Drive or Fly: Gatlinburg, TN to Nashville, TN?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

Short enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 15m

Distance

217.6 mi

Total Cost

$88

CO2

88 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$53

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 14m

22m in the air

Air Distance

186 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

47 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Gatlinburg, TN → TYS 42m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BNA → Nashville, TN 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Gatlinburg, TN TYS — McGhee Tyson Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

Nashville, TN BNA — Nashville International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 25m

3h on road

Total Cost

$18

CO2

13 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Gatlinburg, TN → Knoxville Area Transit Bus Stop (KNO6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 180m

Arrival 10m

Nashville Bus Station (NAS6) → Nashville, TN 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From KNO6 — Knoxville Area Transit Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive

To NAS6 — Nashville Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 6 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 15m	3h 14m	4h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$88	$182	$18
Carbon footprint	88 kg CO₂	47 kg CO₂	13 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Oct 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

217.6 mi 4h 15m

via I 40, US 411; US 441, US 321; US 441

Alternative (+48 min)

236.7 mi 5h 3m

via I 40, US 70S, I 24

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Gatlinburg, TN to Nashville, TN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.