CMA Fest packages featuring the best hotels and great seats for the biggest and best country music event in the world!
Menu
When you consider where you want to stay for CMA Fest, there are several things to consider. CMA Fest is based around several venues but all of them are located in the downtown area of Nashville. The daytime venues are spread out from the Cumberland River to the Music City Center which houses Fan Fair X during the day, then you go across the river to Nissan Stadium for the featured nightly concerts with the top names in country music. Because of this, downtown hotel properties, especially those in the “SoBro” (South of Broadway) area of Nashville are considered the most desirable. They are a little more expensive, but the convenience, especially in the heat of Summer in the South, is hard to beat. We do feature hotel options in the Opryland area located about 12 miles from downtown (20 minutes or more depending on traffic). These offer a more affordable option but our we suggest a CMA Fest parking pass or using ride share when staying out in that area.
If you are driving in to town, please note that there is a charge for parking at all hotels except The Inn at Opryland. All other hotels charge for parking and the cost is usually between $40-$60 a day. That is a charge you pay directly to the hotel.
Once you choose which of these options are best for you, narrow your choices by what properties have to offer in room amenities or property features.
CMA Fest starts Thursday morning and runs through Sunday evening. All of our packages are a minimum four nights and must include Thursday through Sunday.
50 percent or more of our customers will arrive on Wednesday or earlier. Thursday-Sunday are so packed with activities included in your 4 Day Pass, that many choose to come earlier so they can get the lay of the land and be ready to go first thing Thursday morning as lines start early for Riverfront stage and Fan Fair X. Stars start having fan club parties as early as Monday, the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday night is usually one of the best line ups of the year, and and there are lots of activities and stars downtown. We even have a few customers that like to stay over an extra day on the back end for a little r & r.
Where you want to sit for the reserved seat nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium is as personal a choice as any in this process, and there are several things to consider. First let me say, this is an NFL football stadium. It is huge for a concert, but the stage is very big, set about the normal 15 yard line on the North end of the field, and it has a HUGE screen on each side of the stage. For the most part, no matter where you sit, you will spend most of the evening enjoying the great music, swaying along with your friends, and watching the big screens on either side of the stage. During the festival they are filming a TV special, so there are a lot of great camera shots on those screens.
(Lower Level seating – Sections 111-136 are included in our base package prices)
Please Note – beginning in 2022 all CMA Fest tickets are digital and require a smart phone for entry
Field Level Sections 1-6 – The first 6 sections on the football field in front of the stage. These seats are a $300 premium upgrade to our packages and we do not have many as they are the best seats for the Fest. These will likely sell out for us in our pre-sale to previous years customers. If you like to stand up during the performances, sing and sway, these are a great option. A little livelier crowd than most other areas in the stadium, a longer walk to refreshments or the bathrooms as well.
Field Level Sections 7-14 – These are the next level of sections across the football field. These seats are a $200 per person upgrade to our standard packaging, are just as fun and have the same amenities and issues as the Sections 1-6 seating, just a little further back. There is also a wheelchair ramp on the Floor Level offering great views.
Field Level Sections 15-21 – These are the last level of sections across the football field. These seats are a $100 per person upgrade to our standard packaging, are just as fun and have the same amenities and issues as the other field seating, just a little further back.
Keep in mind all Field Level seating is in folding chairs on a flat football field. If a 6’5′ person stands in front of you, seeing the stage can be a problem, but typically you can still see the screens. Also of note on the field is the lower your seat number, the closer you are to the center of the field in that section.
LOWER LEVEL – Our standard level of pricing includes Lower Level seating. These are chair backed stadium seats, with each row being elevated slightly above the row in front of it. Rows start at A and go back to usually HH with no “i” or “o”. Lower Level sections are 110-137, have relatively easy access to bathrooms and concessions. In these sections, most will stand for performances, some won’t.
CLUB LEVEL – The Club Level is like a balcony above and behind the Lower Level and are a $100 per person premium in our packages. You are higher up in the stadium, typically a little more shall we say settled crowd, but a great place to take in the music and the whole atmosphere of the concerts. The Club Level also has access to air conditioned vestibule with concessions and restrooms. Again, these are sections 210-237, and start with row A and go up from there.
UPPER LEVEL – We do not offer any seating in the 300 level.
Notes for Lower, Club, and Upper Level seating – As you look at the stadium from the stage, seat one will be to the left of the section and the higher numbers (not all rows have the same number of seats) will be to the right. Aisle seats go faster than middle row seats, but I have sat in both and if you don’t go to the bathroom or concession stand often, I recommend the middle of the rows, otherwise you are getting up and down to let people in and out all the time.
Grand Ole Opry – Tuesday, June 4, 2023 at 7pm – $120 per person – The Grand Ole Opry is celebrating it’s 99th consecutive year of live radio shows on WSM radio (and now on Sirius/XM). It is the show that made country music famous and popular, and the show on Tuesday of CMA Fest week is usually a star studded line up. We order our tickets for this show a year in advance and will have very good seats. If you are in town, we highly recommend this option for your package.
Opry Country Classics – Saturday, June 8, 2023 at 12pm – $100 per person – This show is a version of the Grand Ole Opry celebrating the best country music through the decades and it is located in the “mother church” of country music, the Ryman Auditorium. Again, we purchased our seats more than a year in advance, so you are assured to have good seats for this afternoon show
Admission to the Country Music Fall of Fame and Museum – (self guided tour) Everything country music and located right in the heart of the CMA Fest footprint, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a must see while you are in Nashville. Tons of history are located in the museum as well as special exhibits that rolls through the museum each year. Cost for a visit to the museum is just $28 per person including tax and you can use that ticket anytime the museum is open to the public June 1-15, 2024
Admission to the Ryman Auditorium – (self guided tour) The “Mother Church” of Country Music, the Ryman Auditorium is living history. The home of the Greand Ole Opry for many, many years, the venue now also hosts concerts and other special events. The incredible acoustics and history of the building are a draw for artists of all genres and of course, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge is located just out the backstage door! Cost for this tour is just $30 per person including tax and you can use that ticket anytime the attraction is open to the public June 1-15, 2024
Nissan Stadium 4 Day parking pass – $120 – Parking downtown can be expensive and for those that like the freedom of driving, this is a great option, and allows daytime in and outs. After about 4pm in the afternoon, they scan the pass preventing re-entry. Note there is no overnight parking or tailgating.
Now you have the information you need to make the best choices, so what do you do now?
This site is operated by Nashville Express Tours to promote packages for guests visiting Nashville for the CMA Fest each June. This site is not affiliated with CMA and operates independant from CMA. This site is not endorsed by any artists listed or appearing in pictures on the site.
This site is copyright Nashville Express Tours 2024