Photo: Lee Luo
Photo: Amanda Simmers
Photo: Amanda Simmers
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
★4.6(19,416 reviews)$$Museum
🕑 2-3 hours for families, depending on your child's interest level and whether you add the Studio B tour👶 Best for ages 5 and up. School-age kids enjoy the scavenger hunts and recognizing famous instruments, while tweens and teens especially love the Taylor Swift gallery and interactive music-making stations. Younger children (3-4) may enjoy the visual displays like Elvis's car but have shorter attention spans for the exhibits.🧡 Saved by 100+ families
About
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum offers a surprisingly kid-friendly journey through music history in the heart of Nashville. From Elvis Presley's iconic gold Cadillac to interactive scavenger hunts and the Taylor Swift Education Center, this museum engages young music fans with hands-on activities and eye-catching exhibits that make history come alive.
Highlights
- ✓Elvis Presley's solid gold Cadillac,a showstopper that kids can't stop talking about
- ✓Taylor Swift Education Center with hands-on songwriting and instrument activities
- ✓Family scavenger hunts that turn exhibit browsing into an adventure
- ✓Costumes and stage outfits from famous country stars that dazzle young eyes
- ✓Interactive listening stations where kids can hear different music styles and instruments
Pro Tips
- 1.Pick up a free family scavenger hunt sheet at the admission desk to keep kids engaged throughout your visit,it turns the museum into an interactive game
- 2.Start on the top floor and work your way down; kids have more energy for reading exhibits early on, and you'll end near the gift shop
- 3.Visit on weekday mornings right at 9 AM opening for smaller crowds and a more relaxed experience with popular exhibits like the gold Cadillac
- 4.Don't miss the Taylor Swift Education Center where kids can try writing songs and experimenting with instruments,it's the most interactive area
- 5.Allow time for the Studio B tour add-on if your kids are interested in recording studios; it's where Elvis recorded over 200 songs
Best Time to Visit
Weekday mornings between 9:00-11:00 AM offer the quietest experience before tour groups arrive. Avoid weekends and summer afternoons when crowds peak, making it harder for kids to see exhibits up close.
What to Know
General admission is around $26 for adults and $16 for children ages 6-12 (5 and under free). The museum has a café on-site for snacks, and parking is available in nearby lots for $10-15. The facility is fully accessible with elevators and stroller-friendly.
Seasonal Notes
Open year-round with consistent hours. Check their website for special holiday programming and seasonal family events. Summer can be crowded with tourists, while fall and spring offer more comfortable visit conditions.
Nearby Eats
Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant (2 blocks away) offers Southern comfort food in a casual, kid-friendly atmosphere with mac and cheese and BBQ favorites. For quicker bites, The Arcade (Nashville's oldest café) serves breakfast and burgers in a nostalgic diner setting that kids enjoy.
More Activities Near Nashville
Museum
Tennessee State Museum
★4.8Free❤️63
The Tennessee State Museum offers an impressive journey through Tennessee's history that's completely free for families. With interactive exhibits spanning from prehistoric times through modern day, kids can explore everything from Native American artifacts to Civil War history, all presented in an engaging, hands-on way that brings the past to life.
Museum
Lane Motor Museum
★4.8$❤️333
Lane Motor Museum offers a refreshing twist on the typical car museum experience with over 500 unique and unusual vehicles from around the world that will fascinate both kids and adults. Beyond the impressive collection of quirky automobiles, the museum features a dedicated indoor play area where younger children can burn energy, plus coloring stations throughout to keep little hands busy when they need a break from vehicle viewing.
Museum
The Parthenon
★4.6$❤️376
Step into ancient Greece without leaving Tennessee! This stunning full-scale replica of the original Parthenon houses a breathtaking 42-foot statue of Athena covered in gold leaf, plus rotating art exhibits. Kids can burn off energy at the adjacent playground while parents soak in the incredible architecture and beautiful Centennial Park setting.
Museum
Johnny Cash Museum
★4.6$❤️40
The Johnny Cash Museum offers an intimate look at the legendary Man in Black through personal artifacts, interactive exhibits, and music that brings American history to life. While geared more toward adults and older children, music-loving families will appreciate the engaging displays, listening stations, and the chance to see iconic guitars, costumes, and handwritten letters from one of country music's greatest legends.