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Hop On Hop Off Nashville Bus Tours

Which Bus Tours Are Best?

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Updated: February 15, 2024

This post covers the best Nashville bus tours, including hop-on-hop-off bus tours, night tours, minibus tours, and tips for finding deals on tickets.

This post was written with information from our local tour guides in Nashville who are familiar with the tours. They speak to guests on our tours about their experiences with bus tours in the city.


NASHVILLE HOP-ON-HOP-OFF TROLLEY TOURS

The following section provides information about each of the hop-on-hop-off trolley tours available in Nashville.

These services make stops at popular sites around the city, allowing you to hop off and explore at your leisure.


Old Town Trolley

Old Town Trolley provides 15 stops throughout Nashville, each in the same general area as the Music City Hop service.

While moving around the city at your own pace, a professional guide will provide interesting narration and historical information about the city.

The following architectural landmarks can be reached from this trolley tour:

  • Hard Rock Cafe
  • The Parthenon
  • RCA Studio B
  • Ryman Auditorium
  • The Military Museum
  • Patsy Cline Museum
  • Musicians Hall of Fame
  • Music City Walk of Fame
  • Country Music Hall of Fame
  • Belmont Mansion
  • Farmers' Market
  • Centennial Park
  • Capitol View
  • Music Row
  • The Gulch

Admission to some of these landmarks is included with combo tickets from Old Town Trolley and other services.

Check our money-saving deals section below for more information about these opportunities.


1-Day Tour

  • Ticket Price (may vary by month/day):
    • Peak Season $57.45/Adults | $22.95/Children (age 4-12) | Children under 4 ride free
    • Off-peak season $47.54/Adults | $22.95/Children (age 4-12) | Children under 4 ride free
  • Availability: Daily

2-Day Tour

  • Ticket Price (may vary by month/day):
    • Peak Season $104.77/Adults | $50.15/Children (age 4-12) | Children under 4 ride free
    • Off-peak season $85.22/Adults | $45.90/Children (age 4-12) | Children under 4 ride free
  • Availability: Daily

Purchase One or Two Day tickets here.

Old Town Trolley tours are included with the Music City Total Access Pass. This money-saving service gives you admission to 2 popular locations and 4 attractions of your choice.

Alternatively, you can also save money on this activity by using the Nashville Explorer Pass. For more details, read our post about Nashville tourist passes.

NOTE: While they don't offer refunds on reserved tickets, this company does allow you to reschedule your tour up to 24 hours before the ticket is validated.

One thing they do offer is a guarantee of satisfaction, so if you have any issues, make sure to contact their customer service. In some cases, they may even issue a full refund!

Hours of Operation

  • 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
  • Reduced hours on Veterans Day, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve
  • Closed on Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and during the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, typically at the end of April.

How long is the Nashville Trolley Tour?

The full length of the fully narrated tour is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, which means you should be able to hop off and enjoy great photo ops at iconic places, and then hop back on to continue enjoying the live commentary.

How often does the Nashville Trolley stop?

The frequency of each stop depends upon a variety of factors including the time of year, the weather, traffic, and more. That said, even unkind TripAdvisor reviews indicate that they make stops every 15-30 minutes on average.

All we would suggest is to add another 5-10 minutes to those numbers if you want a more realistic idea of what to expect on a busier day.


Music City Hop (Gray Line)

This company has a total of 15 stops and they offer free pickups from the Music Valley Area.

As you travel around the city, your driver will provide details about more than 100 points of interest.

Here are some of the stops included on this Trolley Tour:

  • Ryman Auditorium
  • Johnny Cash Museum
  • Tennessee State Capitol
  • Bicentennial Park
  • Country Music Hall of Fame
  • Musicians Hall of Fame
  • Grammy Museum

Ticket Details

  • $39.95/Adults | $29.95/Children
  • Availability: Daily
  • Hours: 9 am - 5 pm
  • Not currently available as of February 2024.

NIGHT BUS TOURS

This section will provide information about each of the night bus tours available in Nashville.

There are several notable locations on Broadway and other downtown areas that are well-lit after the sun goes down.

