Crossing Tennessee from Alcoa to Jackson covers 311.2 miles of local terrain, making for a 4-hour and 40-minute journey that is best suited as a single-day trip. Since you will be navigating local roads rather than major interstates, you should budget approximately $47 for fuel for the one-way trek. The route takes you entirely through the Southeast region, moving from the eastern side of the state toward the west. Because this drive relies on local arteries like Springbrook Road, East Edison Street, and North Wright Road, your pace will be dictated by local traffic and turns rather than high-speed cruising. If you prefer a steady, predictable commute, be aware that this path requires your full attention due to its local configuration.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
155.6 miles from Alcoa, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
285.4 mi
5h 9m
Pellissippi Parkway
11.3 mi
13m
US 70
6 mi
8m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
3m
North Wright Road
2.1 mi
5m
Alcoa Highway
1.1 mi
1m
East Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
East Edison Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 285.4 mi, about 5h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alcoa, TN and Jackson, TN.
1
Start on Springbrook Road
23 ft·1 sec·Springbrook Road
2
Continue on Springbrook Road
79 ft·3 sec·Springbrook Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto Springbrook Road
94 ft·3 sec·Springbrook Road
4
Turn left onto Springbrook Road
115 ft·3 sec·Springbrook Road
5
Continue on East Edison Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·East Edison Street
6
Turn left onto North Wright Road
2.1 mi·5 min·North Wright Road
7
Take the ramp
263 ft·8 sec
8
Merge onto US 129; TN 115
1.1 mi·1 min·Alcoa Highway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 140 North
10
Merge onto I 140
11 mi·13 min·Pellissippi Parkway
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward I 40 West, I 75 South: Nashville, Chattanooga
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
13
Merge onto I 40; I 75
7.2 mi·8 min·I 40; I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
155 mi·2 hr 46 min·I 40
Toward NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·3 min·I 40
Exit 213BToward I 24 West, I 40 West: NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
0.4 mi·42 sec·I 40
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, MemphisUse the slight left lane.
17
Merge onto I 40
0.6 mi·52 sec·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 40
2.3 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Exit 210AToward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, LouisvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
121 mi·2 hr 10 min·I 40
Toward I 40 West: MemphisUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 70, US 412 East
21
Turn left onto US 70
4.2 mi·6 min·US 70
22
Turn left onto US 70
1.8 mi·2 min·US 70
23
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
24
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
To keep your 4-hour and 40-minute drive manageable, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since this is a turn-heavy local route, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid mid-day congestion on smaller roads. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $47 estimate can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency during the constant stop-and-go of local navigation. Given the technical nature of the path, prioritize downloading your turn-by-turn directions beforehand to avoid confusion on the winding local segments. Staying flexible with your timing will help you navigate this unique, non-interstate route with much less stress.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 155.6 miles from Alcoa, TN, or about 2h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 285.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 68 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.6 miles or 2h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jackson, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alcoa, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alcoa, TN
This is one driving day of about 311.3 miles and 5h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Alcoa, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 285.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Home stretch
3.7 mi from route
~9 min detour
$10 to $20
Jackson, Tennessee
Hours: 10 am–10 pm
+19012203010
Tesla Supercharger
5.0
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, short detour
2.8 mi from route
~7 min detour
Maryville, Tennessee
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
ONE9 Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Tennessee Visitor Center
0.2 mi from route
Cumberland County I-40 West Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Cumberland County I-40 East Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Buc-ee's
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.3 mi from route
Eco Travel Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Bay 2
1.2 mi from route
Bay 4
1.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.4 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
1.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.7 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 183.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Springbrook Road
At end of road, turn left onto Springbrook Road
Navigation decision point
7
23.3 mi into trip|~31m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Nashville
9
178.1 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
8
180.3 mi into trip|~3h 21m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
7
183.6 mi into trip|~3h 26m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 West: Memphis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.97 one way
$91.94 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg109 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$50.75
$101.50
premium
$4.72
$57.80
$115.60
diesel
$4.80
$58.78
$117.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
93.4
1
$32.69
$14.94
Efficient EV
77.8
0
$27.24
$12.45
EV Truck/SUV
124.5
1
$43.58
$19.92
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Alcoa, TN
Morning
in Alcoa on Sunday
Local time
11:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 0 to 5 mph41% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 1:53PM EDT by NWS Morristown TN
Destination
Jackson, TN
Morning
in Jackson on Sunday
Local time
10:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny
WNW 5 to 10 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 1:53PM EDT by NWS Morristown TN
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 46m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Stones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 161
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by its turn-heavy, local nature, offering a stark contrast to a standard interstate grind. With zero percent highway share, you should prepare for a hands-on driving experience that demands constant engagement as you navigate through various local roads. Expect a technical journey where the road profile changes frequently, requiring you to stay alert through every turn. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of high-speed pavement, the drive feels more like a series of connected segments than a single, fluid line. It is a practical route for those who prefer backroads to the monotony of highway driving.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 285.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Pellissippi Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Springbrook Road.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 311.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Springbrook Road): Navigation decision point; at 23.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 178.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,872 ft410 ft
Total Climb
1,490 ft
Total Descent
1,922 ft
Highest Point
1,872 ft
~88.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,462 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Alcoa, TN and Jackson, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Memphis and Louisville.
Jackson is a city in Western Tennessee that grew as a crossroads between various railroads in the four cardinal directions. It was the major commerce center of western Tennessee around the time of its founding in 1821 because Memphis had yet to emerge as a dominant community. Jackson hasn't been without its fair share of trials and travails as it knew the systemic ordeals of slavery for cotton production and lynchings and disenfranchisement as well as other places did in the South, plus high crime and tornadoes.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 46m. Total distance: 311.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 285.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 36 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Jackson, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Springbrook Road): Navigation decision point; at 23.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 178.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Jackson, TN before the return drive.
