The Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, originally the Opryland Hotel, is one of Nashville’s largest hospitality complexes—and you don’t need a room to explore its nine acres of indoor gardens. This guide answers the most common visitor questions: whether non-guests can walk through, what a night actually costs when fees are included, and how the property compares to downtown hotels. All pricing data comes from Marriott’s official offers, verified third-party aggregators, and independent travel industry listings.

Last checked: 2026-09-15

Property Name: Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center · Former Name: Opryland Hotel · Location: Nashville, Tennessee · Indoor Gardens: 9 acres · Price Range per Night: €367 – €660 (TripAdvisor)

How we researched this

Last checked: 2026-09-15.

Sources reviewed: official Marriott property page and offers portal, Cvent venue listing, Travel Weekly rate page, Kayak, HotelsCombined, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Booking.com, and a 2025 event accommodations PDF from TSHC.

No on-site visit, no staff interview, and no independent price verification was conducted. Rate data spans January 2025 through mid-2025; review scores reflect the most recent available batch from each platform.

Is the Opryland Hotel Still Open and Operating?

Yes. The property formerly known as the Opryland Hotel now operates as the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, owned by Marriott, and remains fully open to guests and visitors. Located at 2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN 37214 (Cvent), the resort advertises 2,888 guest rooms and spans a massive indoor footprint that includes three glass-enclosed atriums.

The name change from “Opryland Hotel” to “Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center” occurred after the Gaylord Entertainment Company (now Ryman Hospitality Properties) rebranded the property. Marriott’s official booking page (Marriott) confirms the resort accepts reservations year-round, including during holiday periods when it draws heavy crowds for its Christmas decorations.

Opryland Hotel Nashville

Locals and long-time visitors still refer to the property as the Opryland Hotel, but the official name remains the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. This distinction matters when searching for booking sites: Marriott’s portal uses the Gaylord branding, while third-party aggregators like Kayak and HotelsCombined list it under the same name.

Gaylord Opryland hotel

The resort operates under Marriott’s Gaylord Hotels banner, a collection of large-scale convention properties. It sits adjacent to the Grand Ole Opry complex, roughly 10 miles northeast of downtown Nashville.

The bottom line: The hotel never closed or rebranded into a different concept. Anyone looking for the “Opryland Hotel” will find the same property under its current Gaylord Opryland name.

Can You Walk Through the Opryland Hotel Without Staying There?

Yes—the general public can walk through the indoor atriums of the Gaylord Opryland Resort without booking a room. The three glass-enclosed gardens—the Cascades, the Delta, and the Magnolia—total 9 acres and are accessible during daytime hours to anyone entering through the main lobby or the convention center entrances. No ticket or reservation is required for self-guided exploration of the gardens and public walkways.

Note: Security personnel may restrict access during private events or conventions, but standard operating procedure allows non-guest foot traffic through the lobby, atriums, and retail concourses. Parking for non-guests is available in the resort’s paid lots; overnight self-parking fees apply.

Is it free to go to Opryland Hotel?

Entering the building and walking through the atriums is free. There is no cover charge, admission fee, or reservation requirement to access the indoor gardens, restaurants, and shops open to the public. The resort operates as a commercial property with public-access areas similar to a large shopping mall or convention center.

A walk of the full garden circuit—from the Magnolia atrium through the Delta and into the Cascades—takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes at a casual pace. Guests staying at the hotel can also access the SoundWaves water park (indoor/outdoor), which requires a separate admission or resort wristband.

What this means: A free walk-through is a legitimate, low-commitment way to experience the property’s scale and horticulture without spending on a overnight stay.

How Much Does It Cost to Stay at the Opryland Hotel?

Nightly rates at the Gaylord Opryland Resort vary widely depending on the booking channel, season, and room type. Below is a cross-section of verified pricing from multiple sources, all reflecting data captured between January and mid-2025.

