Following the growth that it experienced in the 2010s, Nashville has become the third-largest city in the southeastern United States. It's a thriving, vibrant, and beautiful city with rolling hills and plenty of greenery, with many popular Nashville suburbs growing right along with it. As a big city, it's also a travel hub and has its own major airport. For anyone thinking of moving to the Nashville area, keep reading to get familiar with the suburbs closest to Nashville International Airport, the city's gateway to the rest of the world.

Oak Hill

Anyone who enjoys trees and greenery is likely to be attracted to homes in Oak Hill. That is partly because this suburb is zoned entirely for homes, with no commercial zoning in Oak Hill at all. It takes less than 15 minutes to drive from Oak Hill to the Nashville International Airport; the eastern boundary of this suburb is I-65, which can be driven north to I-40 East—which heads directly to the airport.

Most of the homes in Oak Hill are situated on large lots with plenty of trees. Oak Hill boasts the largest state natural area in Tennessee—Radnor Lake. With 1,200 acres of outdoor space, trees, and the lake itself, this is one of the quietest areas for a hike in Nashville. In fact, it's hard to believe one is in the largest city in Tennessee when spending time here. Bird watchers and nature photographers love this spot.

The Mall at Green Hills is just a 10-minute drive from most places in Oak Hill, so there's no lack of shopping and amenities nearby. The Tennessee Governor's Mansion is also located in Oak Hill, and historical tours are available by reservation.

Mount Juliet

Located in northeast Nashville, homes in Mount Juliet are only a 15-minute drive from Nashville International Airport in light traffic along I-40 West. Mount Juliet features a surprising mix of home choices, from waterfront homes in the north near the Cumberland River to condos in the more centralized commercial real estate parts of the suburb. Mount Juliet also boasts of one of the lowest property tax rates in all of Tennessee.

Percy Priest Lake, situated just south of Mount Juliet, is a great fishing, boating, and outdoor recreation area. There are ample shopping, dining, and recreational activities in Mount Juliet, despite its relatively low population (less than 30,000 residents in 2020). The main shopping area in Mount Juliet is near the intersection of I-40 and state highway 171, in the southern part of the suburb. The Goat is a lively hangout with incredible Tennessee pub dining and creative cocktails.

Charlie Daniels Park is an excellent city-run park in Mount Juliet that features great playground equipment, youth and adult sports, fitness classes, and facility rentals for special events. Cumberland River tours from Blue Heron Cruises during the summer months are a great way to see the waterfowl, turtles, and other river wildlife in the area.

Brentwood

The suburb of Brentwood is a 20-minute drive from the Downtown Nashville neighborhood—but it's only a 15-minute drive to Nashville International Airport if taking the I-40 bypass. Brentwood real estate features everything from sprawling luxury homes with plenty of trees to low-rise condos.

Brentwood is just to the south of Radner Lake State Park, and the suburb has many smaller parks and wooded areas maintained by the city for public recreation. The Governor's Club is a Signature Arnold Palmer golf course located in Brentwood. The Brentwood Swim & Tennis Club at Wildwood is a great family location for some outdoor sports. Marcella Vivrette Smith Park is the largest outdoor park in Brentwood at 320 acres; it features a farm, a historic mansion, and many miles of wooded trails to hike. For some fun nightlife, the Whiskey Room Live in the city of Franklin, just south of Brentwood, features live music and an amazing rack of ribs for supper.

La Vergne

The suburb of La Vergne is situated just 20 minutes southeast of Downtown Nashville, making it a relatively easy commute to Nashville. It's also roughly a 20-minute drive from Nashville International Airport. The northern border of this sprawling suburb borders the Percy Priest Reservoir, making the community a boater's paradise. Homes in La Vergne range from secluded townhomes to newer luxury homes constructed within the last two decades. La Vergne saw a lot of population growth in the early 2000s, growing from roughly 20,000 people to nearly 34,000.

