If you are planning a quick excursion through Tennessee, the 102.2-mile trek from Bartlett to Chapel Hill is an ideal day trip. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 2 minutes behind the wheel, making it a manageable drive for a single day without needing an overnight stay. Your journey will take you across the Southeast region using a combination of the Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, US 412, and SR 200. Budgeting roughly $16 for fuel covers the trip comfortably, allowing you to focus on the road ahead. Because this is a relatively short distance, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule. It is a straightforward route that keeps you within the state while transitioning from the Bartlett area toward the community of Chapel Hill.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.1 miles from Bartlett, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
75 mi
1h 21m
US 412
10.4 mi
11m
SR 200
5.8 mi
10m
Stage Road
5.8 mi
10m
Lexington Bypass
3.7 mi
5m
Law Road
0.7 mi
<1m
Joe Horton Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
— 75 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bartlett, TN and Chapel Hill, TN.
1
Start on TN 15
5.8 mi·10 min·Stage Road
2
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward Nashville
3
Merge onto I 40
75 mi·1 hr 21 min·Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 93Toward 152: Lexington
5
Turn right onto SR 152
0.7 mi·49 sec·Law Road
6
Turn left onto US 412
10 mi·11 min·US 412
7
Continue on SR 459
3.7 mi·5 min·Lexington Bypass
8
Turn right onto SR 200
5.8 mi·10 min·SR 200
9
Turn left onto Joe Horton Road
0.2 mi·42 sec·Joe Horton Road
10
Turn left
0.2 mi·43 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact 2-hour drive, you don't need to worry about complex stop planning or overnight logistics. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential local congestion, especially since the route relies heavily on turn-heavy local roads. With no formal stops required by the distance, you have the freedom to pace yourself and pull over whenever you need a break. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before setting out; while the $16 estimate is accurate, filling up in Bartlett ensures you won't need to hunt for a station mid-trip. Use your flexibility to your advantage by checking local traffic reports for the Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway before you head out to ensure a smooth transition onto the secondary roads.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51.1 miles from Bartlett, TN, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75 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 22 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.1 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chapel Hill, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bartlett, 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 Bartlett, TN
This is one driving day of about 102.2 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Bartlett, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway for about 75 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 101.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
5.8 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward Nashville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Nashville
5
6.1 mi into trip|~11m in|I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
81.1 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward 152: Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 93
Toward 152: Lexington
4
81.3 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|SR 152 / Law Road
Turn right onto SR 152 / Law Road
Navigation decision point
4
101.9 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|Joe Horton Road
Turn left onto Joe Horton Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.98 one way
$31.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.54
$35.09
premium
$4.89
$19.67
$39.33
diesel
$5.61
$22.56
$45.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.7
0
$10.73
$4.91
Efficient EV
25.6
0
$8.94
$4.09
EV Truck/SUV
40.9
0
$14.31
$6.54
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bartlett, TN
Late night
in Bartlett on Sunday
Local time
5:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chapel Hill, TN
Late night
in Chapel Hill on Sunday
Local time
5:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Jackson, TN
51 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 2m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will spend 75 miles of the journey on the Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, the route maintains a highway share of only 16%. You will find that the road transitions frequently, moving from faster highway stretches into more technical local segments. This variation keeps the driving experience engaging, as you navigate the specific turns required to reach your destination. By the time you complete the 102.2-mile trip, you will have navigated a mix of road types that reflect the local character of the Tennessee landscape.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75 mi on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bartlett, TN to Chapel Hill, TN is easy. At 2h 2m with 16% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 6.1 miles (I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bartlett, TN and Chapel Hill, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and 152: Lexington.
Nashville
5.8 mi in|~10m
152: Lexington
81.1 mi in|~1h 32m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 102.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 75 miles on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 6.1 miles (I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Chapel Hill, TN before heading back.
