Origin
Blountville, TN
Late night in Blountville on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blountville, TN to Nashville, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 12m
Distance
283.3 mi
456 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 59m
★
6 AM
5h 13m
8 AM
5h 40m
10 AM
5h 22m
12 PM
5h 19m
3 PM
5h 23m
5 PM
5h 38m
8 PM
5h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blountville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Nashville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embark on a straightforward 283.3-mile journey from Blountville, TN, to Nashville, TN, a drive that typically takes about 5 hours and 12 minutes. This route is predominantly highway, with 99% of it utilizing major interstates like I-40 and I-81, making it an efficient one-day trip. Your estimated fuel cost for this Southeast to Southeast trek is around $44. Given its manageable length and highway focus, it's well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. This drive offers a direct path across Tennessee.
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
141.7 miles from Blountville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 36m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 209.8 mi | 3h 49m |
| I 81 | 69.2 mi | 1h 14m |
| Downtown Loop | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway | 1 mi | 1m |
| James Robertson Parkway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| I 24 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 7th Avenue North | 0.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 209.8 mi, about 3h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blountville, TN and Nashville, TN.
1
Start on this road
98 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto SR 126
179 ft
·
7 sec
·
Bristol Highway
3
Turn right onto TN 394; I 81 Alt
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 81 South
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 81
68 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
I 81
6
Continue on I 81
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 81
Exit 1B
Toward I 40 West: Knoxville
7
Merge onto I 40
53 mi
·
59 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
155 mi
·
2 hr 46 min
·
I 40
Toward Nashville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
I 40
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 24
Exit 211
Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 24
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 48
Toward James Robertson Parkway, State Capitol
Use the right lane.
13
Turn straight onto US 31; US 41; US 431
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
James Robertson Parkway
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North
129 ft
·
6 sec
·
3rd Avenue North
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto 7th Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
7th Avenue North
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour and 12-minute drive, leaving Blountville in the morning will give you ample time to arrive in Nashville with daylight to spare. With only one planned stop recommended, you can easily break up the 283.3 miles. Consider a mid-morning or early afternoon stop to refuel and stretch, perhaps around the halfway point of the 209.8-mile I-40 stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach Nashville, and factor in the $44 fuel cost. Since it’s a single-day trip, you have flexibility to adjust your departure time based on traffic.
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 141.7 miles from Blountville, TN, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 209.8 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 62 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.7 miles or 2h 36m 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 13m
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 Blountville, 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 Blountville, TN
This is one driving day of about 283.3 miles and 5h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Blountville, 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 209.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
142 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 141.7 miles from Blountville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 209.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 281.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left toward I 81 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 81 South
7
123.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m 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
278.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 2m 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
9
280.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 6m in
|
I 24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24 toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 211
Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
8
281.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 8m in
Take the exit toward James Robertson Parkway, State Capitol
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 48
Toward James Robertson Parkway, State Capitol
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.29 one way
$88.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
99 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $48.63 | $97.26 |
| premium | $4.89 | $54.52 | $109.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $62.55 | $125.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 85 | 1 | $29.75 | $13.60 |
| Efficient EV | 70.8 | 0 | $24.79 | $11.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 113.3 | 1 | $39.66 | $18.13 |
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Destination
Nashville, TN
Night in Nashville on Saturday
Local time
11:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Spring City, TN
142 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
25 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 12m 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
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 263.7
View on nps.gov
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
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...
29 mi from route
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 78.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for nearly the entire 283.3 miles, with a 99% highway share. You'll spend the bulk of your time on I-40 and I-81, which are designed for efficient travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 209.8 miles on I-40. While this means consistent speed and minimal slowdowns, it also suggests a drive where the scenery will likely be consistent, primarily highway vistas. The Downtown Loop in Nashville will be your final approach into the city.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 209.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 283.3 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: at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 123.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 278.2 miles (I 40): 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 5h 12m. Total distance: 283.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 209.8 miles on I 40. 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.
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 Nashville, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 123.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 278.2 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 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Nashville, TN before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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