With 20 Mio. passengers in 2022, Nashville Airport is the biggest airport in the state of Tennessee and even the 25th biggest in the USA. It is a major hub for Southwest Airlines, and a focus city for Allegiant Air. There is a single intercontinental service to London Heathrow opb British Airways. Noticeable cargo flights are operated by Amazon and FedEx. Expect some military movements as there is a Air National Guard base at the airport.

Written by Jason O. Last Update: October 2023

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
02L/20R	2.348 m (7.704 ft) Concrete
02C/20C	2.439 m (8.001 ft) Concrete
02R/20L	2.439 m (8.001 ft) Concrete
13/31	3.362 m (11.030 ft) Concrete
Terminals
Concourse A	Alaska, United
Concourse B	Delta, JetBlue, American
Concourse C	American, Southwest
Concourse D	Southwest only
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not needed.
Car/Public Transport	Car is needed as ther is no public transport to the locations.
Drinks/Food	Nothing close to the locations.
Hotels	Many hotels in the northern area of the airport but no one next to the terminal.
Season	Due to the north-south direction of three of the four the runways, we recommend the summer months.
Security	Expect ID checks at Spot2. Spot 1 is fine and you should have no problems there.
Runway Usage
Northern Wind	02L/20R: Mostly west bound departures with an occasional arrival if the arrival is in A or B Terminal (Delta, United, Spirit, Frontier, JetBlue) 02C/20C: Arrivals from west with occasional departures by GA aircraft and military aircraft. 02R/20L: Arrivals from east and east bound departures 13/31: Not really used
Southern Wind	20R/02L: Arrivals from west 20C/02C: Mostly all departures 20L/02R: Arrivals from east 13/31: not really used
Crosswinds	Very very rare but in this case 13/31 is the only active runway.

	Spot #1 – Aircraft Observation Area – 02L/20R movements
WHERE	This is the official Aircraft Oberservation Area of the airport. It’s a small paking lot with a good view towards the runways. You sit in the grass or on the guardrail. Coming from Murfreesboro Pike (US route 41 / 70S) exit northbound on Briley Parkway (Tennessee 155) for half a mile an exit right into Vultee Blvd. On the end of the road you can see the parking lot. Address: Vultee Blvd, Nashville, TN 37214, USA
WHAT	Best if RWY 02L or 20C are used as the spot is next to these thresholds. 20R and 02R should be okay too. Furthermore all taxiways around these two runways. RWY 13/31 is also in sight but very far. But pictures are possible if there is no heat distortion as you can see below on the BA 787 sample photo.
TIME	From afternoon till sunset. Almost all day for the crosswind runway 13/31.
MISC.	You only have some waste bins, at Briley Parkway you’ll find a gas station.
FOCAL LENGTH	Up to 300mm for runway 20R/ 02L , 450mm for runway 20C / 02C, 550mm for runway 13 / 31 (BA 787)

BNA-Spot

BNA-Spot

BNA-Spot

	Spot #2 – Knight Valley Dr – 02C movements
WHERE	The spot is on the southernmost end of the airport at the threshold of runway 02C, next to the King Valley Dr. Access to this road is via Murfreesboro Pike. Get rid of your car in the nearby neighborhood. We recommend Portview Dr as it is a dead end road. You can spot from there or you cross the main road and place yourself behind the crash barrier to get a bit closer. Do not stay too close to the airport fence.
WHAT	You can easily photograph all arrivals and departures on runway 02C. The location is elevated, so the fence isn`t an issues.
TIME	From afternoon till sunset.
MISC.	Nothing nearby. Still expect ID Checks does not happen all the time but does happen.
FOCAL LENGTH	130MM For 757 230MM For 737