Nashville: Where it pays to stay at a campground

We don’t like to stay at campgrounds. As full-time RVers, we prefer to boondock, living off the grid while relying on our solar panels to power the electricity in our fifth wheel. Our next favorite option is moochdocking, where we camp on the property of friends and family and mooch their electricity and water. (Thank you, friends and family!) 

Sometimes, however, we have limited choices for where to stay, especially in the hot summer months when we need reliable electricity to operate our two air conditioners. That’s where we found ourselves for a late-June stop in Nashville, so we booked a campground. And staying there paid off. 

Complimentary event tickets

Two days before our scheduled arrival, we received a phone call from the campground offering us free tickets to the iconic Grand Ole Opry on our first night in town. We had heard nothing but good things about the home of country music, so we gladly accepted.

While registering at the campground, a friendly worker handed us our tickets and a map with excellent directions to Opry Mills Mall, where we could park for free for the event. We set up our rig and then researched our options for grabbing a bite to eat before the show. 

After parking at the mall, we navigated on foot to the Bavarian Bierhaus on the property to partake of some amazing German sausages, sauerkraut, and potato pancakes. That may sound like odd food for Nashville, but Music City actually has a pretty significant German contingent, and even an area referred to as Germantown.

Satisfied and running low on time, we hailed a Lyft to whisk us across the parking lot in the sudden cloudburst. As our driver neared the Opry, the downpour eased, and we laid eyes on the building and a throng of people. ​

Not being big concertgoers, we weren’t sure what to expect. We found the way to our seats and settled in for what turned out to be a night of appreciating incredible talent. Seven musical groups — including Jamie O’Neal, T. Graham Brown, Eric Paslay, and Riders in the Sky — each played three songs. Comedian Brian Bates also took the stage and shared some jokes, making the crowd roar with laughter.

This concert was part of the 100th year of the Grand Ole Opry, a show built on tradition. It’s transitioned from a barn dance to Ryman Auditorium to its current 4,400-seat locale in a building bearing its name. Its heritage continues with a six-foot circle of oak from the Ryman stage taking center stage in the Opry House.

Downtown shuttle access

Located about 12 miles from downtown Nashville, our campground also offered access to shuttle service (for a cash fee) into town. This provided a convenient alternative to fighting traffic to try to find a parking spot large enough to accommodate our big dually truck.

At the end of a workday, we boarded a shuttle to the Country Music Hall of Fame. From there, we walked a block to Broadway, aka Honky Tonk Highway. Honky-tonk after honky-tonk blared live music through open floor-to-ceiling windows. 

We embarked on a progressive dinner while sampling the sounds of up-and-coming artists hoping to make it big. We noshed on laredo rolls — pulled pork egg rolls over queso sauce — at Broadway Brewhouse and brisket tots at Ole Red. Then we ventured off the beaten path to Printers Alley, a former publishing street, where we meandered to an English pub for a Nashville take on shepherd’s pie — extra cheese and no brown gravy. 

From there, we wandered down to Cumberland River to work off some food and take in the sights. Then we found ourselves in another honky-tonk, The Valentine, where we devoured mango habanero chicken wings and grooved to some popular live country tunes before boarding a shuttle back to the campground. 

Pro tip: If you go to Honky Tonk Highway, take small bills to tip the performers.

Location, location, location

When booking a stay in the Nashville area, we wanted a campground as close to the city as possible. Two Rivers Campground had a reasonable price and a great location near the Grand Ole Opry, Opry Mills Mall, and the Gaylord Opry Hotel. 

After returning from downtown, we decided to explore the hotel based on the advice of two friends. To avoid a parking fee, we parked at the mall again and worked our way to the hotel entrance. Voluminous plants created a jungle, complete with waterfalls, in the imposing atrium. I felt like I was at Disneyland.

On the other side, we felt like we had been ushered into New Orleans. Southern-style buildings housed eateries and shops. Walking past them led us to a river, where we could even book a boat ride if desired.

We’re glad we heeded our friends’ advice to check out the hotel. We’re also grateful we booked a campground in Nashville.

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