Hurricane Creek Recreation Area features a public boat launch area in a large park in northern La Vergne. The Four Corners Marina & Yacht Club is located directly across the reservoir from there for those who own a larger watercraft. The Poole Knobs Recreation Area, also in northern La Vergne, has campgrounds and plenty of outdoor hiking activities.

Most of the shopping and retail businesses in La Vergne are situated between Highway 41 and I-24. The rest of this quiet suburb is reserved for schools and homes.

Green Hills

Several big country music stars are known to call the Green Hills suburb home. Green Hills is just southwest of Nashville and about a 15- to 20-minute drive to the Nashville International Airport. Single-family townhomes and newly-constructed luxury homes make up most of the housing in Green Hills, although there are condos and apartments too.

Green Hills is known as one of the best shopping districts in the Nashville area. The Mall at Green Hills is an impressive center that lures in shoppers from surrounding suburbs. Hill Center Green Hills is another upscale location featuring exclusive brands. Lipscomb University is located in Green Hills as well, which gives this bustling suburb the feel of a college town for nine months out of the year.

Forest Hills

Just south of Green Hill is the Forest Hills suburb, about a 20-minute drive from Nashville International Airport. Forest Hills is a small suburb featuring many luxury homes and multi-acre estates. As its name suggests, homes in Forest Hills enjoy a natural environment of steep wooded hills. Its population is less than 5,000 residents. Forest Hills is primarily residential zoning, so most residents make their way north into Green Hills for shopping excursions.

The prestigious Richland Country Club is located in Forest Hills. It's a beautiful private, 170-acre club that also has indoor tennis courts and a luxurious swimming pool. The Harpeth Hills Golf Course is an 18-hole public course operated by the city of Nashville, located on the western boundary of Forest Hills. The Sequoia Swim & Tennis Club is popular for youth sports and outdoor recreation for the year's warmer months.

Nolensville

The suburb of Nolensville is south of Nashville, and it takes about 30 minutes to drive to the airport from there, taking I-24 West up to I-40. Nolensville is known for having many historic structures that are still in use today. This includes some buildings from the early 19th century. Single-family homes and townhomes make up the bulk of Nolensville's real estate offerings.

Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint is the most famous eatery in Nolensville. The restaurant has been featured on the Food Network, and even though it has expanded to other locations in the southeastern U.S., the one in Nolensville is the original. The Nolensville Feed Mill was first constructed in 1890. Today it houses the Amish Market, a local favorite for sandwiches and Amish baked goods.

The Nolensville Park features indoor and outdoor fun for the whole family. It even has an outdoor dog park. A unique spot to shop or browse in Nolensville is The Rhinestone Place, where a lot of the dazzling jewelry seen on stage at the Grand Ole Opry and other venues is created.

Smyrna

Smyrna is located between Downtown Nashville and the city of Murfreesboro along I-24, making the commute simple in both directions. It is a 30-minute drive from Nashville International Airport during light traffic times. The smaller Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport is situated in the northern part of the suburb for convenient regional domestic flights. There are a few condos in Smyrna, but most of the real estate in Smyrna consists of lovely single-family townhomes on large lots. Two of the main employers in this laid-back suburb include Nissan and Asurion.

Although it's technically in the suburb of Mount Juliet, Hoppy's Harbor Grill is just a couple of minutes' drive north of Smyrna. This is a fun dining experience right at the harbor on the southern part of the Percy Priest Reservoir. Much of the shopping in Smyrna is located on the western edge of the suburb, near the I-24 and Highway 266 interchange. For a fun family activity, check out the Outdoor Adventure Center, the city's water park.

Choices Abound in Nashville's Suburbs

Nashville boasts some of the most beautiful suburbs of any city in America. From historic buildings to newly-constructed luxury homes, there's a community for every conceivable lifestyle within a 20- to 30-minute drive from Downtown Nashville or the airport. No matter what type of lifestyle an individual or family is looking for, they are sure to find it just outside "Music City."

If the opportunities of Nashville excite you, contact The Ashton Real Estate Group of RE/MAX Advantage with Nashville's MLS at (615) 603-3602 to get in touch with local real estate agents who can help find the perfect Nashville home for you today.