Summer Road Trips in Tennessee

Routes

Avg Distance

535 mi

Avg Drive

9h 51m

Destinations

Methodology

Routes filtered by drive score and typical seasonal conditions. Historical hazard counts pulled from FEMA disaster declarations and USGS seismic feeds; monthly weather context from NOAA 1991–2020 normals.

Data sources: OSRM • NOAA NCEI climate normals • FEMA OpenFEMA • USGS Earthquake Hazards • EIA weekly fuel survey

Last reviewed

Sep 2, 2026

3 seconds ago

Curated by the US Trip Planner editorial team.
Not sponsored; no affiliate links on this page.

Tennessee in summer offers a diverse range of drives, from cross-country treks to in-state explorations. With 30 routes averaging 535 miles and nearly 10 hours, you'll find plenty of ground to cover. Some routes boast excellent EV coverage with up to 40 DC fast chargers, while others traverse high-altitude sections reaching over 6,800 feet. Daylight hours are long, making it an ideal time to experience the state's varied landscapes.

Fuel snapshot for this state

Regular

$3.94/gal

Diesel: $5.60/gal

Typical trip cost

$73–$264

One-way, ~535 mi avg @ 25.4 MPG

CO₂ per trip

~187 kg

ICE vehicle, one-way average

Source: US Energy Information Administration • week of 2026-08-31

Climate through the year: Tennessee

Tennessee peaks at around 92°F in Jul and cools to 51°F / 33°F in Jan. Wettest month is Apr at ~5.9 in of rain. Table highlights Summer months.

Month	High °F	Low °F	Rain in	Snow in
Jan	51	33	4.1	0.9
Feb	56	37	4.6	1
Mar	64	44	5.7	0.5
Apr	73	53	5.9	—
May	82	62	5.3	—
Jun peak	89	70	4	—
Jul peak	92	74	4.8	—
Aug peak	92	73	3.4	—
Sep	86	66	3	—
Oct	75	54	4	—
Nov	63	43	4.7	0.1
Dec	53	36	5.5	0.2

Source: NOAA NCEI Monthly Climate Normals, 1991–2020 reference period. Sampled at the major-airport station for TN — microclimates along specific routes can vary significantly.

Planning Tips

Carry extra water — summer heat in the car and at rest stops dehydrates faster than you think.
Start drives early or late to avoid peak afternoon heat, especially through desert or plains stretches.
Check your tire pressure before long summer drives — hot pavement increases blowout risk with underinflated tires.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've identified 30 routes in Tennessee that work well for summer travel, based on drive quality, typical weather conditions, and distance (averaging 535 miles).

Current regular gas averages $3.94/gallon in Tennessee (week of 2026-08-31). Diesel: $5.60/gallon. A typical one-way trip on these routes costs between $73 and $264. Source: US Energy Information Administration.

Across Jun, Jul, Aug, Tennessee typically sees daytime highs in the 89–92°F range with about 4.1 in of rain per month on average. Based on NOAA 1991–2020 monthly climate normals.

Drive times and distances come from OSRM routing over real OpenStreetMap road networks. Fuel costs use weekly US Energy Information Administration state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. EV charging data is sourced from NREL. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI (1991–2020 reference period). Hazard data comes from FEMA and USGS public feeds.

Yes. Click any route to see its full trip page with turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost estimates, elevation profile, stop suggestions, weather conditions, and more.

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