What are the best beaches near Tennessee? And how far is it by car? -{Updated 2022}

Evening swim at The Beach Club in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

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We’re going to tell you.

You can stop searching the Googler for: closest beaches to Nashville, because we’re here with the answers.

This article is going to:

Give you details about the closest beach to Nashville
Discuss the driving distance and best route to get there
Highlight road trip stops along the way
Tell you EXACTLY what to do once you’re there
Explain the best time of year to go

What’s the closest ocean beach to Nashville, TN?

The view from the Beach Club at Gulf Shores, AL.

Most charming beaches on the gulf are a 7 to 9-hour drive from Nashville. The driving time for the nearest beaches to Nashville are as follows:

Pensacola and other beaches on 30A (like Seaside and Rosemary Beach) are 6 hour and 48 minutes away.
Destin and Gulf Shores is about 7 hours away.
Panama City Beach is about 7 hours and 15 min.
Tybee Island and Hilton Head beaches are about 7.5 hours away.
Myrtle Beach is 9 hours away.

One of the best beaches is: Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama.

From your driveway in Nashville to the emerald waters of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, the drive time should be 7 hours.

Sunset on the shoreline of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

How to get there?

The trip down South from Nashville to Gulf Shores is a straight shot on I-65 south AND you get to pass some GREAT sights along the way.

Stop and sightsee (HERE) on your way down to the beach.

1. Huntsville, AL

Tour the U.S Space and Rocket Center

Visit the city’s Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment Center.

Want an educational stop? Try Burritt on the Mountain Museum (open air history museum).

2. Birmingham, AL

Don’t miss the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.

Take a walk through the Birmingham Zoo.

Want an educational stop? Try McWane Science Center.

3. Fairhope, AL

The kids will love Gator Alley Boardwalk.

Have lunch on the water at Shux Pier.

Stroll through the Fairhope shopping and arts area downtown.

Continuing to Gulf Shores beach in Alabama

Wild, wild beach parties?

Nope, not here.

If you want a party beach, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach may not be your spot. Don’t get me wrong. Gulf Shores knows how to have fun with big festivals like this or unique events like this one that that you won't find anywhere else in the world!

I mean, when can you see bull riding ON THE BEACH!?

In Gulf Shores, you can.

While there's no lack of entertainment, the Gulf Shores community is proud of the efforts to keep their beaches family-friendly. One of the ways they do that is to ban alcohol on the beaches during spring break season.

It’s not a fancy beach; you won’t have to sell a kidney to vacation here.

Now, I’m not saying there aren’t exclusive spots in Gulf Shores like Perdido Key Resort, this full-service resort or these condos with grills and jacuzzis on every balcony!

But on the pretentiousness meter, Gulf Shores flatlines, and that’s a GOOD thing. It’s no wonder that they were voted by USA Today as one of the Best Southern Beaches.

It's a well-rounded location with options for everyone.

Gulf Shores -- captures the magic of your childhood beach vacations

What we love about this city is its coastal charm, with its family-owned stores and restaurants, and its controlled development. When you drive along the sea, your view of the ocean is not completely blocked by a million skyscrapers, as it is in other popular beach towns.

Schedule your beach activities ahead of time here — Try parasailing, dolphin cruises, jet skiing and all of THESE other activities!

Schedule your beach activities before you head down! We did this jet ski rental by booking here…and fuel was included!

Here are the things to do in Gulf Shores for every kind of getaway!

Our friends at Gulf Shores have recommendations for each type of trip! For details on where to eat and what to do, click on the type of getaway you’re planning.

Family Vacation

It's you and the kids! What should you do as a family? The adventures are almost too many to list. Here's the tip of the iceberg here.

Girlfriend Getaway

Get away from it all with your besties!! All the fun is listed here.

Couple’s Escape

Reconnect and discover what it's like to be friends again. Your romantic details are here.

Guys’ Weekend

Let the bromance begin! View all the manly details here.

When is the BEST time to go to Gulf Shores?

We tend to think of the beach only during the summer months. But one of the tricks of the travel trade is finding those "off season" trips! They are less busy, less expensive, and more bang for your buck.

Imagine doing all these normal beach activities for half the price -- in October!

The best thing about our gulf coast beaches is this: summer goes WAYYYY past August each year. Basically you can plan for a summer AND a fall beach getaway every year!

Lakes or beaches? Which do you prefer?

In Tennessee, we’re fortunate to have many options for lake fun! And we have quite a variety of man-made beach areas around town, like this one. But, it’s not the same, right?

So, here’s my advice: pin this article so that when you have that hankering for a beach getaway, EVERYTHING you need to make your plan is right here.

Everything you need to know about Nashville’s closest beach