Best time to visit Nashville

Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart on the page recolours live for your heat limit 27°C
I'm comfortable up to 27°C feels-like
22° heat-averse 30° heat-loving

Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.

Saved to this browser. Changes update the strips below.
Recent · 2020-2024
Interest Google Trends 2021-2025 searches, not arrivals (?)
Day · avg daily high (?)
Night · avg overnight low (?)
Heatwaves · days/yr ≥35°C ETCCDI TX35 (?)
221
Tropical nights · nights/yr ≥20°C ETCCDI TR20 — sleep killer (?)
11427217
UV index · On a typical day around midday, UV is about this (?)
235667876532
On the sunniest 1 in 10 days, UV reaches this — and even higher
378899974
PM2.5 air quality · on a typical day (?)
810771114141310788
On the worst 1 in 10 days, PM2.5 reaches this — and even higher
151311101924191816101212
October 9/10 feels 22°C (+1°C vs 1991-2020) · HCI 89/100
Day 23° · Night 12° 56% humidity 15 km/h wind 8 rain days (95h) 207h sun
Thermal 9
Sky 9
Rain 8
Wind 10

Higher = better, including rain & wind (green = "doesn't hurt the score", not "lots of it").

Compare with another destination

Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.

Tours in Nashville

30 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you.

  1. 1Nashville's Wildest Honky Tonk on Wheels Private Party Bus4.95★ (201)1h 45mfrom $475🔥 Selling fast
  2. 2Nashville: Authentic Food Tour with 5 Tastings of Local Dishes4.88★ (3,022)3hfrom $100🔥 Selling fast
  3. 3Nashville Rollin Jamboree Comedy & Country Music Sing-Along Tour4.90★ (1,012)1h 30mfrom $50🔥 Selling fast
  4. 4Explore the City of Nashville Sightseeing Tour by Golf Cart4.79★ (2,651)1h 30mfrom $55🔥 Selling fast
  5. 5Murals of Nashville Instagram Tour by Golf Cart4.83★ (991)from $65🔥 Selling fast
  6. 6Nashville Combo Tour: Sightseeing, Murals & Brewery/Distillery4.86★ (662)3hfrom $110🔥 Selling fast
  7. 7Nashville to Memphis Daytrip with Graceland VIP Tour and Sun Studio Admission4.75★ (546)15hfrom $380🔥 Selling fast
  8. 8Nashville Brewery & Distillery Tour by Golf Cart4.73★ (686)2hfrom $60🔥 Selling fast
  9. 990-Minute Monster Truck Joyride City Tour of Nashville4.67★ (426)1h 30mfrom $53🔥 Selling fast
  10. 10Nashville Mural Photowalk Tour with Professional Photographer4.99★ (129)1hfrom $89🔥 Selling fast
  11. 11Nashville Pub Crawl Golf Game by Golf Cart4.94★ (84)2hfrom $62🔥 Selling fast
  12. 12Narrated Sightseeing Tractor Tour of Nashville4.61★ (175)2hfrom $59🔥 Selling fast
  13. 132 Hour Party Bus with Bartender and DJ 21+4.52★ (137)2hfrom $64🔥 Selling fast
  14. 14Line Dancing on Broadway + Beginners Level+ Souvenir Video4.88★ (1,526)1hfrom $38
  15. 15Downtown Nashville Public Party Tractor 21+ Only4.70★ (2,697)1h 30mfrom $25🔥 Selling fast
  16. 16Grand Ole Opry Admission with Post-Show Backstage Tour4.69★ (284)from $101🔥 Selling fast
  17. 17Nashville's Wildest Honky Tonk Public Party Bus (21+)4.91★ (1,367)1h 45mfrom $49🔥 Selling fast
  18. 18Grand Ole Opry House Guided Backstage Tour in Nashville4.72★ (2,584)1hfrom $40🔥 Selling fast
  19. 19Grand Ole Opry Show Admission Ticket4.67★ (2,705)from $62🔥 Selling fast
  20. 20Nashville VIP Style Private Tour with Local Singer-Songwriter5.00★ (569)2hfrom $455
  21. 21Grand Ole Opry VIP Experience: Admission with Lounge Access and Artist Visit4.18★ (96)from $186🔥 Selling fast
  22. 22Downtown & Hills Nashville Helicopter Tour4.88★ (242)from $250
  23. 23Private Recording Studio Experience in Downtown Nashville4.89★ (169)1hfrom $95
  24. 24Nashville to Graceland Memphis Day trip Transportation5.00★ (79)from $599
  25. 25Walking Food & Drink Tour of Downtown Nashville4.93★ (1,203)3hfrom $179
  26. 26Guided Segway Tour of Downtown Nashville4.94★ (1,626)from $65
  27. 27Taste of Nashville Food & Sightseeing Tour4.87★ (1,851)3hfrom $129
  28. 28Nashville RCA Studio B & Country Music Hall of Fame Ticket Combo4.87★ (1,657)from $55
  29. 29Nashville to Jack Daniel's Distillery Bus Tour + Whiskey Tastings4.77★ (1,969)7hfrom $140
  30. 30Helicopter Tour of Downtown Nashville4.83★ (881)from $160

Last refreshed 2026-08-13.

