Is Gaylord Opryland Worth It? Honest pros and cons
Yes — with caveats. Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center is a huge, activity-rich property that many families and convention attendees like for its indoor garden atriums, restaurants, spa and pools; budget-minded travelers should watch for mandatory resort fees, parking charges, and extra-cost attractions such as SoundWaves.
In this guide
Location and scale — why people come
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center sits at 2800 Opryland Drive in Nashville’s Opryland area, within easy walking distance of the Grand Ole Opry, Opry Mills and nearby attractions. The property is large — it’s one of Nashville’s biggest resorts and convention centers with extensive indoor public spaces.
If you want a base near the Grand Ole Opry or a property that can keep you entertained indoors (useful in bad weather), this hotel’s nine acres of indoor garden atriums and nearby sights are a major draw.
- About a 10-minute walk to the Grand Ole Opry and Opryland Hotel Gardens
- Shuttle service runs to the Grand Ole Opry, General Jackson Showboat and Opry Mills; airport shuttle and rideshares are common options
- Nearest major airport: Nashville International Airport (roughly 6–9 miles; 12–20 minute drive depending on traffic)
| Nearby spot | Typical travel time |
|---|---|
| Grand Ole Opry | About 10 min walk / 3 min drive |
| Opry Mills | Within walking distance |
| Nashville International Airport (BNA) | About 12–20 min drive |
Rooms: what to expect and names to know
The resort has a very large room inventory (2,888 guest rooms across multiple towers and six floors). Room types listed include Room, 2 Queen Beds; Room, 1 Queen Bed; Room, 1 King Bed; Room, Garden View; Room (, Tub); and Room, Garden View (, Tub).
Rooms range from standard configurations to Garden View options that overlook the indoor conservatory. Breakfast is not automatically included with a standard room rate — it’s offered as a paid add-on.
- Room names to reference exactly: Room, 2 Queen Beds; Room, 1 Queen Bed; Room, 1 King Bed; Room, Garden View; Room (, Tub); Room, Garden View (, Tub)
- Garden View rooms provide views into the indoor atriums; not all rooms include balcony access
- In-room Wi‑Fi is available; Marriott Bonvoy members get complimentary in-room internet when booking direct (per Marriott policy)
| Item | What the listing says |
|---|---|
| Check-in / Check-out | Check-in begins at 4:00 PM; check-out is 11:00 AM |
| Minimum check-in age | Official Marriott page lists 18, but some third-party sites list 21 — confirm with the hotel |
| Smoking / pets | Smoke-free property; pets not allowed except ADA-defined service animals |
Dining and night options
Gaylord Opryland lists nearly 20 on-site restaurants, bars and cafés, ranging from the signature Old Hickory Steakhouse and Ravello to more casual options such as Stax, Paisano's Pizzaria & Vino and several grab-and-go outlets.
Options cover steakhouse, Italian, Mexican, burgers, sushi, desserts and multiple bars. Old Hickory Steakhouse requires reservations and maintains a business-casual dress code.
- Signature dining: Old Hickory Steakhouse (steakhouse), Ravello (Italian), Cascades American Cafe (all-day American)
- Casual and quick-service: Paisano's Pizzaria & Vino, Stax, Delta Marketplace, Bravo Gelato, Cocoa Bean, Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's, Carvel
- Bars and lounges include Foundry Fieldhouse Sports Bar & Taproom, The Falls Bar & Lounge, Conservatory Wine Bar, Findley's Irish Pub and others
| Venue | Type / Note |
|---|---|
| Old Hickory Steakhouse | Signature steakhouse; reservations required |
| Ravello | Italian in the Garden Conservatory |
| Foundry Fieldhouse | Sports bar with many screens |
Activities on property: atriums, spa, golf and the arcade
The indoor conservatory spaces are a core part of the experience: multi-level glass-roofed atriums, indoor rivers with boat tours, waterfalls and landscaped walkways give you a lot to explore without stepping outside.
