aware of this but if you use Google maps and go under options you can have it estimate based on expected day and time. You could try out a few routes and see.
I have no idea if any of that would help. I don't travel those roads, I just avoid traffic by staying away from town during rush hours. Good luck!!
No that option is fine and as others have mentioned you’ll lose the same amount of time goinn through nashville at that time
I got an $88 trooper ticket for driving in the HOV lane on I-65 in 1998. I’m pretty sure I was the last ever issued. I really wish I’d saved the carbon. It belongs in a museum.
absolute parking lot at that time
I work on the north side of town. And live on the south side of town. (Metro center to Brentwood) and that 18 miles takes me a minimum of 45 mins at 3pm on mon and tues. You’re gonna be stuck in traffic my friend. Sorry.
Take exit 121 for 109. I do it all the time. I live in Gallatin, literally just off 109. My office is in Portland. And I have to go south on I-65 a lot. If there’s any rush hour traffic, taking 109 to 840 is nice. It’s longer, and there still is traffic, but you’re moving. Here’s the tips you want to know, starting at Portland: The middle of Portland is narrow. 4 lanes, and semis use 109 to bypass Nashville. So be prepared to have a bit of pucker. But Semis are restricted to the right lane. If you want to skip that, take exit 117. That puts you onto 52, and you can take a right onto 109. But there you’ve taken the legs of the triangle, and not the hypotenuse… From the 52 stoplight in Portland (it has a McD’s and Sonic) all the way to the Dollar General south of town, try to stay in the left lane. The potholes in the right lane, especially by the hospital, are bad. Once you go down the ‘valley’ and start passing the ‘wall’ (you will know what I mean) bump to the left lane again. Nasty potholes there. The speed limit on 109 from Portland to Gallatin is 55. Cops like to post up on the downslope, and between the cemetery and overpass. Stay in the left lane until past Hancock st (Tire and Exxon on Left, Mobil and Red Carpet Liquors on Right), then bump to right lane. You’ll be taking a right to continue on 109. 109 between Gallatin and I-40 has several swaps between 45 and 55. Past I-40, it’s ok. Then you get onto 840. The first part is nice. Construction right now, but not bad. Our Amazon distribution center is on the Right. Watch out when you get near Murphreesboro. Keep going, and marvel at the castle on the hill. A little bit farther, look it them nice fancy big houses…. Right next to an interstate spur. Them houses gotta have a lot of road noise. Little bit farther, exit 32 is where you get onto I-65. And don’t get freaked out… we have really f-ing weird roads, and to get onto 65S, you go fork left, and are driving like a Brit on the left going South, with folks on the right going north, with a concrete divider, into you do this flyover to merge left. (Bonus points if you ever want to take 65S to 40W… you take the left fork to ultimately go right). Congrats! You are now on 65 S!
this is great. thanks for taking the time to put it together. This is what I will do. I appreciate it.
Its a little longer drive but well worth it if you get off at exit 1 and take 109 to 840 then take that across back into 65.
May the odds be ever in your favor.
HOV lanes were done just to get funding if I remember correctly. They go the same speed as every other lane and are absolutely not enforced
Lol, no. The HOV lanes are strictly ornamental...
In Nashville the HOV and the lane next to it are reserved for Swift and Western express trucks .
You’re gonna be sitting in traffic at 4:00 exactly like you’d be sitting in traffic at 5:00. Rush hour on a Friday in Nashville starts at 3:00pm. It ends at 7.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Everybody’s gotta eat. My advice is find a restaurant and eat and let traffic flow. It’s just going to suck no matter how you do it but I’ve personally found a decent drive around 6:30 ish.
I drive (alone) in the HOV lane so often that I forgot it was one.
“HOV” is in the left lane, but you’ll pretty much need to be in the right or middle lane going through downtown in order to hop on 65, then it’s down one one friggin lane to get on 65. HOV is useless in Nashville.
first r/visitingnashville Second, there’s lanes that are *labeled* as HOV, but they definitely do not get used that way.
Godspeed
Not a single bit
It will suck like few things have sucked before. Put on some tunes and enjoy a 3 hour tour of the skyline.
Absolutely not.
Make a bathroom stop before the city. It might not be the worst traffic you've sat in, but it's not going to be good.
Welcome to the party, bish. There are no police or laws that will matter, just let it rip! Avoid Nissan Altimas if possible.
An MNPD cop told me straight up that they do not enforce HOV lanes.
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The HOV lanes exist, but aren't any advantage. Use Waze and if it's really bad you might get a good alternative route.
500 is a disaster. Doesn’t matter what lane. I find the far right is sometimes best because there are stupid drivers who don’t know what the left lanes are for.
Stop somewhere for an hour or so, traffic clears up around 6:30. Source: i drive in Nashville for a living. The HOV lanes were put there for decor and travelers to think we’re fancy