Let’s take a ride eastbound along one of Nashville’s most important beltways—Tennessee Route 155, more commonly known to locals as Briley Parkway. Spanning roughly 16 miles on this stretch, this route arcs gracefully around the northern side of Music City, connecting major interstates, highways, neighborhoods, and key local attractions. It’s a drive that shows us not just the practical side of Nashville’s traffic flow, but also glimpses of what makes this city hum with activity beyond its famous downtown honky-tonks.
We kick off our journey merging onto TN-155 from the Interstate 40 interchange, just west of downtown. Immediately, we find ourselves on a wide, multi-lane parkway that’s designed to handle a steady mix of commuter and through traffic. Heading north first, the parkway cuts through a largely commercial corridor. Just a few miles in, we pass the interchange with TN-12 (which is the Ashland City Highway in this neck of the woods).
Continuing our arc, TN-155 shifts direction from north to east, carrying us over a series of junctions with U.S. Highway 41 Alternate and U.S. Highway 431. These interchanges link Briley Parkway to local routes that head toward historic neighborhoods and business districts, including Joelton and Whites Creek. A few miles later, we approach and glide through the major interchange with Interstate 24. This is where TN-155 earns its stripes as a vital connector—offering seamless transitions for travelers heading toward Murfreesboro to the southeast or Clarksville to the northwest. From here, the parkway maintains its brisk pace eastbound and soon meets the unusual cluster of ramps that tie together U.S. Highway 41 and Interstate 65. If you’re unfamiliar with Nashville’s freeway tangle, this section can feel like threading a needle: exits and on-ramps stack and loop in quick succession, so stay sharp!
Past the I-65 junction, Briley Parkway rolls on, hugging the residential fringes of neighborhoods like East Nashville and Donelson. We pass under or near U.S. Highway 31E (Gallatin Pike) and its north and south splits, with quick access to local routes heading toward Hendersonville or back into the heart of Nashville. Not long after, we cross the broad span of the Cumberland River—one of the city’s defining natural features. It’s a brief but scenic moment that reminds us how waterways still shape modern highways.
As we reach the final mile or so of our eastbound cruise, TN-155 bends gently south. This portion serves as a gateway to Donelson, a laid-back suburban neighborhood known for its vintage homes and proximity to Nashville International Airport. Our ride wraps up near the interchange with McGavock Pike—a local road that provides easy access to the Opryland complex, the General Jackson Showboat, and the well-loved Music Valley strip.
So whether you’re bypassing city traffic, making an airport run, or planning to explore Nashville’s attractions beyond Broadway, this eastbound stretch of TN-155 is a reliable and scenic loop that keeps the city moving.
Route continues: https://youtu.be/pJz4NDxK0ws
🗺️ Route Map
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