Relâche Spa and the 24-hour fitness center are on-site (Relâche Spa requires guests to be 18+ for body treatments). The resort also partners with Gaylord Springs Golf Links if you want to play golf nearby.
- Indoor boat tours run on the quarter-mile river inside the Delta Atrium (check concierge for availability and schedules)
- Relâche Spa: package treatments, steam and relaxation lounges; hours vary by day
- 24-hour fitness center available to registered guests (access included in the resort fee); arcade and game rooms available for families
| Activity | Notes |
|---|---|
| Indoor boat tour | Operates inside the Delta Atrium — check resort for times |
| Relâche Spa | Separate paid treatments; guests must be 18+ for body treatments |
| Golf | Gaylord Springs Golf Links is an 8–9 minute drive |
SoundWaves water experience and pools
SoundWaves is a separate, paid 4-acre indoor/outdoor water attraction with zones for families, children and adults. It’s not included with a standard room — guaranteed access requires booking the SoundWaves Water Experience package and all persons age 4 and over need a ticket or wristband.
The resort also offers complimentary indoor and outdoor pools that are separate from SoundWaves. SoundWaves includes adult-only areas on select dates (Diamond Pool and Status Cymbal Adult Pool & Bar).
- SoundWaves access: requires a package or ticket; access runs from opening on check-in day until noon on check-out day for package bookings
- All guests age 4+ require a ticket/wristband to enter SoundWaves; observers without a ticket aren’t admitted
- Complimentary pools: the property lists both indoor and outdoor pools plus a children’s pool separate from the paid SoundWaves attraction
| Water option | Included? |
|---|---|
| Complimentary indoor/outdoor pools | Included for resort guests |
| SoundWaves waterpark | Paid access — book SoundWaves package for guaranteed entry |
| Adult-only pools (Diamond, Status Cymbal) | Adult-only zones within SoundWaves; availability varies |
Costs, fees and practical considerations
A mandatory daily resort fee applies (sources cite about $30–$35 per night) and commonly covers Wi‑Fi, fitness center access, bottled water and scheduled shuttle services. Parking and SoundWaves/spa access are typically extra and can add up for families.
Self-parking and valet are charged daily and have varied historically; the most recent Marriott listing shows self-parking at $37 per day and valet at $55 per day. Breakfast is a paid add-on (approximately $26–$40 per person per source).
- Mandatory resort fee: about $30–$35 per night (amounts vary by date and source)
- Parking (Marriott listing): self parking $37/day; valet $55/day — historical rates on third-party sites may differ
- SoundWaves and spa treatments are separate paid experiences; budget for those if you plan to use them
| Fee | Typical amount / note |
|---|---|
| Mandatory resort fee | About $30–$35 per night (varies by source/date) |
| Self parking | $37 per day (Marriott listing) |
| Valet parking | $55 per day (Marriott listing) |
Pros and cons — is it worth it?
Pros: Lots of on-site dining, large indoor gardens and attractions that let you stay indoors for an entire visit, a full spa and fitness center, and easy access to the Grand Ole Opry and shopping. The property also handles large conventions and events, so it’s convenient if you’re attending one.
Cons: The property is large and can feel busy or expensive once you add mandatory resort fees, parking, SoundWaves tickets and meals. If you want a low-cost, central Downtown Nashville base for walking Broadway or museums, this suburban resort may be less convenient.
- Good for: families, convention attendees, visitors who want on-site activities and multiple restaurants
- Less good for: budget travelers wanting included meals/activities, travelers who prefer a small downtown hotel for nightlife walking access
- Decision tip: If you value the indoor atriums, spa and waterpark and don’t mind fees, it’s a strong choice; if you want the lowest total cost or downtown walking access, compare downtown hotels
| Traveler type | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Family with kids | Likely worth it for atriums, pools and SoundWaves (budget for tickets) |
| Convention attendee | Worth it — extensive meeting space and on-site services |
| Budget solo traveler | Maybe — watch resort fee/parking and compare downtown options |