If you want to see a different side of the city, the following companies offer a bus tour after dark.


Old Town Trolley

In addition to their hop-on-hop-off trolley day tours, this company also offers what they call the Soul of Music City Night Tour.

Although you won’t have the chance to jump off at your leisure, they do include a few opportunities to get off the bus and take a look around.

One of these stops is at a live music venue which will provide complimentary beverages to all passengers.

There will also be a stop at the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge where you’ll be able to walk across and enjoy excellent views of the city.

This tour is about 2 hours long.

  • Ticket Price: $44.57 per person
  • Availability: Nightly at 7 pm
  • Additional tours are offered on Saturdays at 4:30 pm
  • Departure Point: Marathon Motor Works at 1200 Clinton Street
  • Purchase tickets or learn more.

You can save money on this tour by purchasing it in combination with the hop-on-hop-off Old Town Trolley tour.

For more details, please check our money-saving deals section below.


Music City Hop (Gray Line)

Unlike their daily hop-on-hop-off trolley tour, this service will not allow you to jump off at your leisure.

That being said, you will have the opportunity to get off the trolley for photo ops at sites like the Parthenon, Riverfront Park, Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, and the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge.

This tour is approximately 2 hours in length.

  • Ticket Prices: $44.95/Adults | $22.50/Children
  • Availability: Thu/Fri/Sat at 7:30 pm
  • Departure Point: Riverfront Train Station
  • Purchase tickets or learn more.

CELEBRITY BUS TOURS

The following section will detail all of the Nashville bus tours that cover celebrity homes and notable filming locations.

Music City attracts several famous musicians and even movie stars, so there are quite a few sites to see on these tours.

Celebrity Homes Tour (Gray Line)

There are a lot of famous people living in Nashville, and this bus tour will take you around the city to see some of the most notable homes.

Whether you’re a movie buff or you love music, chances are there will be at least a few locations of interest on this 3 ½ hour trip.


SPECIALTY BUS TOURS

In the following section, we will cover the best specialty bus tours offered in Nashville.

These tours either focus on a specific subject or cater to a particular audience.

Whether you’re looking for a laugh or feel like partying, these specialty bus tours should do the trick.


Nashville City Tour (Gray Line)

Gray Line also provides a shorter double-decker bus tour that covers all of the major sites in Nashville.

Although you won’t be able to jump on and off at your leisure, this service will only take 1 hour to enjoy and you’ll see more than 100 points of interest.

  • Ticket Price: $39.95/Adults | $29.95/Children
  • Availability: Several departures daily
  • See the most historic and popular sites
  • Purchase tickets or learn more.

Even though the ticket price is already very affordable, you can still get free admission by using the Nashville Sightseeing Pass.

For additional information, make sure to check our money-saving deals section below.


Redneck Comedy Bus Tour

This isn’t your average bus tour!

Although you will go sightseeing and see a lot of notable locations, you’ll be doing it on an old school bus that looks like it’s been sitting in your grandma’s backyard for a few decades.

You’ll also have redneck tour guides with a sense of humor who provide a funny and entertaining look at the city.

  • Ticket Prices: $40/Adults | $35/Seniors | $30/Children
  • Availability: Daily at 11 am & 2 pm
  • Additional tour at 4 pm on Saturdays
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Purchase tickets or learn more.

The Redneck Comedy Bus Tour is included with the Music City Total Access Pass.

If you want to learn more about how this tourist pass works, see our money-saving deals section below for more details.


Music City Rollin’ Jamboree

If you’re looking for a completely different kind of bus tour, this is one of the best in Nashville.

The Music City Rollin’ Jamboree includes live performances from onboard tour guides who do improv, comedy, and even sing-along activities.

As such, you should plan on participating in the fun, but they don’t want any disruptions.

Note: This tour includes adult themes, so children are not allowed.

  • Ticket Price: $49.68
  • Availability: Weekdays at 11:30 am & 1:30 pm
  • Must be 21 or older due to adult themes
  • Duration: 1 ½ hours
  • Purchase tickets or learn more.

