Do you have a child that is interested in aviation? Nashville doesn’t have an aerospace museum but there are several opportunities to go plane spotting in Middle Tennessee. There are also several small museums within a few hours’ drive to keep your little (or big) aviator entertained.
Airports
Nashville International Airport
- Park in the official observation area of Vultee Blvd. to watch planes take off and land – Here’s a map
- Alternatively, try Portview Drive – make sure to park on the street not the grass – Map
- Check out the live flight tracking for the airport to identify what planes are taking off and landing.
- You can also listen to the live air traffic controllers
- And here are some plane spotting tips including a runway map specific to Nashville
- Before you head out take a look at this plane spotting guide to learn about planes and download an app to take with you on your adventure.
John C. Tune Airport – Map – The terminal is open to the public and families are welcome to watch the planes through the big glass windows over looking the runway.
Smyrna Airport – Map – The terminal is open to the public, but I was told the best spot to watch the planes is from the Smyrna Greenway. Check out the trail map HERE and park at either the Lee Victory trail head (#2 on the map) or the Fitzhugh Blvd. trailhead (#4 on the map). There are even benches and informational plaques about the airport on the trail.
- Home of the Great Tennessee Air Show
Sumner County Regional Airport – Map
Lebanon Airport – Map The terminal is open to the public and there are 3 benches that welcome families to come and sit and watch the planes take off and land.
Murfreesboro Airport – Map The terminal is open and there are also picnic tables and a grill where you can have lunch and watch the planes.
- MTSU, also in Murfreesboro is home to an aerospace program where you can study to be a pilot or air traffic controller. The program also offers camps to high school students. Get more details HERE.
Nearby Aviation Museums
- Beechcraft Heritage Museum – Tullahoma – Map
- Hixson Museum of Flight – Hixson – Map
- Tennessee Museum of Aviation – Sevierville – Map
- Swift Museum – Athens – Map
- The Veteran’s Museum – Dyersburg – Map
- Arrowheads/Aerospace Cultural Center – Manchester – Map
Thanks for this great post! I will be checking out some of these spots with my twins!
Another great option for flight curious families is to check a check out the various RC airfields in the Nashville area. Our city is home to 3 public model airfields, including one of the oldest in the country at Edwin Warner Park. The other two are at Cane Ridge Park and Peeler Park in Madison. There are covered areas and places to have a snack while watching the RC pilots. In addition there is a less active public field at Sander’s Ferry Park in Hendersonville, which doesn’t have much shade but a few picnic tables and some bleachers.
I fly at the public parks and am always happy to show the hobby to young flyers. There are various shows and flyins throughout the season on weekends.