Origin
Chapel Hill, TN
Morning in Chapel Hill on Sunday
Local time
7:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chapel Hill, TN to Clarksville, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 37m
Distance
117.5 mi
189 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 27m
★
6 AM
2h 38m
8 AM
2h 59m
10 AM
2h 45m
12 PM
2h 43m
3 PM
2h 46m
5 PM
2h 58m
8 PM
2h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chapel Hill, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Clarksville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Chapel Hill to Clarksville covers 117.5 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 37 minutes. This straightforward journey stays within Tennessee, connecting the Southeast region through a mix of interstate and local roads. Because the travel time is manageable, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $18 on fuel for the round trip, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a visit, the route offers a reliable path that balances highway travel with local navigation.
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
58.8 miles from Chapel Hill, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 55 mi | 58m |
| North Main Street | 23.4 mi | 33m |
| South Broad Street | 11.9 mi | 17m |
| SR 48 | 9.3 mi | 16m |
| State Highway 13 | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| Life Road | 5.8 mi | 10m |
| South Riverside Drive | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Lexington Bypass | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 55 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chapel Hill, TN and Clarksville, TN.
1
Start on this road
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Joe Horton Road
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Joe Horton Road
3
Turn right onto SR 200
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Life Road
4
Continue on SR 200
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Life Road
5
At end of road, turn right onto SR 459
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Lexington Bypass
6
At end of road, turn left onto TN 22
12 mi
·
17 min
·
South Broad Street
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington, Huntingdon
8
Merge onto I 40
55 mi
·
58 min
·
I 40
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 163
Toward SR 48: Centerville, Dickson
10
Turn left onto SR 48
9.3 mi
·
16 min
·
SR 48
11
Turn left onto US 70 Business
332 ft
·
8 sec
·
West College Street
12
Turn right onto SR 48
23 mi
·
33 min
·
North Main Street
13
Continue on TN 13; TN 48
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 13
14
Continue on TN 13; TN 48
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Cumberland Drive
15
Turn left onto US 41A Bypass; SR 48
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Riverside Drive
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto SR 48
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
College Street
17
Turn right onto North 2nd Street
134 ft
·
2 sec
·
North 2nd Street
18
Arrive at destination
North 2nd Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns. You only need to build in one planned stop to keep the 2-hour and 37-minute duration comfortable. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longer interstate segments, as the $18 cost estimate assumes steady driving conditions. Because this route utilizes both I-40 and local streets like North Main and South Broad, stay alert for transitions between high-speed highway traffic and slower town driving. Prioritizing a mid-morning or mid-afternoon departure can help you avoid the heaviest congestion on the more urban portions of the drive.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58.8 miles from Chapel Hill, TN, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55 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 26 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.8 miles or 1h 13m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarksville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chapel Hill, 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 Chapel Hill, TN
This is one driving day of about 117.5 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Chapel Hill, 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 55 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58.8 miles from Chapel Hill, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 115.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Joe Horton Road
At end of road, turn right onto Joe Horton Road
Navigation decision point
5
6.2 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
SR 459 / Lexington Bypass
At end of road, turn right onto SR 459 / Lexington Bypass
Navigation decision point
5
7.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
TN 22 / South Broad Street
At end of road, turn left onto TN 22 / South Broad Street
Navigation decision point
6
74.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
Take the exit toward SR 48: Centerville, Dickson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 163
Toward SR 48: Centerville, Dickson
6
115.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 34m in
|
US 41A Bypass; SR 48 / South Riverside Drive
Turn left onto US 41A Bypass; SR 48 / South Riverside Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.37 one way
$36.74 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.17 | $40.34 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.61 | $45.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.94 | $51.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.3 | 0 | $12.34 | $5.64 |
| Efficient EV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.28 | $4.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47 | 0 | $16.45 | $7.52 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Clarksville, TN
Morning in Clarksville on Sunday
Local time
7:15 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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 37m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive relies on a 61% highway share to keep you moving toward your destination. You will spend time navigating sections of I-40, North Main Street, and South Broad Street as you transition between the two cities. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-40, where you can settle in for 55 miles of consistent interstate driving. As you move off the main highway stretches, the road personality shifts to local thoroughfares, requiring you to adjust your pace accordingly. It is a functional drive that trades scenic variety for the efficiency of major roadway connections.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and North Main Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Joe Horton Road.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 37m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Joe Horton Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.2 miles (SR 459 / Lexington Bypass): Navigation decision point; at 7.5 miles (TN 22 / South Broad Street): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chapel Hill, TN and Clarksville, TN, road signs point toward Primary Sr 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington, Huntingdon and Dickson.
Primary Sr 22: Parkers Crossroad
19.4 mi in
|
~31m
Lexington
19.4 mi in
|
~31m
Huntingdon
19.4 mi in
|
~31m
Dickson
74.6 mi in
|
~1h 30m
About the Cities
Arriving in Clarksville, TN
Full guide →Clarksville is the county seat of Montgomery County, in Central Tennessee. Founded in 1784, Clarksville is one of the south's most historic cities. Today, visitors can experience that history through memorable attractions, unique historic architecture and a variety of annual festivals and events. Steeped in history, Clarksville began as a settlement along the banks of the Cumberland and Red Rivers by Revolutionary War hero John Montgomery in the early 1780s. In 1785, Clarksville became Tennessee's first incorporated city.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 37m. Total distance: 117.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55 miles on I 40. 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 0.2 miles (Joe Horton Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.2 miles (SR 459 / Lexington Bypass): Navigation decision point; at 7.5 miles (TN 22 / South Broad Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clarksville, TN before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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