The Nashville Street Circuit measures 2.17 miles (3.49 km) and includes 11 turns. Running adjacent to Nissan Stadium, the circuit's most notable feature is its 3,578-foot (1,091 m) straightaway across the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge, which spans the Cumberland River. The bridge layout makes the track the only one on the IndyCar circuit and one of the few in the world to cross a significant body of water. Top speeds for the IndyCar race were expected to be around 200 miles per hour (320 km/h). The track varies in width from a minimum of 37 feet (11 m) to a maximum of 80 feet (24 m). As at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, the Nashville Street Circuit uses a different location for starting the race (between turns 3 and 4) than the finish line. Middle Tennessee State University's School of Concrete and Construction Management created concrete mixes for the track's barriers and pit row. Music City Grand Prix CEO Matt Crews noted that the event organizers planned to "limit traffic interruptions as much as possible". Track designer Tony Cotman intentionally avoided Nashville's major streets so as not to adversely affect tourism. Discussing the design of the circuit, he called the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge "one of those landmarks where you see that bridge on TV or in photos and you’re going to know exactly where it is. It’s like seeing the Queen Mary in the background at Long Beach." Cotman also noted that he expects turns 1, 2, and 7 to be the best passing locations on the circuit.

Pundits and drivers, including former Formula One drivers Romain Grosjean and Marcus Ericsson, have compared the Nashville Street Circuit to the Baku City Circuit that hosts the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Nashville Street Circuit's downtown section and long straightaways on the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge have been compared to the castle section and long straights at Baku.