Columbia, TN Road Trips
Columbia, TN serves as a useful starting point in the Southeast, connecting drivers to 4 outbound routes across the area. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 152-mile quick runs to 261-mile cross-state drives. Most routes from Columbia, TN head east, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
9
Longest Drive
333.2 mi
Bristol, TN
Quickest Drive
2h 52m
East Ridge, TN
Plan Around Columbia, TN
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Columbia, TN is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Columbia, TN
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Columbia, TN
Driving from Columbia, TN
On average, trips departing from Columbia, TN run 213 miles with a drive time of roughly 3h 59m. There is a healthy spread of short hops, medium drives, and longer road trips to pick from. The longest mapped route runs 261 miles (4h 54m), while the shortest is just 152 miles.
Popular Destinations
Drivers leaving Columbia, TN most often head toward Morristown, TN (261.3 mi, 4h 54m), Maryville, TN (223.2 mi, 4h 11m), Brentwood, TN (213.9 mi, 3h 58m), and East Ridge, TN (152.2 mi, 2h 52m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in TN currently averages around $3.77 per gallon. For the typical 213-mile trip from Columbia, TN, budget about $32 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg. Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 4 mapped routes leaving Columbia, TN and 5 routes heading into Columbia, TN, covering 9 total connections. Distances range from 152 to 261 miles.
The longest mapped route from Columbia, TN covers 261 miles and takes approximately 4h 54m. Shorter options start at just 152 miles.
The average route from Columbia, TN runs about 213 miles with a drive time of roughly 3h 59m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.77/gallon for regular), the average 213-mile trip from Columbia, TN costs roughly $32 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Columbia, TN include Morristown, TN, Maryville, TN, Brentwood, TN and East Ridge, TN. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Columbia, TN by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
43,971
Median Income
$61,204
Median Home Value
$261,700
Median Age
35.9
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Columbia, TN at a Glance
Founded
1808
Elevation
643 ft
Area
32 mi²
Notable People from Columbia, TN
A sampling of people born in Columbia, TN.
Sterling Marlin
1957
American racing driver
Henry Cooper
1827–1884
American politician (1827–1884)
Samuel R. Watkins
1839–1901
American writer and humorist (1839–1901)
Linden Wiesman
1975
American equestrian
Shaq Mason
1993
American football player
William J. Abernathy
1933–1983
American academic (1933-1983)
Charles Hunter
1876–1906
American ragtime composer
Lucius M. Walker
1829–1863
Confederate Army general (1829-1863)
Lynnette Cole
1978
American beauty pageant contestant
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Columbia, TN.
Zion Presbyterian Church
church in Tennessee, United States
Clifton Place
mansion in Columbia, Tennessee
Columbia Hydroelectric Station
hydroelectric power station in Columbia, United States of America
Mercer Hall
mansion in Columbia, Tennessee
Church House
mansion in Columbia, Tennessee
City data from Wikidata (Q5675279), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Columbia, TN
Columbia is the county seat of Maury County in Central Tennessee, and is 50 miles south of Nashville. It is home to an estimated 38,224 people and hosts a mule day festival the first weekend of April every year. It is more famously known for being the hometown of the 11th President of the United States, James K. Polk. In addition, numerous antebellum homes are located around the city including Ripavilla, the Atheneum, Elm Springs, Rattle and Snap, and Hamilton Place to name a few. It is a city rich in history and culture endearingly known by its locals as "The Dimple of the Universe". It's safe to say the South has had its moments of racism and racial unrest, but Columbia seems to take it to a higher level. From indiscriminate lynchings as though they were pastimes to a race riot in 1946, racism has seemed pretty systemic here.
1 James K. Polk Ancestral Home, 301 W. 7th Street, ☏ +1 931 388-2354. Adult $10.
Holiday Inn Express, 1561 Halifax Dr, ☏ +1 931-380-2025.
Travel tips adapted from Columbia (Tennessee) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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