Middle Tennessee is about to get a floating history lesson — and you will not have to drive all the way to a museum to see it.
The USS LST-325, a working World War II-era landing ship, is traveling along the Cumberland River this fall with stops in Hendersonville, Ashland City and Clarksville. For people in Nashville, that means three chances to step aboard the historic vessel, with the closest stops roughly a half-hour drive from downtown.
The ship's official 2026 cruise schedule confirms that public tours will begin in Hendersonville on September 23 before the vessel moves west to Ashland City and then Clarksville.
USS LST-325's 2026 Middle Tennessee schedule
Here is the schedule Nashville-area visitors will want to save:
| Stop | Tour Dates | Approx. Distance From Downtown Nashville | Approx. Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hendersonville — Sanders Ferry Park | Sept. 23-29, 2026 | 23 miles northeast | ~30 minutes |
| Ashland City — River Bluff Park | Oct. 1-6, 2026 | 21 miles northwest | ~32 minutes |
| Clarksville — McGregor Park & Cumberland Riverwalk | Oct. 8-12, 2026 | 51 miles northwest | ~55 minutes |
The LST-325 organization lists tour hours at all three Tennessee stops as 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The traveling tours are self-guided, and visitors may arrive anytime during those hours rather than reserving a specific entry time.
Hendersonville's city calendar also lists the ship at Sanders Ferry Park during the broader Sept. 21-30 period, while the ship's own public-tour schedule specifically lists Sept. 23-29 for visitor tours.
Ashland City has separately confirmed its stop at River Bluff Park from Oct. 1 through Oct. 6, with tours running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
This is not a replica
Part of what makes this visit unusual is that LST-325 is not a modern recreation dressed up to look old.
It is an actual landing ship built for World War II.
Landing Ship, Tanks — better known as LSTs — were designed to carry tanks, vehicles, troops and supplies across the water and then deliver them directly onto beaches. The ship's museum describes LST-325 as an amphibious vessel created for exactly that purpose.
LST-325 served during the invasions of Sicily, Salerno and Normandy. Museum records show the vessel reached Normandy during the D-Day campaign and later landed directly at Utah Beach.
That makes walking through the ship a very different experience from looking at military artifacts behind glass.
You're walking through the vessel itself.
The ship is kept in a World War II configuration and remains operational, which is why it can still leave its Evansville home and travel to cities along America's river system. The museum calls it the only operational LST in World War II configuration afloat in U.S. waters.
What does it cost to tour the ship?
Admission during the Tennessee cruise is:
- Adults: $20
- Children ages 6-17: $10
- Children 5 and younger: Free
Tickets can be bought online or at the ship. The organization says it accepts cash, credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Unlike regular tours at the ship's Evansville museum, the Tennessee stops are set up as self-guided tours. Docents will be stationed around the vessel to answer questions, and QR codes throughout the ship provide additional information.
That setup may actually work well for families. You can move through at your own pace rather than trying to keep up with a tightly scheduled tour group.
There are a few things to know before climbing aboard
This is an old military ship, not a modern attraction designed around elevators and air conditioning.
The organization warns that temperatures inside the vessel can run 10 to 15 degrees hotter than the temperature outside. Visitors should plan for that, especially if Middle Tennessee decides to hang onto summer weather into late September.
There are also six flights of stairs aboard the ship. Only the Tank Deck is accessible to wheelchairs, walkers and strollers, according to the museum.
The museum also advises visitors to watch for overhead hazards, doors, railings and equipment. Small children must be carried, while older children should not run aboard the vessel.
In other words, this is closer to exploring a real ship than walking through a typical indoor museum.
Which stop is easiest from Nashville?
For most Nashville residents, Hendersonville and Ashland City will be the easiest options.
Sanders Ferry Park is about 23 miles northeast of downtown Nashville, while River Bluff Park in Ashland City is roughly 21 miles northwest. Depending on traffic and where you start in the Nashville area, either could turn into an easy half-day trip.
Clarksville is farther away at roughly 51 miles northwest of downtown Nashville, but it also gives visitors another chance if they miss the first two stops.
And there is a useful gap between each location. Hendersonville tours end Sept. 29, Ashland City begins Oct. 1, and Clarksville begins Oct. 8.
So Nashville-area families effectively get three different windows to make the trip.
Why is the ship traveling through Tennessee?
Travel is part of LST-325's modern mission.
The nonprofit USS LST Ship Memorial operates the vessel as a museum and educational memorial. Its stated mission includes preserving the history of landing ships and honoring the people who built and served aboard them. The organization has worked to keep LST-325 operational so it can visit different port cities instead of remaining permanently tied to one dock.
For 2026, the ship is scheduled to depart Evansville on Sept. 19 before making its three Tennessee stops.
Its regular home is at 610 NW Riverside Drive in Evansville, Indiana. The Evansville museum will be closed from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 while the ship is away on its annual cruise, with home-port tours scheduled to resume Oct. 16.
Evansville is roughly 155 miles from Nashville, making these Cumberland River stops considerably more convenient for Middle Tennessee residents who have wanted to see the ship.
For Nashville, that is really the appeal of this visit: a piece of World War II history that normally requires a road trip north is sailing almost to our backyard.
And unlike many traveling history exhibits, this one actually has to arrive by river.
Sources
USS LST-325 official 2026 cruise schedule and visitor information:
USS LST-325 online ticketing and Tennessee tour dates:
USS LST Ship Memorial history and mission:
USS LST-325 visitor information and safety guidance:
City of Ashland City event listing:
City of Hendersonville calendar:
USS LST-325 historical record from Normandy:
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