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Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, Nashville, TN

Photo: Ltshears, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

AttractionsFamily FavoriteHistory Buff

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere

3777 Nolensville Pike · Nashville, TN

Why you should go…

Six miles southeast of downtown, this zoo covers 188 acres and cares for thousands of animals from more than 300 species. You can watch capybaras and giant anteaters share a South American habitat, ride the Wild Animal Carousel, or book a behind-the-scenes Backstage Pass tour. The grounds also hold the Grassmere historic home, built around 1810 for the Dunn family using enslaved labor, and walking tours tell the site's longer story.

  • #zoo
  • #animals
  • #historic home
  • #carousel
  • #kids

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, ordered by straight-line distance.

  • Theatre & Events
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    The Bluebird Cafe

    $25–$50

    Hear Nashville songwriters play their own songs and tell the stories behind them in a 90-seat listening room.

    4.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Theatre & Events

  • Museums
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    Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

    $25–$50

    See instruments, stage wear and recordings that trace country music from its folk roots to today, then stand in the Hall of Fame Rotunda.

    5.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Theatre & Events
    Iconic

    Bridgestone Arena

    $50+

    Watch Nashville Predators hockey, big-name concerts and awards shows in a downtown arena at the corner of Broadway and 5th Avenue.

    5.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Theatre & Events

  • Museums
    Rainy-Day Pick

    Frist Art Museum

    Under $25

    See rotating art exhibitions and hands-on art making inside Nashville's former main post office, an Art Deco landmark on Broadway.

    5.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
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    Johnny Cash Museum

    $25–$50

    Walk through more than 1,000 artifacts from Johnny Cash's life, from stage costumes and gold records to handwritten lyrics.

    5.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Nightlife
    Iconic

    Honky Tonk Highway

    Free

    Walk from one honky tonk to the next on Lower Broadway, where bands play live country music from morning until late at night.

    5.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Nightlife