Bartlett, TN to Lake Tansi, TN is 315.7 miles and takes about 5h 55m via Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway and I 40, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads, making for a varied, yet manageable, single-day excursion. It's a straightforward drive if you're looking for an uncomplicated way to get between these two points in the state.
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
157.8 miles from Bartlett, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
189.2 mi
3h 24m
I 40
106.7 mi
1h 55m
Stage Road
5.8 mi
10m
North Main Street
3.1 mi
4m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
4m
Lantana Road
2.7 mi
4m
Dunbar Road
2.6 mi
6m
Miller Avenue
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
— 189.2 mi, about 3h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bartlett, TN and Lake Tansi, 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
189 mi·3 hr 24 min·Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
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.
5
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
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.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
107 mi·1 hr 55 min·I 40
Exit 211AToward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 317Toward US 127, TN 28: Crossville, Jamestown
9
Turn straight onto US 127
3.1 mi·4 min·North Main Street
10
Turn right onto SR 392
1.7 mi·2 min·Miller Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto SR 101
2.7 mi·4 min·Lantana Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto SR 282
2.6 mi·6 min·Dunbar Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto Cheyenne Drive
226 ft·9 sec·Cheyenne Drive
14
Arrive at destination
Cheyenne Drive
Trip Plan
For this 5h 55m drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Lake Tansi, TN before dark. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you pace your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 189.2-mile stretch on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, as services might be less frequent there. The estimated fuel cost is around $49, so budget accordingly. This is a good candidate for a single-day trip, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider an early afternoon departure and a brief overnight stop.
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 157.8 miles from Bartlett, TN, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 189.2 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 69 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.8 miles or 2h 55m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Tansi, 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 315.7 miles and 5h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Bartlett, 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 Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway for about 189.2 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.1 and 305.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
9
195.3 mi into trip|~3h 35m 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
195.6 mi into trip|~3h 35m 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.
9
198.5 mi into trip|~3h 39m 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...
6
305.2 mi into trip|~5h 35m in
Take the exit toward US 127, TN 28: Crossville, Jamestown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 317
Toward US 127, TN 28: Crossville, Jamestown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.62 one way
$93.24 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$51.47
$102.94
premium
$4.72
$58.62
$117.23
diesel
$4.80
$59.61
$119.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.7
1
$33.15
$15.15
Efficient EV
78.9
0
$27.62
$12.63
EV Truck/SUV
126.3
1
$44.20
$20.20
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Bartlett, TN
Late night
in Bartlett on Monday
Local time
4:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
WNW 5 to 10 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 12:56PM EDT by NWS Morristown TN
Destination
Lake Tansi, TN
Late night
in Lake Tansi on Monday
Local time
4:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
0 mph62% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 12:56PM 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
9 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
5h 55m 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 217.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 34% of this drive is on highways, with the longest uninterrupted highway stretch covering 189.2 miles on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface roads, so be prepared for a change in pace and potentially more local traffic as you approach your destination. The profile is mixed highway & surface, indicating a blend of faster travel and more local road conditions.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 189.2 mi on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.1 miles in near I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway.
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 11 significant decision points across 315.7 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 6.1 miles (I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 195.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 195.6 miles (I 40; I 65 / Downtown Loop): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,006 ft278 ft
Total Climb
2,230 ft
Total Descent
592 ft
Highest Point
2,006 ft
~293.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,728 ft
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 Lake Tansi, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Bartlett is a city in metropolitan Memphis, Tennessee. It has several buildings of historic interest, and a walkable Historic District". In 2018, the population of Bartlett was almost 60,000. The Trail of Tears runs along Stage Road through the city. It commemorates the forced relocations between 1830 and 1850 of approximately 60,000 Native Americans from their ancestral homelands in the Southeastern U.S. to areas west of the Mississippi River that had been designated as Indian Territory.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 55m. Total distance: 315.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 189.2 miles on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 32 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 Lake Tansi, 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 32 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.1 miles (I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 195.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 195.6 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 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lake Tansi, TN before the return drive.