Honky Tonk Express Party Bus

Described as “Mardi Gras Meets Nashville,” this open-air party bus will take you on an adventure around the city while pumping music through an excellent sound system.

This bus has a large bar with plenty of drinks to choose from and a big LED-lit dance floor on board.

Combine your sightseeing journey with an all-out party when you hop on the Honky Tonk Express!

  • Ticket Price: $56.42
  • Minimum of 10 guests
  • Availability: Several departures from Wed-Sun
  • Must be 21 or older due to bar and adult themes
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Purchase tickets or learn more.

NOTE: As of February 2024, this service is only available as a private tour. That said, if you're planning to go on the Honky Tonk Express with a group of friends, the price per person will likely be close to their usual ticket prices.


Jack Daniel's Distillery Bus Tour | Tennessee Whiskey Tours

If you've ever wanted to visit the Jack Daniel's Distillery, this tour is an excellent way to visit and experience the historic site for yourself.

In addition to providing transportation via bus, this company also offers admission to the distillery and a guided tour.

You can also look forward to a 1.5-hour visit to Lynchburg, where you can grab a bite to eat.

Since this is a distillery, there will be whiskey tastings, and as a result, it is only intended for tourists over the age of 21.

This outing will take approximately 7 hours to enjoy.


Music City Brew Hop

This hop-on hop-off bus tour will take you to all the most famed breweries in Nashville over an entire day.

Trolleys pass by every hour, giving you plenty of time to explore each location.

Although this is a bus tour that focuses on breweries, they do have tickets for children.

Just keep in mind that you need to be 21 or over to drink any alcohol.

This bus tour will make stops at the following locations:

  • Omni Nashville Hotel
  • Crazy Gnome Brewery
  • Tailgate Brewery East Nashville
  • Southern Grist Brewing Company - East Nashville Taproom
  • East Nashville Beer Works
  • Bearded Iris Brewing
  • Barrique Brewing and Blending

If you're concerned about being able to visit every brewery included in just one day, consider getting a 2-day pass instead!

  • 1-Day Ticket: $39/Adults | $10/Children
  • 2-Day Ticket: $65/Adults | $10/Children
  • Availability: Friday - Sunday
  • Duration: 7 hours (12 pm - 7 pm)
  • Purchase tickets or learn more.

NOTE: This tour is included with the Music City Total Access Pass. Check out the money-saving deals section below for more details!


Monster Truck City Tour | Joyride Tours

If you want to experience Nashville in the most southern way possible, it's hard to beat rolling around the city in a monster truck!

This 90-minute tour will cover the history and culture of the city, and you can expect to see all the most notable sites as well.

While everyone else is traveling around the city in a bus, you'll be throwing caution to the wind in the bed of a huge truck named Cowboy. Yes, the truck's name is 'Cowboy.'


Nashville Tractor Tour

If you thought it would be crazy to ride through Nashville on the back of a monster truck, how does a tractor sound?

Is there anything more southern than a tractor tour?

Before you get too confused, rest assured that the tractor pulls a specially designed-trailer that allows you to get a good look at the city in comfort.

This 75-minute tour is an excellent alternative to some of the other outings in Nashville, and while it's not technically a bus tour, we figure it's close enough.


Nashville TV Show Tour (Gray Line)

In addition to all of the celebrities that live here, this city also became home to the hit television show Nashville in 2012.

Fans of the series will be happy to hear that this bus tour covers a lot of notable setting locations including Two Old Hippies, The Bluebird Cafe, and Ryman Auditorium.

At 3 ½ hours in length, you’ll visit some of the most important filming locations and other sites that were significant in the show.

  • Ticket Prices: $74/Adults | $37/Children
  • Availability: Thur & Sun at 1 pm
  • Includes Ryman Auditorium self-guided tour
  • Not currently available as of February 2024.

Other Specialty Bus Tours

If you're looking for even more options, there are a few more bus tours you might want to consider before settling on another service.

Xperience Nashville Guided Sightseeing Tour

Joyride Nashville Party Bus w/ Bartender & DJ


ALL-IN-ONE-DAY TOURS

In this section, we will provide details about some of the best day trips and all-in-one bus tours available in Nashville.

