How to avoid traffic and beat the crowds: In-N-Out Burger opening first Tennessee locations

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – In-N-Out Burger will open its first two Tennessee locations Wednesday morning in Antioch and Lebanon, with a third location opening Friday in Murfreesboro as the California chain expands into Middle Tennessee.

Both Wednesday locations will open at 10 a.m., with officials expecting crowds large enough to back up traffic onto I-40. The restaurants each have one drive-thru lane and about 100 seats for customers.

In-N-Out’s first Tennessee locations to open in December

Lebanon officials expect the opening to make In-N-Out a regional destination instead of just a local restaurant. People from across the state and as far away as Mississippi and Arkansas have said they’re making the drive to try a Double-Double burger and Animal Style fries.

Sarah Haston, Lebanon Economic and Community Development Director, said the excitement has been palpable among local officials as the opening approaches.

“We are thrilled,” Haston said. “We take so much pride in being one of the first to open. This is a good time for Lebanon and we are expecting to shine through it.”

In-N-Out has purchased extra land near both locations to accommodate long lines of cars waiting in line. The Lebanon lot has space for 806 cars and includes bathrooms for people waiting.

The restaurant has hired a private traffic management company that will use large signs and personnel to direct traffic flow. In-N-Out has been working with police on traffic plans for the past four months.

“We feel like we have really put a lot of effort into it,” Haston said. “Kudos to In-N-Out and their team. They’ve really put a lot of thought into it, and they have people that are trained for this. People that are specific to opening locations.”

The Lebanon location sits close to the I-40 interchange, raising concerns about traffic backing up onto the highway. Haston said they’ve added more turn lanes, traffic lights and other measures to mitigate the issue.

For drivers trying to avoid the congestion, Haston recommended using different entry and exit ramps for the highway and taking routes that avoid the South Hartmann Drive area.

Officials expect the busy area around the Lebanon location to remain congested for several weeks after opening. For customers willing to wait to try In-N-Out, officials suggest visiting after the initial crowds subside in a couple of weeks.

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