Similar climatesAtlanta95% · Gatlinburg93% · Raleigh93%

Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Nashville (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Nashville's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.

Month-by-month

Month Temp °C Feels °C Rain days Rain h Rain h/day Humidity Wind km/h Sun h UV Interest Score
Jan 0–9 6 13 148 11.4 66% 18 140 2 Quiet 5
Feb 2–12 9 12 134 11.2 62% 18 132 3 Quiet 5
Mar 6–17 15 14 123 8.8 60% 19 183 5 Peak 7
Apr 9–20 18 12 112 9.3 56% 19 216 6 Moderate 8
May 15–26 26 13 141 10.8 59% 16 243 6 Quiet 8
Jun 19–30 33 13 127 9.8 55% 15 266 7 Moderate 4
Jul 22–32 36 17 173 10.2 63% 13 266 8 Moderate 2
Aug 21–30 34 16 178 11.1 64% 12 247 7 Moderate 3
Sep 17–27 29 11 121 11.0 60% 13 217 6 Quiet 7
Oct 12–23 22 8 95 11.9 56% 15 207 5 Quiet 9
Nov 6–16 14 8 74 9.3 59% 16 170 3 Quiet 8
Dec 3–12 9 11 115 10.5 66% 18 140 2 Quiet 6

UV Index in Nashville by Month

UV index in Nashville peaks at 8 (high) in July, dropping to 2 (low) in December. April, May, June, July, August have high UV — SPF 30+ and sunglasses recommended.

Best months in detail

October

9/10

12–23°C · 8 rain days (95h) · 207 sun hours · 56% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate)

April

8/10

9–20°C (feels 18°C) · 12 rain days (112h) · 216 sun hours · 56% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 6 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (high)

May

8/10

15–26°C · 13 rain days (141h) · 243 sun hours · 59% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 6 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)

Every month

Show the other 9 months in detail

January

5/10

0–9°C (feels 6°C) · 13 rain days (148h) · 140 sun hours · 66% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 3 (moderate)

February

5/10

2–12°C (feels 9°C) · 12 rain days (134h) · 132 sun hours · 62% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (moderate)

March

7/10

6–17°C (feels 15°C) · 14 rain days (123h) · 183 sun hours · 60% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)

June

4/10

19–30°C (feels 33°C) · 13 rain days (127h) · 266 sun hours · 55% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)

July

2/10

22–32°C (feels 36°C) · 17 rain days (173h) · 266 sun hours · 63% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 8 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)

August

3/10

21–30°C (feels 34°C) · 16 rain days (178h) · 247 sun hours · 64% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)

September

7/10

17–27°C (feels 29°C) · 11 rain days (121h) · 217 sun hours · 60% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 6 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)

November

8/10

6–16°C (feels 14°C) · 8 rain days (74h) · 170 sun hours · 59% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)

December

6/10

3–12°C (feels 9°C) · 11 rain days (115h) · 140 sun hours · 66% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)

Comparisons people search for

Pairs validated by Google Autocomplete demand — only pairs people actually compare.

The best weather months are also the stormiest

Nashville's most comfortable stretches — spring and early autumn — do not line up cleanly with its calmest weather. The city sits in a region where severe convective storms are common, and March and April are the core of tornado season. Those are also, by temperature, among the pleasantest months to walk Broadway.

Summer trades that risk for a different discomfort: June through August bring highs in the upper 80s and low 90s Fahrenheit with humidity that makes it feel considerably hotter. June is also when CMA Fest fills the downtown for four days, which is either the reason to come or the reason to avoid it.

So there is no single clean answer, and a monthly average obscures the trade rather than revealing it.

Sources: Nashville climate guide — seasons and weather , Travel.com — Nashville best months

What is the best month to visit Nashville?

May, or late September to October. Both give warmth without midsummer humidity — July highs near 31C feel considerably hotter than the number — and sit outside the March-April peak of severe-storm season, when April averages about 129 mm. June is excellent if you want CMA Fest and accept the crowds and prices that come with it.

Is tornado season a real concern for visitors?