These services run anywhere from 3 ½ - 15 hours, and they cover specific subjects or locations in and around Music City.

Each tour includes admission to popular attractions, so these outings are almost like combo tickets!


Discover Nashville (Gray Line)

This tour is an overall breakdown of the famous and iconic landmarks in Music City.

You’ll also make stops at the Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

This is a great all-in-one option for anyone who wants to learn about the musical history of Nashville and see all of the most notable sites in the area.

NOTE: This tour is included with a combo package, allowing you to save money on multiple activities. Check our money-saving deals section for more details.


Franklin’s Civil War (Gray Line)

In addition to its Historic Tennessee tour, this company also offers a day trip focusing on important landmarks from the Battle of Franklin, which was one of the most significant battles of the Civil War.

While on this tour, you’ll enjoy admission to the Carter House, the Lotz House, and the Carnton Plantation.

A professional guide will describe the events of the battle in great detail to provide an idea of the history that was made here.


Memphis Day Trip w/ VIP Graceland Access (Gray Line)

If you’re visiting Nashville to see some of the more notable landmarks of music history in the area, chances are you’ll also want to head to Memphis.

In addition to providing transportation to and from the city, this day trip also includes VIP access to Graceland, a tour of Sun Studios, a duck walk at the Peabody Hotel, and a chance to explore Beale Street at your own pace.


Grand Legends (Gray Line)

The Grand Ole Opry is one of the most famous and important landmarks in Nashville, and this tour focuses on the historic location.

In addition to receiving a fully guided backstage tour, you’ll also have the opportunity to visit the Gaylord Opryland Resort afterward.

If you’re a music fan, this half-day trip is an absolute must.

  • Ticket Prices: $83/Adults | $42/Children
  • Availability: Daily at 1:30 pm
  • Duration: 3 ½ hours
  • Not currently available as of February 2024.

Historic Tennessee (Gray Line)

If you want to get out of the city and learn more about the history of Tennessee, this day trip is worth a look.

While on this bus tour, you’ll visit both the Hermitage (home of Andrew Jackson) and Belle Meade Plantation. Admission to both locations will be included with your ticket.

Although lunch is not included, it won’t cost much to grab a bite at the Hermitage House Smorgasbord – a Southern-style buffet that both parents and their children will enjoy.

  • Ticket Prices: $71.50/Adults | $36/Children
  • Availability: Daily at 9 am
  • Duration: 6 ½ hours
  • Not currently available as of February 2024.

HOW TO SAVE ON BUS TOUR TICKETS

This section breaks down all of the different deals available for Nashville bus tours to help you save on costs

In addition to covering all the different ways you can save money with a tourist pass, we also provide details about combination tickets.


Nashville Sightseeing Pass

This tourist pass includes admission to the Nashville City Tour from Gray Line.

You can also use this money-saving pass for entry to dozens of popular and historic attractions in Nashville.

Many of the locations included with combo tickets and other services are also on the Nashville Sightseeing Pass, which makes this a pretty good alternative to the other deals you’ll read about in this section.

If you want to learn more about this money-saving pass, please read our full post which covers every major Nashville city pass.


Nashville Explorer Pass

This is one of the newer tourist passes in Nashville, and there are a total of 3 different pass types to choose from.

Two of the Nashville Explorer Passes include admission to the Old Town Trolley Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour at no additional cost.

In addition to this activity, you'll also get admission to the following attractions:

Music Pass

  • Country Music Hall of Fame
  • Musicians Hall of Fame
  • Madame Tussauds
  • RCA Studio B OR Hatch Show Print Studio

Circle Pass

  • Country Music Hall of Fame
  • Musicians Hall of Fame
  • Madame Tussauds
  • National Museum of African American Music
  • Johnny Cash Museum OR Patsy Cline Museum

If you're interested in visiting any of these popular museums or historical locations, this is an excellent way to save money on tickets for each activity.

Purchase the Nashville Explorer Pass or learn more on our post covering Nashville tourist passes in greater detail.


Music City Total Access Pass

If you’re in the market for a wide variety of activities, this pass should do the trick.