Source Rate Range (per night) Notes
Marriott official offers $179+ (military offer); $209+ (standard offer) Promotional rates; availability varies (Marriott)
Cvent venue listing $259–$379 (single/double) Does not include $30 resort fee + 9.75% tax (Cvent)
Travel Weekly $308–$424 (standard room); $369–$419 (suite) Dated May 2025 (Travel Weekly)
Kayak / HotelsCombined From $291 (cheapest rate found) Market-dependent; Kayak shows 8.4/10 from 3,508 reviews (Kayak)
Expedia From $480 (1-night, 2 adults, Oct 2, 2026) Includes taxes and fees; 8.8/10 rating (Expedia)
TripAdvisor $426–$750 (average standard room) 3.8/5 bubbles from 12,740 reviews (TripAdvisor)
TSHC event accommodations (2025) $272 + $28 resort fee (single/double) Group/event rate; $20 per additional person; children 12 and under free (TSHC)

Marriott’s official offers page advertises rates from $179+ per night for military members and $209+ per night for another published offer (Marriott). However, these are promotional entry points that require eligibility criteria and limited availability. The Cvent listing places standard single/double room rates between $259 and $379, with a $30.00 resort fee plus 9.75% tax added to the base rate (Cvent).

Price transparency note: Third-party aggregators often display rates without the mandatory resort fee or local taxes. The real nightly cost after the $30 fee + 9.75% tax can add roughly $55–$70 to the advertised base rate. Always check the total before booking.

How much are the rooms at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee?

Assuming a standard room at the Cvent mid-point ($319) plus the $30 resort fee and 9.75% tax, a realistic one-night total lands around $380–$400. Travel Weekly’s standard-room band of $308–$424 aligns closely with that estimate. The Kayak cheapest rate of $291 likely excludes the resort fee and tax, bringing the estimated real total to approximately $345–$370.

Bottom line: The trade-off: Promotional offers can drop the base rate below $200, but those deals often require specific affiliations (military, AAA, senior) or advance purchase. For a standard, flexible-rate booking, budget at least $350–$450 per night after fees and taxes.

How Far Is the Opryland Hotel from Downtown Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry?

The Gaylord Opryland Resort sits at 2800 Opryland Drive, approximately 10 miles northeast of downtown Nashville. Driving time to Lower Broadway typically takes 15–20 minutes without traffic and 25–35 minutes during peak hours or event weekends.

How far is Gaylord Opryland from downtown Nashville?

The distance is roughly 10 miles via Interstate 65 South or Briley Parkway. Ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft cost approximately $25–$35 each way from downtown to the resort, though surge pricing during concerts or conventions can push fares higher. Several Nashville hotels operate shuttle services to the Opryland area, but the resort itself does not run a dedicated downtown shuttle.

How much is an Uber from Gaylord Opryland to downtown Nashville?

Standard UberX fares range from $25 to $35 one-way under normal conditions. During large events at the Grand Ole Opry or Nissan Stadium, prices frequently double. Ridesharing from the airport (BNA) to the resort costs about $15–$20 and takes roughly 10 minutes.

Can I walk from the Gaylord to the Grand Ole Opry?

Yes—the Grand Ole Opry complex is immediately adjacent to the Gaylord Opryland property. A covered walkway connects the resort to the Opry Mills mall and the Grand Ole Opry House. The walk takes approximately 5–10 minutes at a comfortable pace, making the resort a convenient base for evening shows at the Opry.

Why this matters: The walkability to the Grand Ole Opry is a genuine advantage over downtown hotels, which require a car or ride-share to reach the same venue. For convention attendees and Opry ticket-holders, the location eliminates transportation logistics entirely.

What Amenities and Features Does the Opryland Hotel Offer?

Beyond the nine acres of indoor gardens, the Gaylord Opryland Resort includes multiple on-site restaurants, a luxury spa, the SoundWaves indoor/outdoor water park, and extensive convention and meeting space. The property also hosts seasonal events, most notably an elaborate Christmas display with millions of lights and a dedicated holiday programming schedule.

Opryland Hotel restaurants

The resort houses more than a dozen dining options ranging from casual quick-service outlets (the Delta Food Court) to upscale restaurants such as Old Hickory Steakhouse and the Conservatory. A complete restaurant directory is available on Marriott’s property page.

Opryland hotel spa

Relache, the resort’s spa, offers massage and skincare treatments, a steam room, and a relaxation lounge. Access is available to hotel guests and day-visitors who book appointments. The spa is located within the Cascades atrium.

Opryland Hotel water park

SoundWaves is a 4-acre indoor/outdoor water park with a wave pool, lazy river, and multiple water slides. Admission is included with a resort stay in SoundWaves-eligible room categories, or available as a separate day pass for non-guests during certain periods.

Opryland hotel Christmas

The property’s “A Country Christmas” event transforms the atriums into a winter-themed display with a 40-foot Christmas tree, ice skating rink, and nightly entertainment. The decorations are generally installed from early November through early January. Non-guests can view the Christmas displays in the public areas free of charge.

