Editorial Team | Ravands Private Rides Local transportation guidance from the Ravands Private Rides editorial team, focused on practical travel information for Nashville and the surrounding area.
Music Row sits southwest of downtown Nashville, Tennessee — recording studios, label offices, and publishing houses along 16th and 17th Avenues South. Street parking fills fast on weekday mornings. Ravands Private Rides handles point-to-point transfers to Music Row across the Nashville metro.
Key Takeaways
- Music Row runs along 16th and 17th Avenues South, southwest of downtown Nashville — less than 1.5 miles from Broadway.
- RCA Studio B, built in 1957, offers public tours through the Country Music Hall of Fame; advance booking is required.
- Street parking fills early on weekday mornings; a prearranged drop-off is the reliable approach.
- Monday through Friday is the best time to visit, when publishing houses and label offices are active.
- Music Row was designated a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2015.
Quick Reference Table
| District | Drop-Off Point | Parking Reality |
|---|---|---|
| Country Music Hall of Fame / RCA Studio B | Fifth Ave S drop-off lane at the Hall of Fame entrance | No dedicated lot; metered street parking on adjacent streets |
| Owen Bradley Park / Music Square West | Street drop-off on Music Square West (17th Ave S) | Limited metered spots; fills early on active weekday mornings |
| Demonbreun Street corridor | Commercial pull-offs between 12th Ave S and 16th Ave S | Pay-to-park lots nearby; rates rise evenings and weekends |
Music Row clusters the hit-making process in a walkable area, which means vehicle access is tight. A Nashville car service stages at the confirmed drop-off point and returns for pickup separately.
Where to Go, Point by Point
Music Row divides into three practical zones for transportation.
Location One: RCA Studio B and the Country Music Hall of Fame
RCA Studio B at 1611 Roy Acuff Place, built in 1957, hosted Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, and the Nashville A-Team who defined the Nashville Sound. Public tours run through the Country Music Hall of Fame — book ahead, morning slots go first. Old Town Trolley Tours also runs Music Row guided tours from near the Hall of Fame.
Pickup and Drop-Off Zone
The Country Music Hall of Fame at 222 Fifth Avenue South has a vehicular drop-off lane on Fifth Avenue South. For RCA Studio B, drop-off on Roy Acuff Place or the adjacent 16th Avenue South is standard. No parking structure is attached.
Timing
5 to 10 minutes from Broadway before 9:00 AM; 15 to 20 minutes from 11:00 AM as tour bus traffic builds on Fifth Avenue South.
Where Drivers Actually Wait
Drivers stage on Roy Acuff Place or 16th Avenue South. The Hall of Fame drop-off lane turns over quickly and cannot be used for holds.
Location Two: Owen Bradley Park and Music Square West
Owen Bradley Park on Music Square West holds a bronze statue of Owen Bradley, who opened the Quonset Hut in the 1950s — Nashville’s first commercial recording studio. The Monument Records Building, which launched Roy Orbison and Kris Kristofferson, stands nearby. Publishing and label offices line both avenues south from here.
Pickup and Drop-Off Zone
Street drop-off on Music Square West, adjacent to the park. The street runs one-way northbound; drivers approach from Division Street to the south.
Timing
3 to 5 minutes from 12th Avenue South; add 10 minutes after 10:00 AM when delivery vehicles occupy the curb.
Where Drivers Actually Wait
Drivers hold on the east side of Music Square West, or at Grand Avenue one block south if the curb is occupied.
Location Three: Demonbreun Street and the Northern Corridor
Demonbreun Street connects downtown Nashville to Music Row. Columbia Studio A — where Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash recorded — stood on this corridor. Restaurant venues draw evening visitors alongside the industry crowd; Demonbreun is the standard entry from downtown.
Pickup and Drop-Off Zone
Commercial pull-offs run along Demonbreun between 12th and 16th Avenues South. Confirm the building number before entering — closely spaced addresses make a street name alone insufficient for driver staging.
Timing
7 to 12 minutes from Broadway on weekdays. Friday evenings add 15–20 minutes.
