Nashville’s public transit runs on one brand, WeGo, and one simple rule: tap to pay, and the system automatically charges you the best price for however much you ride. There’s no light rail here — it’s buses and one weekday commuter train — but the network reaches most of the places visitors and residents need to go, and the airport bus is one of the cheapest airport connections in the country.
The basics
WeGo Public Transit is the umbrella brand for two agencies: the Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), which runs local and connector buses plus paratransit inside Davidson County, and the Regional Transportation Authority of Middle Tennessee (RTA), which runs commuter buses and a train from outlying counties.
The bus network has 27 local routes and 9 regional routes, grouped by how often they run:
- Frequent — 8 routes (including 3 West End, 7 Hillsboro, and 23 Dickerson Pike) come every 15 minutes or better on major corridors.
- Local — routes like 18 Airport and 6 Lebanon Pike run every 20–60 minutes.
- Connector — routes that cross neighborhoods without going downtown.
- Express — commuter buses from outlying counties (Murfreesboro, Clarksville, Gallatin, and others) into downtown park-and-rides.
The WeGo Star is a weekday-only commuter train on the East Corridor, running mornings and afternoons between downtown’s Riverfront Station and Lebanon, with stops in Donelson, Hermitage, Mt. Juliet, and two Lebanon-area stations. Shuttle buses (routes 64 and 93) meet every train at Riverfront Station to connect into downtown and the West End/Vanderbilt area.
How to pay
WeGo uses a system called QuickTicket, and you’ve got a few ways to tap on:
- A contactless bank card or your phone (Apple Pay / Google Pay) — tap it right on the validator when you board. American Express isn’t accepted.
- A QuickTicket card or the QuickTicket by WeGo app — load stored value or a pass at quicktickettn.com, in the app, or at WeGo Central, then tap to board.
- Exact cash on the bus — no change given, and no transfers with a cash fare.
Whichever tap method you use, the system charges stored-value “Best Value” pricing: it automatically stops charging you once you’ve hit the day or monthly cap, so you never need to figure out which pass to buy in advance.
Fares
| 2-hour fare | Day cap | Monthly cap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult (QuickTicket or contactless tap) | $2.00 | $4.00 | $65.00 |
| Adult (exact cash) | $2.00 (single ride, no transfer) | — | — |
| Youth (19 & under) / Senior (65+) with a Discount ID | $1.00 | $2.00 | $33.00 |
| Kids 4 and under | Free | — | — |
Riders with disabilities or a Medicare card also qualify for the discounted fare — apply for a Discount ID in person at WeGo Central. Regional buses and the WeGo Star cost more and vary by route or station: a regional bus ride is $4.25, and WeGo Star fares range from $2.00 (Donelson) up to $5.25 (Lebanon) depending on where you board. WeGo Access paratransit is $3.70 a ride.
Getting from the airport
Take Route 18 Airport, a regular WeGo local bus, between Nashville International Airport (BNA) and the Elizabeth Duff Transit Center at WeGo Central downtown.
- Where to catch it: the BNA Ground Transportation Center, Level 1 of the Terminal 2 Garage — follow signs from baggage claim.
- Cost: $2, same as any local ride, and your tap doubles as a 2-hour pass with no transfer needed.
- Time: express trips take about 20 minutes; local trips (with more stops) take 35–45 minutes depending on traffic.
- Luggage is allowed on board.
Apps to download
- QuickTicket by WeGo — the official app for buying fare, loading a card, and tapping to board with your phone.
- Transit — real-time bus arrivals and step-by-step trip planning.
- Google Maps — solid for general trip planning with live WeGo data built in.
When it runs
WeGo doesn’t publish one system-wide span, but WeGo Access paratransit — which by law runs during the same hours as fixed-route service — operates 4:45am to 1am, seven days a week, including holidays, giving a good sense of the outer bounds of bus service. Within that, Frequent routes run every 15 minutes or better; Local routes every 20–60 minutes. The WeGo Star train only runs weekday mornings and afternoons — there’s no midday, evening, or weekend train service.
Accessibility
All WeGo buses are ADA accessible. WeGo Access provides door-to-door paratransit within Davidson County for riders who can’t use fixed-route service, with next-day to seven-day advance booking; riders who can’t navigate it independently must travel with a personal care attendant. Formats like large print, Braille, and audio are available on request.
Etiquette & local quirks
- Bikes ride free — each bus has a front rack for two bikes, first-come first-served; e-bikes under 55 lbs with tires up to 2 inches wide are also allowed on the rack, and bikes of any size can go on the WeGo Star.
- No smoking, vaping, or alcohol on vehicles or at stops, and no unauthorized weapons or flammable materials.
- Animals other than service animals need an approved carrier to board.
- Don’t photograph other riders without their permission — it’s specifically called out in the RTA’s code of conduct.
- Loitering, sleeping, or storing personal belongings at stations and transit centers isn’t allowed.
Good to know
- WeGo is two agencies under one brand: Nashville MTA runs the local network you’ll use day to day, while the RTA runs regional buses and the WeGo Star for commuters coming from outside Davidson County.
- There’s no light rail or subway in Nashville — everything is bus-based except the one commuter train line.
- Fares are paid by tapping a validator on board, not through station gates — there’s nowhere to “beat the fare” by walking around a turnstile, but keep your QuickTicket receipt or card handy in case you’re asked to show proof of payment.