RELATED LINKS Return to Nashville City Guide

Unless you plan to spend most of your time in a confined area like Opryland or Downtown, you'll probably want to rent a car to make the most of your visit to Nashville. Unfortunately, rapid population growth, a confusing street plan and a reputation for aggressive driving habits make Nashville an intimidating place for visitors to navigate by car. Here are a few rules of thumb to make the experience less of an ordeal:

— As in any major metropolitan area, it's best to stay off the roads during morning and evening commute hours.

— Arm yourself with a good map and, whenever possible, print point-to-point driving directions off the Internet. GPS systems come in extremely handy, too.

— Drive defensively — even more defensively than you usually do. Southern hospitality aside, you can't always count on Nashville drivers to cut you some slack as you merge onto a freeway or turn left on a yellow light.

— Beware of metered street parking downtown where lanes must be cleared during commute hours; read the parking control signs carefully!

— Consider staying off the road during intense summer downpours or freezing rain in winter.

— Finally, if you're on your way to a business meeting, the Grand Ole Opry or some other time-sensitive appointment, leave early so you won't panic at losing your way or getting delayed in traffic.