Arlington, TN to Brentwood, TN is 355.5 miles and takes about 6h 33m via I 40, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Tennessee, traversing the Southeast region. For the most part, you'll be on the interstate, making for a straightforward trip. It’s a solid option if you need to cover ground efficiently between these two points in the Volunteer State. Plan for a single-day drive with minimal fuss.
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
177.7 miles from Arlington, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
345 mi
6h 13m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
4m
North Cedar Bluff Road
1.7 mi
3m
Forrest Street
1.4 mi
3m
Hickory Withe Road
1 mi
2m
Chert Pit Road
0.8 mi
2m
SR 196
0.7 mi
1m
Middlebrook Pike
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 345 mi, about 6h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TN and Brentwood, TN.
1
Start on Walker Street
68 ft·3 sec·Walker Street
2
Continue on Forrest Street
1.4 mi·3 min·Forrest Street
3
Continue on Hickory Withe Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Hickory Withe Road
4
Continue on SR 196
0.7 mi·1 min·SR 196
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
6
Merge onto I 40
178 mi·3 hr 11 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 208AToward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, HuntsvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 40
0.5 mi·42 sec·Downtown Loop
Exit 211B; 211AToward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksville, Louisville, Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
167 mi·3 hr 1 min·I 40
Exit 211AToward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 378Toward Cedar Bluff Road
12
Turn left onto North Cedar Bluff Road
1.7 mi·3 min·North Cedar Bluff Road
Use the left / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto SR 169
0.5 mi·1 min·Middlebrook Pike
14
Turn left onto Chert Pit Road
0.8 mi·2 min·Chert Pit Road
15
Continue on Andes Road
0.3 mi·40 sec·Andes Road
16
Arrive at destination
Andes Road
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour duration, leaving Arlington, TN in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Brentwood, TN with plenty of daylight. The route has only one recommended stop, so consider breaking up the 345-mile stretch on I 40 if you prefer more frequent pauses. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $56, and ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably. The limited highway share means you won't need to worry about extensive navigation on surface streets.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 177.7 miles from Arlington, TN, or about 3h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 345 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 78 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.7 miles or 3h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brentwood, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arlington, 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 Arlington, TN
This is one driving day of about 355.5 miles and 6h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Arlington, 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 345 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 184.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.5 mi into trip|~8m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
181.7 mi into trip|~3h 19m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsv...
5
181.9 mi into trip|~3h 20m in|I 40; I 65 / Downtown Loop
Merge onto I 40; I 65 / Downtown Loop
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
184.3 mi into trip|~3h 23m in|I 40 / Downtown Loop
Continue onto I 40 / Downtown Loop toward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksville, Louisville, Knoxville, Chattanooga
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 211B; 211A
Toward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksv...
9
184.9 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 211A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattan...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.30 one way
$118.60 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg124 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$64.70
$129.41
premium
$5.25
$73.52
$147.04
diesel
$6.28
$87.84
$175.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
106.7
1
$37.33
$17.06
Efficient EV
88.9
1
$31.11
$14.22
EV Truck/SUV
142.2
1
$49.77
$22.75
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (66% 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 Oct 20, 2026
Origin
Arlington, TN
Afternoon
in Arlington on Thursday
Local time
2:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Brentwood, TN
Afternoon
in Brentwood on Thursday
Local time
3:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Clear
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
73°F
Hartsville, TN
178 mi in
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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
6h 33m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 208.4
Caution: Temporary Closures for Saluting Branches Project - September 16, 2026
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 97% highway, meaning you'll spend almost all 6 hours and 33 minutes on major interstates. The longest continuous stretch is a substantial 345 miles on I 40. You can expect dense exits and merging traffic as you approach and pass through urban areas along the way. Surface roads will only come into play for the final few miles.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 345 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Downtown Loop. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 355.5 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: at 3.5 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 181.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.9 miles (I 40; I 65 / Downtown Loop): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,012 ft282 ft
Total Climb
2,284 ft
Total Descent
1,519 ft
Highest Point
2,012 ft
~279.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,730 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Arlington, TN and Brentwood, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 33m. Total distance: 355.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 33m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 345 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 41 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 Brentwood, 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 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 181.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.9 miles (I 40; I 65 / Downtown Loop): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Brentwood, TN before the return drive.