March and April are the core of it, and the risk is real but manageable. The practical response is not to avoid those months but to keep weather alerts switched on and know your building's shelter point, because warnings typically come with very little notice. Hotels have procedures; the risk to any individual visitor on any given trip remains low.

How many days do you need in Nashville?

Two to three. One for downtown, Broadway and the Ryman Auditorium; one for the Country Music Hall of Fame and East Nashville; and a third for the Grand Ole Opry or a day out to Franklin. Book Opry tickets ahead — it runs on specific nights rather than daily, and the schedule should shape which days you are in town.

What is the coldest month in Nashville?

January, with lows around 0C — cold enough for occasional ice but rarely for prolonged snow. Winter is the quietest and cheapest season, and the honky-tonks on Broadway run regardless of the weather, which makes a January trip better value than the climate figures alone suggest.

Is Nashville humid or dry heat?

Humid, distinctly so. July highs near 31C combine with high humidity to feel considerably hotter, and afternoon thunderstorms are common. April is the wettest month at around 129 mm. Spring and autumn are far more comfortable for walking between venues and neighbourhoods.

What is the cheapest time to travel to Nashville?

January and February, after the holidays and before the spring events calendar starts. Hotel rates downtown drop sharply, and the live-music scene continues year-round. The trade-off is cold, damp weather and fewer outdoor events or festivals. January lows sit around 0C, cold enough for occasional ice but rarely for the sustained snow that would disrupt a trip.

Which month has the best weather in Nashville?

October, followed by April and May. October is the driest month at around 90 mm, with warm days, cool evenings and autumn colour in the surrounding hills. April is greener and livelier but wetter, averaging about 129 mm, and carries the higher storm risk.

Is it better to stay downtown or outside the centre?

Downtown puts you walking distance from Broadway's venues, which is the point for a short first visit — accepting that it is loud until late. Staying in a neighbourhood like East Nashville or the Gulch is quieter and often better value, with a short ride into the centre.

What is the number one attraction in Nashville?

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is the most visited single attraction, and it gives the context that makes everything else legible. The Grand Ole Opry is the other essential, though it runs on specific nights rather than daily — check the schedule before fixing your dates, since it should shape them.

What should you not miss in Nashville?

A night on Broadway's honky-tonks, where the music is free and continuous; the Ryman Auditorium, the Opry's original home and still the best-sounding room in town; the Country Music Hall of Fame; and RCA Studio B, where Elvis recorded, visitable by tour from the Hall of Fame.

Is it better to stay downtown or on Music Row?

Downtown puts you walking distance from Broadway and the Ryman, which is what most first-time visitors want — accepting noise until late. Music Row is quieter and more residential but you will be travelling in each evening. East Nashville and the Gulch are the better-value compromises with their own bar and restaurant scenes.

Frequently asked questions about visiting Nashville

When is the best time to visit Nashville?

October is the highest-scoring month (9/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 12–23°C (8 rainy days). The top three months by score are October, April, May.

What is the worst time to visit Nashville?

July is the lowest-scoring month (2/10, capped by extreme heat). Typical conditions: 22–32°C (17 rainy days).

Is Nashville too hot in summer?

3 months (June, July, August) trip the heat deal-breaker in our scoring: apparent temperature crosses the comfort cap, so even with clear skies and low rain the score is held down. Plan around it if heat tolerance is low.

When are crowds lowest in Nashville?

Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in January and peaks in March. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.

Which months in Nashville have good weather but fewer tourists?

October (climate 9/10, crowd index 37) and April (climate 8/10, crowd index 43) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.

What is the UV index in Nashville by month?

UV peaks at 8 (high) in July and is lowest in December at 2 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 2, Feb 3, Mar 5, Apr 6, May 6, Jun 7, Jul 8, Aug 7, Sep 6, Oct 5, Nov 3, Dec 2.

What is the UV index in Nashville in July?

July is the peak UV month in Nashville, with a daily-peak UV index of 8 (high). Apply SPF 30+, wear sunglasses, and seek shade during midday hours.

How high can UV get in Nashville on the sunniest days?

Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. July is the worst case: typical days average UV 8 (high), but the top 10% of days reach UV 9 (very high) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: January, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, November. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.

Is air quality in Nashville bad for travelers?

PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) exceeds the WHO sensitive-group guideline (15 µg/m³) in 5 months: May, June, July, August, September. The worst month is June with a typical-day mean of 14 µg/m³ (moderate); on the worst 10% of days PM2.5 reaches 24 µg/m³ (unhealthy for sensitive) and higher. People with asthma, heart conditions, or sensitive children may want to avoid these months or limit outdoor activity. Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo.