Top 10 Resorts in Nashville

*Published June 23, 2026 · Updated June 23, 2026*

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The best resort in Nashville is the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, a sprawling property with nine acres of indoor gardens, the SoundWaves indoor-outdoor water park, and 18 on-site restaurants near the Grand Ole Opry. For travelers who want resort-grade amenities without the mega-property scale, the best value pick is JW Marriott Nashville, a downtown high-rise with a rooftop pool and Bourbon Steak that often books well below the boutique luxury houses while still delivering full-service polish.

Nashville is not a beach destination, so "resort" here spans destination convention hotels, riverfront lodges, lakeside getaways on Old Hickory Lake, and full-service downtown towers with spas and pools. The list below ranks 10 real, currently operating properties bookable in 2026-2027, weighing amenities, location relative to Broadway and the Opry, dining, and price.

1. Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center 🏆 BEST OVERALL

Type: Destination convention resort | Price: $$$ ($250-$450/night) | Location: Opryland, near Grand Ole Opry | Best for: Families and groups

The Gaylord Opryland is the closest thing Nashville has to a self-contained resort city. Under its signature glass atriums you get nine acres of indoor gardens, cascading waterfalls, and a quarter-mile indoor river you can tour by boat. With 2,888 rooms, 18 restaurants, the Relâche Spa, and an 18-hole golf course nearby, it rarely runs out of things to do without leaving the property.

The biggest draw for families is SoundWaves, the resort's four-acre indoor-outdoor water attraction with surf simulators, a lazy river, and slides. The Grand Ole Opry and Opry Mills mall sit a short walk away, so country-music pilgrims have an easy base.

Pros:

• Self-contained scale: dining, spa, gardens, and a water park all under one roof.
• SoundWaves water park: rare indoor-outdoor option that works year-round.
• Opry proximity: steps from the Grand Ole Opry and Opry Mills.
• Event-ready: one of the largest non-gaming convention hotels in the U.S.

Cons:

• Far from Broadway: roughly 20-30 minutes from downtown honky-tonks.
• Resort fee + SoundWaves passes: add-on costs stack up quickly.

Verdict: The default winner for families, groups, and anyone who wants a vacation that happens entirely on property.

2. JW Marriott Nashville 💎 BEST VALUE

Type: Luxury downtown tower | Price: $$$ ($300-$500/night) | Location: SoBro, downtown | Best for: Couples wanting downtown polish

The JW Marriott Nashville is a 33-story glass tower in the SoBro district, steps from the Music City Center and a short walk from Broadway. Its rooftop pool deck on the 6th floor overlooks the skyline, and the on-site Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina is among the city's better hotel restaurants.

For travelers who want full-service amenities, valet, and a downtown address but balk at boutique-luxury pricing, the JW frequently lands below the city's top-tier houses while still feeling distinctly upscale.

Pros:

• Walkable downtown location: minutes from Broadway and the convention center.
• Rooftop pool: skyline views without a resort-fee mega-property.
• Bourbon Steak: a genuine destination restaurant on site.
• Reliable rates: strong value versus the city's ultra-luxury set.

Cons:

• No spa: fitness-focused rather than full wellness.
• Convention crowds: can feel busy during big events.

Verdict: The smartest balance of luxury feel and downtown convenience at a fair price.

3. Four Seasons Hotel Nashville

Type: Ultra-luxury high-rise | Price: $$$$ ($600-$1,000/night) | Location: SoBro riverfront | Best for: Special-occasion splurges

The Four Seasons Hotel Nashville opened in 2022 and quickly became the city's marquee luxury address. A sleek tower near the Cumberland River, it pairs floor-to-ceiling skyline views with a full-service spa, an outdoor pool deck, and Mimo Restaurant & Bar from chef Bartolotta.

Rooms and suites trend large and contemporary, and service is the polished Four Seasons standard. It is the choice when the trip is a celebration and budget is secondary.

Pros:

• Top-tier service: Four Seasons consistency in a young building.
• Riverfront skyline views: among the best rooms in the city.
• Full spa + pool deck: complete wellness amenities.
• Mimo dining: strong Italian-leaning hotel restaurant.

Cons:

• Premium pricing: the most expensive option on this list.
• Urban setting: a hotel, not a sprawling resort campus.

Verdict: The luxury splurge for couples and anniversaries who want best-in-class service downtown.

4. 1 Hotel Nashville

Type: Sustainable luxury | Price: $$$$ ($400-$700/night) | Location: The Gulch | Best for: Design-forward, wellness-minded travelers

1 Hotel Nashville sits in The Gulch, a walkable district of restaurants and boutiques. The brand's nature-forward design philosophy shows in reclaimed-wood interiors, abundant greenery, and a rooftop pool and bar with skyline views.

Wellness is central: a fitness studio, spa services, and an emphasis on sustainability give it a calmer feel than the Broadway-adjacent towers, while still being a quick rideshare from the action.

Pros:

• The Gulch location: dining and shopping within a short walk.
• Rooftop pool + bar: a standout social space.
• Biophilic design: distinctive, calming interiors.
• Wellness focus: fitness and spa programming.

Cons:

• Premium rates: prices climb fast on event weekends.
• Smaller pool: rooftop deck can get crowded.

Verdict: The pick for travelers who want design, wellness, and a walkable district over a mega-resort.

5. The Hermitage Hotel

Type: Historic luxury | Price: $$$$ ($450-$800/night) | Location: Downtown, near the Capitol | Best for: Heritage and fine dining

Open since 1910, The Hermitage Hotel is Nashville's grand dame and a member of the Historic Hotels of America. Its Beaux-Arts lobby is a city landmark, and the in-house Drusie & Darr by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten anchors a serious dining reputation.

Rooms are spacious and traditionally elegant, and the location near the State Capitol puts you within walking distance of downtown without sitting on top of Broadway's noise.

Pros:

• Landmark architecture: a genuinely historic property.
• Jean-Georges dining: Drusie & Darr is a destination in its own right.
• Large rooms: generous square footage downtown.
• Refined, quiet feel: a step removed from the honky-tonk crowds.

Cons:

• No pool or large spa: amenities are classic, not resort-style.
• High rates: historic luxury commands a premium.

Verdict: The choice for travelers who value heritage and exceptional dining over pools and water parks.

6. Thompson Nashville

Type: Boutique luxury | Price: $$$ ($300-$550/night) | Location: The Gulch | Best for: Style-conscious couples

Thompson Nashville is a design-led property in The Gulch with one of the city's best rooftop bars, L.A. Jackson, plus the ground-floor Marsh House for Southern seafood. Rooms lean mid-century-modern with skyline views from the upper floors.

It hits a sweet spot between full-service luxury and boutique character, and its Gulch address keeps dining and shopping within easy reach.

Pros:

• L.A. Jackson rooftop: a marquee Nashville bar.
• Walkable Gulch: restaurants and boutiques at the door.
• Stylish rooms: consistent design pedigree.
• Solid dining: Marsh House on the ground floor.

Cons:

• No resort pool scene: rooftop only, and it gets busy.
• Boutique footprint: fewer amenities than the convention resorts.

Verdict: A stylish, walkable base for couples who want a scene without the mega-resort.

7. Sheraton Music City Hotel

Type: Full-service garden hotel | Price: $$ ($150-$280/night) | Location: Near the airport / Opryland | Best for: Value seekers with a car

The Sheraton Music City Hotel sits on 23 landscaped acres near the airport, with both indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, a fitness center, and a Georgian-style design that feels more like a campus than a city tower. It is a frequent host for events and a strong value when downtown rates spike.

You will want a car or rideshare budget, since it is removed from Broadway, but the grounds and pools give it a genuine resort feel for the money.

Pros:

• Sprawling grounds: 23 acres with mature landscaping.
• Indoor + outdoor pools: rare combination at this price.
• Tennis + fitness: real recreation amenities.
• Strong value: well below downtown luxury rates.

Cons:

• Not walkable: car needed for downtown and the Opry.
• Dated in spots: classic rather than contemporary.

Verdict: The best value-resort feel in Nashville if you do not mind driving to the attractions.

8. Hutton Hotel

Type: Boutique music hotel | Price: $$ ($200-$350/night) | Location: West End / Midtown | Best for: Music lovers and value luxury

The Hutton Hotel on West End Avenue is a boutique property with a strong music identity, including its own Analog live-music venue and a recording studio used by touring artists. Rooms are contemporary and comfortable, and the Midtown location sits between downtown and Vanderbilt.

It is a smart middle-tier pick: more character than a chain, more value than the luxury towers, and a built-in live-music draw.

Pros:

• Analog music venue: live performances on site.
• Midtown location: between Vanderbilt and downtown.
• Comfortable modern rooms: solid for the price.
• Music-industry pedigree: recording studio and artist ties.

Cons:

• No pool: amenity-light versus the resorts.
• Walk to Broadway: rideshare needed for the honky-tonks.

Verdict: A characterful value pick for travelers who want Nashville's music identity baked in.

9. Bobby Hotel

Type: Design-forward boutique | Price: $$$ ($250-$450/night) | Location: Printers Alley / downtown | Best for: Rooftop social scene

Bobby Hotel is a downtown boutique famous for the vintage bus parked on its rooftop bar, one of Nashville's most photographed hangouts. The location near Printers Alley and Broadway makes it a true downtown base, and the rooms are playful and contemporary.

It trades full-service amenities for personality and a strong rooftop scene, which is exactly what many Nashville visitors are after.

Pros:

• Rooftop bus bar: an iconic Nashville hangout.
• Downtown location: walkable to Broadway and Printers Alley.
• Distinctive design: playful, photogenic interiors.
• Compact and central: everything is close.

Cons:

• No spa or big pool: rooftop plunge only.
• Lively, not quiet: the social scene comes with noise.

Verdict: The downtown boutique for travelers who prioritize a rooftop scene and walkability.

10. The Joseph, a Luxury Collection Hotel

Type: Art-focused luxury | Price: $$$$ ($350-$650/night) | Location: SoBro, downtown | Best for: Art lovers and design travelers

The Joseph is a Luxury Collection hotel in SoBro built around a serious contemporary art program drawn from a private collection. It features a rooftop pool with skyline views, the Italian-leaning Yolan restaurant, and the more casual Denim bar.

Polished and gallery-like, it appeals to travelers who want luxury with a cultural angle and a downtown address near the Music City Center.

Pros:

• Curated art collection: a genuine cultural draw.
• Rooftop pool: skyline views downtown.
• Yolan dining: acclaimed Italian restaurant.
• SoBro location: near the convention center and Broadway.

Cons:

• High rates: luxury pricing during peak periods.
• Urban scale: a refined hotel rather than a resort campus.

Verdict: The art-forward luxury pick for downtown travelers who want culture with their comfort.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best resort in Nashville overall? The Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center is the top overall pick thanks to its indoor gardens, SoundWaves water park, 18 restaurants, and Opry-adjacent location. It is effectively a self-contained vacation.

Which Nashville resort is the best value? The JW Marriott Nashville offers the best balance of luxury amenities and a walkable downtown location at rates that frequently undercut the city's boutique luxury houses. The Sheraton Music City is the value pick if you want sprawling grounds and pools.

Are there beach or waterfront resorts in Nashville? Nashville is inland, so there is no beach. The Gaylord Opryland's SoundWaves water park is the best water experience, while properties like the Four Seasons sit along the Cumberland River.

Which Nashville resort is best for families? The Gaylord Opryland is the clear family choice for its SoundWaves water park, gardens, and on-site dining. The Sheraton Music City is a good-value family alternative with indoor and outdoor pools.

How close are these resorts to Broadway and the honky-tonks? Downtown properties like the JW Marriott, Four Seasons, Bobby Hotel, and The Joseph are within walking distance of Broadway. The Gaylord Opryland and Sheraton Music City are roughly 20-30 minutes out, so plan on a car or rideshare.

Do Nashville resorts charge resort fees? Several do, including the Gaylord Opryland, and SoundWaves water park passes are typically separate. Always confirm the all-in nightly rate, including parking and fees, before booking.

Sources

• Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center — Marriott official site
• SoundWaves at Gaylord Opryland Resort — official site
• Four Seasons Hotel Nashville — official site
• The Hermitage Hotel — official site
• Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center — Tripadvisor reviews 2026
• The 8 Best Luxury Resorts in Tennessee 2026 — Strategistico

Related on PULSE

• Top 10 Resorts in Charlotte — the next-closest Southeast city-resort comparison.
• Best KPIs for Hospitality & Resort Operators — the metrics that separate full and empty resorts.
• Pulse Tools — calculators for trip budgeting and rate comparison.

Bottom Line

Nashville's "resort" category is really three categories: the self-contained Gaylord Opryland for families and groups, polished downtown towers like the JW Marriott, Four Seasons, 1 Hotel, and The Joseph for travelers who want to walk to Broadway, and value plays like the Sheraton Music City and Hutton Hotel that deliver amenities for less.

Pick by trip type: water park and scale point to Opryland; walkable nightlife and spa point downtown; and a tighter budget points to the garden-campus and boutique options. All ten are open and bookable in 2026-2027.

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