Clarksville, TN to LaFollette, TN is 235 miles and takes about 4h 42m via I 24, I 40, and Harriman Highway, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it a solid option for a single-day trip. It's a practical route for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
117.5 miles from Clarksville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
119 mi
2h 9m
I 40
56.3 mi
1h 1m
Harriman Highway
9.6 mi
10m
Briceville Highway
9 mi
18m
Frost Bottom Road
7.2 mi
12m
US 27
6.8 mi
7m
I 75
5.4 mi
6m
Madison Street
4.7 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 119 mi, about 2h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clarksville, TN and LaFollette, TN.
1
Start on North 2nd Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·North 2nd Street
2
Turn left onto Franklin Street
0.3 mi·52 sec·Franklin Street
3
Turn right onto US 41A
0.2 mi·29 sec·University Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 41A; SR 76
4.7 mi·8 min·Madison Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto TN 76
3.1 mi·3 min·TN 76
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
7
Merge onto I 24
33 mi·35 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24
2.3 mi·3 min·I 24
Exit 44AToward I 24 East, I 65 South: NashvilleUse the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Continue on I 24
2.8 mi·3 min·I 24
Exit 86Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga, KnoxvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 24
81 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 24
Exit 50AToward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the slight left lane.
11
Continue on I 40
56 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward US 27: Harriman, Rockwood
13
Keep slight right at fork
335 ft·8 sec
14
Merge onto US 27
6.8 mi·7 min·US 27
15
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 61
9.6 mi·10 min·Harriman Highway
16
Continue on SR 61
1.2 mi·1 min·West Tri County Boulevard
17
Turn right onto SR 330
447 ft·10 sec·Winter Gap Road
18
Turn left onto SR 330
0.2 mi·23 sec·Railroad Avenue
19
Continue on SR 330
0.1 mi·16 sec·Main Street
20
Turn left onto SR 330
0.6 mi·1 min·East Spring Street
21
Continue on SR 330
0.5 mi·1 min·Walden Avenue
22
Continue on SR 330
0.4 mi·49 sec·Dutch Valley Road
23
Turn left onto SR 330
7.2 mi·12 min·Frost Bottom Road
24
Continue on SR 116
5.2 mi·9 min·Briceville Highway
25
Continue on SR 116
234 ft·6 sec·Briceville Highway
26
Continue on SR 116
3.8 mi·9 min·Briceville Highway
27
At end of road, turn left onto US 25W; SR 116
1.0 mi·2 min·North Main Street
28
Take the ramp onto I 75; US 25W
5.4 mi·6 min·I 75; US 25W
Toward Louisville
29
Take the exit onto US 25W
0.2 mi·20 sec·US 25W
Toward US 25W North, TN 63 East: Caryville, Jacksboro, La Follette
30
Keep slight right at fork onto US 25W
239 ft·5 sec·US 25W
31
Merge onto US 25W; TN 63
3.7 mi·4 min·West Central Avenue
32
Continue on US 25W; SR 63
3.3 mi·5 min·Jacksboro Pike
33
Continue on US 25W; SR 63
0.3 mi·19 sec·Jackson Pike
34
Continue on US 25W; SR 63
0.9 mi·1 min·West Central Avenue
35
Arrive at destination
SR 63
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 42m estimated drive time, leaving Clarksville in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to break up the 235 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you approach LaFollette, and plan to refuel before the final leg if needed. The $36 fuel estimate should give you a good baseline for budgeting. Since it's a drive that can comfortably be completed in one day, you can decide on your stopping point based on your preference for early arrival or a more leisurely pace.
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 117.5 miles from Clarksville, TN, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119 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 52 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.5 miles or 2h 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 3h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near LaFollette, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clarksville, 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 Clarksville, TN
This is one driving day of about 235 miles and 4h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Clarksville, 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 24 for about 119 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 47.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|US 41A; SR 76 / Madison Street
Turn left onto US 41A; SR 76 / Madison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
8.9 mi into trip|~14m in|I 24
Merge onto I 24
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
42.2 mi into trip|~50m in|I 24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24 toward I 24 East, I 65 South: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 44A
Toward I 24 East, I 65 South: Nashville
5
44.5 mi into trip|~53m in|I 24
Continue onto I 24 toward I 24 East: Chattanooga, Knoxville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 86
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga, Knoxville
9
47.3 mi into trip|~57m in|I 24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 24 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 lane.
Exit 50A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattan...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.70 one way
$69.41 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$38.31
$76.62
premium
$4.72
$43.63
$87.26
diesel
$4.80
$44.37
$88.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.5
0
$24.68
$11.28
Efficient EV
58.8
0
$20.56
$9.40
EV Truck/SUV
94
1
$32.90
$15.04
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Clarksville, TN
Late night
in Clarksville on Sunday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
WNW 5 to 10 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Destination
LaFollette, TN
Morning
in LaFollette on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 0 to 5 mph48% chanceLive 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
6 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
4h 42m 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 64.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 81% of this 235-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 119 miles on I 24. After the highway portions, you'll transition to Harriman Highway for the remainder of the trip. Expect a mostly highway experience with some sections of surface road driving towards the end.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 119 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near US 41A; SR 76 / Madison Street.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 235 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 0.7 miles (US 41A; SR 76 / Madison Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.9 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.2 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,878 ft435 ft
Total Climb
2,129 ft
Total Descent
1,529 ft
Highest Point
1,878 ft
~151.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,443 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clarksville, TN and LaFollette, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville, Chattanooga, Rockwood and Louisville.
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.
Top landmarks
•Customs House Museum and Cultural Center — Clarksville, Tennessee, former customs house and former post office
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 42m. Total distance: 235 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 119 miles on I 24. 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 LaFollette, 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 0.7 miles (US 41A; SR 76 / Madison Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.9 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.2 miles (I 24): 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 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at LaFollette, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
