Spanning 197.2 miles across the Southeast, this drive between Bartlett and Nashville typically takes about 3 hours and 39 minutes. Because the distance is manageable, you can easily complete this journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $30 on fuel to make the trip. You will navigate via the Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, Stage Road, and the Downtown Loop. Whether you are heading to the state capital for business or a change of scenery, this route offers a straightforward path between these two Tennessee hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
98.6 miles from Bartlett, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
189.2 mi
3h 24m
Stage Road
5.8 mi
10m
Downtown Loop
0.6 mi
<1m
Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
7th Avenue North
0.2 mi
1m
Charlotte Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
12th Avenue North
<0.1 mi
<1m
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 Nashville, 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
0.6 mi·47 sec·Downtown Loop
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 209Toward US 70: Charlotte Avenue, Demonbreun StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on 12th Avenue North
200 ft·12 sec·12th Avenue North
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn left onto US 70
329 ft·7 sec·Charlotte Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Continue on Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
10
Turn left onto 7th Avenue North
0.2 mi·1 min·7th Avenue North
11
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, but planning for at least one dedicated stop will help keep you alert. Given the turn-heavy profile of the road, prioritize comfort and take breaks if the winding stretches become fatiguing. Be sure to budget your $30 for fuel before hitting the road, as local fueling options may vary compared to major highway corridors. If you are prone to motion sickness, take advantage of your one planned stop to stretch your legs and reset before tackling the final leg of the drive into Nashville.
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 98.6 miles from Bartlett, TN, or about 1h 51m 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 43 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.6 miles or 1h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nashville, 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 197.2 miles and 3h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 196.4 — 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.
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...
8
196.2 mi into trip|~3h 36m in
Take the exit toward US 70: Charlotte Avenue, Demonbreun Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 209
Toward US 70: Charlotte Avenue, Demonbreun Stre...
7
196.4 mi into trip|~3h 37m in|US 70 / Charlotte Avenue
Turn left onto US 70 / Charlotte Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.83 one way
$61.66 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$33.85
$67.70
premium
$4.89
$37.95
$75.90
diesel
$5.61
$43.54
$87.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.2
0
$20.71
$9.47
Efficient EV
49.3
0
$17.26
$7.89
EV Truck/SUV
78.9
0
$27.61
$12.62
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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
1:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Nashville, TN
Late night
in Nashville on Sunday
Local time
1:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
3h 39m 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.
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...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 197.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend the vast majority of your time—189.2 miles to be exact—traveling along the Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway. The road requires your full attention due to its technical, local nature, which contrasts with the typical high-speed transit found on major interstates. While you won't be dealing with cruise-control boredom, you should prepare for a more hands-on experience behind the wheel as you transition through the regional landscape.
Only 0% 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: 189.2 mi on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 197.2 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 195.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 39m. Total distance: 197.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 195.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Nashville, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
