Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
38 mi
61 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clarksville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Burns, TN
Ivan Mudruk
If you are planning a quick excursion through Tennessee, the 38-mile trek from Clarksville to Burns is a straightforward choice. Clocking in at approximately 58 minutes, this drive serves as an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via State Highway 48, State Highway 13, and Highway 96, keeping your travel time efficient. Budgeting around $6 for fuel makes this a highly economical route for your schedule. Since both locations are firmly within the Southeast, you can expect a consistent regional feel throughout the journey. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection that gets you from point A to point B without any unnecessary complexity.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 48 | 22.6 mi | 32m |
| State Highway 13 | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| Highway 96 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| College Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| South Riverside Drive | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Henslee Drive | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Stuart Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Cumberland Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Clarksville, TN and Burns, TN.
Start on North 2nd Street
Turn right onto Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 41A Bypass; SR 48
Take the exit
Turn straight onto TN 13; TN 48
Continue on TN 13; TN 48
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 48
Turn slight right
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto US 70
At end of road, turn left onto US 70
Turn right onto SR 96
Turn left onto SR 47
At end of road, turn left onto SR 47
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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.
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 19 miles from Clarksville, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 33.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto US 41A Bypass; SR 48 / South Riverside Drive
Navigation decision point
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
At end of road, turn left onto US 70 / College Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$5.94 one way
$11.88 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.52 | $13.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.31 | $14.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.39 | $16.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.32 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Clarksville on Tuesday
Local time
3:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Rain Showers Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Burns on Tuesday
Local time
3:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
55°F
Charlotte, TN
19 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a highway-focused experience, as roughly 85% of your time will be spent on major thoroughfares. The road maintains a steady pace, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 22.6 miles along State Highway 48. Because this route leans heavily on highway travel, you can anticipate a consistent driving rhythm rather than frequent stops or technical maneuvering. You will find that the transitions between the designated highways are fluid, allowing for a predictable drive. Staying behind the wheel here is largely about maintaining focus on these primary roads as you move through the Tennessee landscape.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 48 and State Highway 13. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Main Street.
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 38 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 41A Bypass; SR 48 / South Riverside Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 38 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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