Comparison · Austin vs Nashville · United States
Austin vs Nashville
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Austin for Live music, Texas barbecue, free sights and a milder winter; choose Nashville for Country music and Honky-tonks on Broadway. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 1,211 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,211 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Austin
- March–April and October–November
- Best time for Nashville
- April–May and September–October
Side by side
| Austin | Nashville | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Live music, Texas barbecue and Breakfast tacos | Country music, Honky-tonks on Broadway and Grand Ole Opry |
| Best time to visit | March–April and October–November | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $200–$330 | $220–$360 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 36°C (97°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 17°C (63°F) | January, 9°C (48°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | AUS | BNA |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Austin for…
Live music, Texas barbecue, free sights and a milder winter. Austin, the capital of Texas, sits on the Colorado River where the flat prairie meets the limestone hills of the Hill Country. It calls itself the Live Music Capital of the World, with music most nights on Sixth Street, Red River and South Congress, and it…
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Choose Nashville for…
Country music and Honky-tonks on Broadway. Nashville, Tennessee's capital on the Cumberland River, is the centre of the country-music industry, earning it the nickname Music City. Lower Broadway's honky-tonks play live music from late morning until late at night, while the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand…
Top sights compared
| # | Austin | Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas State Capitol | Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum |
| 2 | Barton Springs Pool | Ryman Auditorium |
| 3 | Congress Avenue Bridge bats | Grand Ole Opry |
| 4 | Lady Bird Lake and the Butler Trail | Lower Broadway honky-tonks |
| 5 | Zilker Park | Johnny Cash Museum |
Food compared
| Austin | Nashville |
|---|---|
| Central Texas brisket | Nashville hot chicken |
| Breakfast tacos | Meat-and-three |
| Queso | Biscuits |
| Tex-Mex enchiladas | Whole-hog barbecue |
Which is cheaper?
Austin and Nashville cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $200–$330 in Austin and $220–$360 in Nashville (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Austin on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,211 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 8 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Austin or Nashville cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $200–$330 in Austin and $220–$360 in Nashville (estimates).
+Is Austin or Nashville better for a first trip?
Pick Austin for Live music, Texas barbecue, free sights and a milder winter, or Nashville for Country music and Honky-tonks on Broadway.
+How far is Austin from Nashville?
About 1,211 km in a straight line.