IAH to BNA Turbulence Forecast
Is the Houston to Nashville flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.
Houston · Nashville · 1h 55m
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Typical turbulence along the route
Historical average pattern for IAH–BNA
0h1h2h3h4h5h6h1h 55m
About the IAH–BNA route
The Houston to Nashville domestic route is generally one of the smoother flights in the US network, covering 656 miles at around 33,000 feet. Turbulence is most common when weather systems cross the Midwest or when the flight path skirts the Rocky Mountains. Short duration means any rough patches pass quickly.
The route is served by Southwest, United, American Airlines on Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft,
with flights typically cruising at 33,000 feet over a distance of 656 miles (570 nautical miles).
💡 Tip: Domestic routes are generally smoother. Mountain crossings are the main turbulence source.
Houston to Nashville Flight Time
How long is the flight from IAH to BNA?
33,000 ft
Cruising Altitude
The Houston (IAH) to Nashville (BNA) flight takes approximately 1h 55m,
covering 656 miles (570 nautical miles) at 33,000 feet.
The route is operated by Southwest, United, American Airlines.
Actual flight time may vary by 10–20 minutes depending on wind conditions and routing.
Turbulence levels on IAH–BNA
What to expect at each phase of the flight
SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm
LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady
ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause
HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible
Get minute-by-minute timing for your specific flight
Best time to fly IAH–BNA
Turbulence by month
Best seat on IAH–BNA
Airbus A320
✓ Wing
Rows 10–20
Smoothest
Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.
What you'll see in the app
Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations
Related guides
Learn more about flight turbulence
Passenger Reports
Fly this route pretty regularly for work. Most of the time it's smooth — January was completely fine, not a bump worth mentioning.
Business traveler · January
Totally smooth September flight. The seatbelt sign came on once briefly over the mountains but nothing actually happened. Great trip.
Leisure traveler · September
I always expect the worst on longer flights but this one surprised me. Very little turbulence, only a few small bumps on descent. Manageable even for me.
Nervous flyer · January
Frequently asked questions
Is the Houston to Nashville flight turbulent?
The IAH–BNA route typically experiences smooth turbulence. A very smooth flight with minimal turbulence expected. The turbulence score for this route is 15.0/100.
When is turbulence worst on IAH to BNA?
Domestic routes are generally smoother. Mountain crossings are the main turbulence source. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.
Which seat is smoothest on IAH to BNA?
Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A320 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 10–20. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.
How long is the flight from IAH to BNA?
The IAH to BNA flight takes approximately 1h 55m, covering 656 miles (570 nautical miles).
Which airlines fly IAH to BNA?
The main airlines operating this route are Southwest, United, American Airlines, flying Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft.
Data Sources
- PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
- SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
- EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
- Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route
Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data