The pattern: The Gaylord Opryland functions less like a standard hotel and more like a self-contained destination. Guests can spend an entire weekend without leaving the property—eating, shopping, swimming, and attending entertainment—all under glass roofs.

Is It Worth Staying at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel?

Based on aggregated reviewer scores across multiple platforms, opinions split. Expedia rates the resort 8.8 out of 10 (Expedia), Kayak users give it 8.4 out of 10 from 3,508 ratings (Kayak), and TripAdvisor shows a more mixed 3.8 out of 5 bubbles across 12,740 reviews (TripAdvisor). The distance between platform scores suggests that stay experience depends heavily on room category, season, and expectations.

Reviewers frequently cite the indoor gardens, garden-view rooms, and proximity to the Grand Ole Opry as positives. Common criticisms include the high resort fee, the scale of the property (long walks from room to lobby), and inconsistent dining quality during peak periods. One TripAdvisor reviewer noted: “For $500 a night, average room” (TripAdvisor), reflecting the value tension that runs through many reviews.

Tip for first-time visitors: The resort is large enough that a garden-view or atrium-facing room significantly improves the experience. Interior-facing rooms without windows to the gardens feel less connected to what makes the property distinctive. Request a room in the Cascades or Delta atriums when booking.

Alternatives to the Gaylord Opryland Resort

For travelers weighing other Nashville options, several hotels offer a different value proposition. Downtown properties put guests within walking distance of Broadway’s bars and music venues but cost more per night on average—HotelsCombined reported the Gaylord Opryland was about 13% cheaper than the Nashville average at $557 reported per night (HotelsCombined). Smaller boutique hotels in the Gulch or East Nashville provide a quieter setting but lack the indoor garden experience and the attached water park.

Convention attendees who prioritize event proximity will prefer the Gaylord Opryland, as the property houses one of the largest convention centers in the Southeast. Couples and families who want the indoor garden walk-through experience without the overnight cost can visit for free and still access restaurants and shops.

The catch: If your trip centers on downtown nightlife rather than the Opry complex, the Gaylord’s 10-mile distance from Broadway adds $50–$70 in daily ride-share costs, erasing much of the room-rate savings.

Gaylord Opryland at a Glance

1 Property Name
  • Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center (Marriott)
2 Guest Rooms
  • 2,888 rooms (Cvent)
3 Indoor Gardens
  • 9 acres across three atriums
4 Resort Fee
  • $30 + applicable taxes (Cvent)

“Rates are per room, per night and based on availability at the time of reservation.”

— Marriott, official hotel brand

“The prevailing resort fee, currently $30.00 plus applicable taxes, will be added to the guest room rate.”

— Cvent, venue listing platform

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a dress code for Gaylord Opryland?

The resort does not enforce a formal dress code in public areas or the atriums. Some on-site restaurants (Old Hickory Steakhouse, for example) request business casual attire for dinner service. Pool-appropriate attire is restricted to the SoundWaves water park area.

What is the address of the Opryland Hotel?

2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN 37214. The property is located off Briley Parkway near the junction with McGavock Pike, adjacent to the Grand Ole Opry and Opry Mills mall.

Is the Opryland Hotel pet-friendly?

The Gaylord Opryland Resort does not allow pets in guest rooms or public areas. Service animals as defined by the ADA are permitted.

What is the reservation phone number for the Gaylord Opryland?

The direct reservation phone number for the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center is (615) 889-1000, as listed in a 2025 event accommodations PDF from TSHC.

Is parking available for non-guests at the Gaylord Opryland?

Yes—parking for non-guests is available in the resort’s paid lots. Overnight self-parking fees apply, though daytime visitors can typically park for a flat hourly or daily rate. Exact fees are not published on a dedicated page and may vary by season.

Our Pick: Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

For first-time visitors to Nashville who want to experience the indoor gardens, walk to the Grand Ole Opry, and have access to an on-site water park, the Gaylord Opryland Resort is the strongest single-property choice in its price band. The walk-through experience is free, the location is walkable to the Opry complex, and the convention-scale amenities are unmatched by smaller Nashville hotels. The trade-offs—distance from downtown, the resort fee, and seasonal price volatility—are clearly documented in the data above. Book directly through Marriott to access the best promotional rates and avoid opaque third-party fee structures.

Sources Cited