The 7 Best Nashville Kayak Tours

1.Kayak Rental in Downtown Nashville with Shuttle

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 151 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $59Our pick

Meet River Queen Voyages beside the Bridge Building, ride a shuttle upriver to Shelby Park, then paddle your own kayak three miles back toward downtown Nashville. Your rental includes a paddle, life jacket, and basic safety instruction. Expect calm Class I water, city views, and the chance to spot birds or turtles. A guide is not included.

“Kayaking was great. The view of the city was nice. The wRer was so calm and easy to paddle. Saw at least one turtle and a bunch of birds. There was a bit of a mishap at the end when we went to get one of our phones back from the van but the staff went above and beyond to help us. Would highly recommend and very thankful for the staff!”

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2.Nashville Guided Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 149 reviews · from $49

Meet at Shelby Bottoms Nature Center, then ride a complimentary shuttle to the launch point and paddle about three miles downstream toward downtown Nashville. Your guide provides basic instruction, kayaks and safety gear, plus water and sunscreen. Guides have included Josh and Sarah, praised for their patience with beginners. The skyline route can change, so don’t treat downtown views as guaranteed.

“Everything was PERFECT! Definitely a must do while visiting Nashville. Our tour guide Josh was super helpful and even made sure we had some great pictures!”

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3.Nashville Guided Paddleboard Tour along Cumberland River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · from $49Top rated

Join a guide such as Josh or Dan for a two-hour stand-up paddleboard trip on the Cumberland River, with downtown Nashville and Riverfront Park in view. Boards, paddles, leashes, PFDs, safety instruction, water, and sunscreen are included. Morning and afternoon departures give you a choice, and the group is capped at 15.

“Yes we could kayak at home but doing it in Nashville was an amazing experience!! Josh and Dan are the best… so funny!!!”

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4.Downtown Kayak Rental with Shuttle

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 23 reviews · 1 hour · from $45Best value

Meet River Queen Voyages downtown, take a shuttle to Shelby Park, and paddle three miles down the Cumberland River to the skyline. Staff provide a brief lesson, gear, and help at the launch and landing. The trip takes about an hour, follows the current, and is self-guided on the water.

“Great fun. Got some brilliant photos and a great view of the city.”

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5.Small Group Clear Kayak Tour of Old Hickory Lake

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $69

Launch from Bledsoe Creek State Park for a guided clear-kayak paddle on Old Hickory Lake. The outing lasts about 2.5 hours, with roughly two hours on the water, and groups are capped at 10. Carolina is one guide named for the tour; expect basic paddle instruction and local facts about waterways and wildlife.

“This trip was a confidence booster. We are a family of three with a 13 year old. It was a much needed experience to get us outdoors and away from screens! Carolina made the trip so wonderful. She was patient, encouraging, and very knowledgeable about wildlife and the lake. She took some photos for us, too. I won’t lie! It was a challenge rowing through some strong winds here and there, but worth a little soreness the next day!”

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6.Kayak Tour with Skyline Views

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews · 2 hours · from $55

Start at Shelby Park Boat Ramp with a staff briefing, then paddle your own kayak about three miles down the Cumberland River to Nissan Stadium. Expect skyline views, bridges, and possible sightings of herons, turtles, and kingfishers. Staff help you ashore, and a shuttle returns you to Shelby Park, or you can walk toward Broadway.

“whole experience was amazing the two guides were very helpful highly highly recommend it”

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7.Downtown Kayak Rental

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 4 reviews · from $50

River Queen Voyages provides a kayak, paddle, life jacket, and a short safety lesson before you set out from Riverfront Park by Nissan Stadium. Paddle upriver for about 30 to 45 minutes, then turn back and drift toward downtown views. The 90-minute rental starts and ends at the same spot.

“Great non-guided paddle out a d float back. Not to taxing of a paddle and river was calm and pretty quiet. Would totally do it again!”

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