Comparison · Kansas City vs Nashville · United States
Kansas City 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: Stephen Edmonds, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
Choose Kansas City for Barbecue and burnt ends, Jazz heritage and lower day-to-day costs; choose Nashville for Country music, Honky-tonks on Broadway and a milder winter. Kansas City is generally less expensive, and the two are about 760 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 760 km
- Less expensive
- Kansas City
- Best time for Kansas City
- April–May and September–October
- Best time for Nashville
- April–May and September–October
Side by side
| Kansas City | Nashville | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Barbecue and burnt ends, Jazz heritage and Fountains | Country music, Honky-tonks on Broadway and Grand Ole Opry |
| Best time to visit | April–May and September–October | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $180–$300 | $220–$360 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 32°C (90°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 3°C (37°F) | January, 9°C (48°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 6 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | MCI | BNA |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Kansas City for…
Barbecue and burnt ends, Jazz heritage and lower day-to-day costs. Kansas City straddles the Missouri–Kansas state line where the Kansas River meets the Missouri, and most visitors spend their time on the Missouri side between the River Market and the Country Club Plaza. A free streetcar runs along Main Street through…
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Choose Nashville for…
Country music, Honky-tonks on Broadway and a milder winter. 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
| # | Kansas City | Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | National WWI Museum and Memorial | Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum |
| 2 | Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art | Ryman Auditorium |
| 3 | Negro Leagues Baseball Museum | Grand Ole Opry |
| 4 | American Jazz Museum and the Blue Room | Lower Broadway honky-tonks |
| 5 | Union Station and Science City | Johnny Cash Museum |
Food compared
| Kansas City | Nashville |
|---|---|
| Burnt ends | Nashville hot chicken |
| Kansas City ribs | Meat-and-three |
| The Z-Man sandwich | Biscuits |
| Cheesy corn | Whole-hog barbecue |
Which is cheaper?
Kansas City is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $180–$300 per person there, against $220–$360 in Nashville (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Kansas City on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 760 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 7 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Kansas City or Nashville cheaper?
Kansas City is usually less expensive: about $180–$300 a day mid-range against $220–$360 (estimates).
+Is Kansas City or Nashville better for a first trip?
Pick Kansas City for Barbecue and burnt ends, Jazz heritage and lower day-to-day costs, or Nashville for Country music, Honky-tonks on Broadway and a milder winter.
+How far is Kansas City from Nashville?
About 760 km in a straight line.