Although they don’t provide free access to dozens of locations like their competitors, this service will allow you to choose a set number of attractions from a list that includes the following bus tours:

  • Gray Line Nashville City Tour
  • Old Town Trolley Tour
  • Redneck Comedy Bus Tour
  • Music City Brew Hop Trolley Tour

Learn more about the Music City Total Access Pass.

This is one of the best ways to save money on these outings because the pass will grant you access to even more fun activities at no extra cost.

Considering they offer a lot of bus tours, this is a wonderful opportunity to save money on activities that aren’t included with any other tourist pass.

As a matter of fact, this is the only way to save money on some of their services.

For more details on how this pass works, make sure to read our full post covering Nashville city passes.


Gray Line Combo Tickets

Although their day trips are practically combo tickets on their own, Gray Line of Tennessee offers additional combo deals that you might want to consider.

While these combo tickets will save you some money, the savings aren’t always significant.

We suggest comparing the cost of your activities with a Nashville tourist pass before setting your heart on one of these deals.

The following opportunities are currently available when you purchase tickets through their website:

Discover Nashville City Tour + Ryman Auditorium + Country Music Hall of Fame

  • Ticket Prices: $103.53/Adults | $51.77/Children (4-11) | Infants under 4 free
  • Includes the Discover Nashville City Tour
  • Includes admission to the Ryman Auditorium
  • Includes admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame
  • Purchase tickets or learn more.

Additional Discount Options

Don’t forget to check Groupon and LivingSocial for even more great deals.

These services routinely offer money-saving promotions on bus tours and other popular activities in the Nashville area.

Each service has an app you can download onto your phone which can be used to validate most of their deals.


GOLF CART TOURS

Nashville Golf Cart Tours offers a unique and personalized experience where visitors can explore the city at their own pace.

Golf carts are smaller in size and can navigate through narrow streets and alleys, giving visitors a chance to see parts of the city that are not accessible by larger vehicles.

Additionally, golf cart tours can provide a more intimate experience as the tour guide is often sitting right beside the passengers, allowing for more personalized interaction and conversation.


Joyride Nashville

Joyride Nashville currently offers these 4 types of golf cart tours:

Brewery and Distillery Cart Tour

  • Ticket Prices: $59.47/Adult
  • At least 2 participants are required
  • Ages 16 and younger are not permitted
  • Availability: All days except Mondays
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Tour covers 4 of the top breweries of Nashville.

2-Hour Golf Cart Bar Crawl Tour

  • Ticket Prices: $50/Adult
  • At least 4 participants are required
  • Ages 16 and younger are not permitted
  • Availability: All days
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Visit 5 great local bars along with a bar golf adventure.
  • Drinks are NOT included in the price of the tour. Average drink price: $6

Boutique Shopping and Bar Cart Tour

  • Ticket Prices: $113/Adult | $74/Child
  • Availability: All days
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Visit Nashville’s most buzz-worthy boutiques and pop into some exciting bars for a drink

Private city tour of Nashville

  • Ticket Prices: $55.41/Adult | $33.56/Child
  • At least 2 participants are required
  • Availability: All days
  • Duration: 90 minutes
  • Visit 35+ popular locations including Music Row, Tootsie's, and Ryman Auditorium

Learn more and purchase tickets for Joyride's Golf Cart tours.


TIPS FROM LOCALS AND TRAVELERS

Here are some thoughts on the various Nashville bus tours from members of Nashville travel Facebook groups like Visit Nashville.

The Old Town Trolley tours receive rave reviews from just about everyone who takes them. Here are a handful of replies to members who post asking if the tours are worth taking.

These comments show that you can't go wrong with the Music City Rollin’ Jamboree tour!


RELATED POSTS:

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About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

Stephen is the CEO of Free Tours by Foot and has overseen the transformation of a local walking tour company into a global tour community and traveler’s advice platform. He has personally led thousands of group tours in the US and Europe, and is an expert in trip planning and sightseeing, with a focus on budget travelers. Stephen has been published and featured in dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Yahoo, Washington.org, and more.
Updated: February 15th, 2024
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