The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge starts at the east end of Lower Broadway, crosses the Cumberland River, and lands at Nissan Stadium on the east bank. It’s the source of every “Nashville skyline at sunset” photo you’ve ever seen. A practical guide to actually using it.
Walk halfway across, turn around, take a photo of the downtown skyline with the bridge lights and the river in the frame. That’s the postcard. It’s a real photo, the skyline really does look like that, and it’s the single best free thing on Broadway.
The bridge is busy at sunset and during big events (Predators games, Titans games, Fourth of July, CMA Fest, NYE). It’s nearly empty at 8am. If you’re a morning person, walk it before breakfast and you’ll have the skyline almost to yourself.
The bridge is the natural breather between drinks. You’ve been on Broadway for two hours, your legs hurt, your group needs air and a photo. Walk east on Broadway until you hit the river. The bridge entrance is right there at 1st Avenue. Walk halfway across, take the group photo, walk back. You’ve used 25 minutes, gotten the only photo your family back home actually wants, and reset your energy for the back half of the night.
The east end of the bridge dumps you near Nissan Stadium and a few smaller bars. Most people walk back. There’s no compelling reason to stay on the east bank unless there’s a Titans game.
Nissan Stadium (Tennessee Titans), the long East Bank Greenway path, and not much else within walking distance. The redevelopment of the East Bank is in progress — in 2-3 years there will be more restaurants and bars there. For now, treat the bridge as a one-way trip you walk back from.
The bridge is fully ADA accessible. Wide, flat, no stairs, plenty of benches in the middle. It’s well-lit at night, has Metro Police patrols, and is one of the safer parts of downtown after dark because of how many people are always on it. Wheelchairs, strollers, dogs on leash, scooters — all fine.
John Seigenthaler was a Nashville journalist and civil rights activist. The bridge was renamed for him in 2014. Before that it was just “Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge,” which is what most locals still call it. Either name works.
15-20 minutes to walk all the way across. Most people only walk to the middle for photos and turn back, which takes 10-12 minutes round trip.
Yes. It’s well-lit, busy, and patrolled. It’s one of the safer parts of downtown after dark precisely because so many people are always on it.
At Nissan Stadium on the east bank of the Cumberland. There’s a walking path that continues east along the river.