Where Drivers Actually Wait
Drivers stage in commercial pull-off lanes. Provide the exact building address at booking, not the street name alone.
How Early to Leave
| Departure from Downtown | Arrival at Music Row | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Before 9:00 AM | 10–15 min | Clear — before session traffic and tour buses |
| 9:00–11:00 AM | 15–20 min | Manageable on most weekdays |
| 11:00 AM–2:00 PM | 20–30 min | Tour bus stops peak near the Country Music Hall of Fame |
| After 3:00 PM Friday | 25–40 min | Restaurant traffic builds through the Demonbreun corridor |
Best Days to Visit Music Row
Monday through Friday is the best time to visit. Publishing houses and label offices operate on weekdays; arriving before 11:00 AM gives the best access to touring programs and the most realistic chance of on-street parking.
Common Mistakes
Expecting Available Street Parking
Metered spots on 16th and 17th Avenues South fill quickly on weekday mornings. Plan for a drop-off or a pay-to-park surface lot off Demonbreun rather than circling.
Approaching an Active Studio Without a Booking
Working studios on Music Row have no walk-in access. RCA Studio B requires advance booking through the Country Music Hall of Fame — no confirmed ticket means being turned away.
Arriving After 11:00 AM for a Morning Tour
RCA Studio B and Old Town Trolley morning sessions fill first. Post-11:00 AM arrivals narrow available options and increase queuing at the counter.
Staging the Return Pickup in the Drop-Off Lane
The Country Music Hall of Fame drop-off lane turns over quickly — a driver holding there will be moved on. Set a separate named pickup location before the visit.
How Ravands Private Rides Handles It
Ravands Private Rides confirms the drop-off address at booking — studio entrance, park-adjacent curb, or venue pull-off — and sets a separate post-visit pickup location before departure. For visitors who need Nashville car service with hold time while touring RCA Studio B or walking the publishing strip, Ravands operates on a confirmed schedule with a direct driver contact number. Visitors from a hotel or airport receive a Nashville point to point transportation staging plan at both ends.
What to Expect on Pickup
The driver holds at the confirmed post-visit point with the passenger’s name visible. If the spot is occupied, the driver calls and names the nearest clear hold point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Music Row in Nashville?
Music Row sits southwest of downtown Nashville on 16th and 17th Avenues South — also called Music Square East and Music Square West. The district runs from Demonbreun Street south to Grand Avenue — less than 1.5 miles from Broadway, 10 to 15 minutes from downtown by car.
Is there parking on Music Row Nashville?
Street parking on Music Row is metered and limited. Spots on 16th and 17th Avenues South fill early on weekday mornings. The reliable approach is a paid surface lot off Demonbreun or a prearranged drop-off. Evenings and weekends offer more availability, though most industry offices are closed.
Can you tour RCA Studio B Nashville?
RCA Studio B tours run through the Country Music Hall of Fame and require advance booking — same-day availability is not guaranteed on busy mornings. Tours cover the studio’s history and Nashville Sound recordings from 1957 onward. A Country Music Hall of Fame ticket is required for all participants.
What is the best place to explore Music Row?
Owen Bradley Park on Music Square West is the best starting point. The bronze statue of Owen Bradley marks the district’s historic center, within walking distance of the Country Music Hall of Fame to the north and the publishing corridor to the south. From there, 16th and 17th Avenues South run the full district length.
About Ravands Private Rides
Ravands Private Rides is a Nashville, Tennessee private transportation company serving individuals, corporate clients, and groups across Middle Tennessee. The company provides pre-arranged Nashville car service for Music Row visits, airport transfers at BNA, and multi-stop day trips. All vehicles carry commercial insurance and meet Metro Transportation Licensing Commission requirements. Drivers are background-checked. Military discounts apply; free cancellation with 24 hours notice.
Service Area
Ravands Private Rides serves Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Antioch, and surrounding Middle Tennessee communities, including Music Row, downtown Nashville, the Gulch, and BNA.
Next Step
Planning a Music Row visit? Contact Ravands Private Rides to arrange Nashville car service. Provide your travel date, pickup location, and passenger count. Browse vehicles on the Fleet page.