Clarksville, TN to Richmond, IN is 345.6 miles and takes about 6h 36m via I 69, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route takes you from the Southeast region into the Midwest, primarily utilizing major interstate highways for most of the journey. With a highway share of 77%, expect a fairly direct and efficient drive with minimal time spent on slower surface roads. This trip is well-suited for a single day of driving, making it a convenient option for those looking to cover ground quickly.
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
172.8 miles from Clarksville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 69
220.9 mi
4h 2m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
58.9 mi
1h 6m
I 169
34.3 mi
36m
Fort Campbell Boulevard
11.1 mi
18m
US 41
6.7 mi
10m
I 24
4.1 mi
4m
Providence Boulevard
1.6 mi
2m
Williamsburg Pike
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 69
— 220.9 mi, about 4h 2m
Traffic on I-465
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 66 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,714 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~472 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 48 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clarksville, TN and Richmond, IN.
1
Start on North 2nd Street
137 ft·8 sec·North 2nd Street
2
Turn left onto Foster Street
276 ft·17 sec·Foster Street
3
Turn left onto North 3rd Street
279 ft·13 sec·North 3rd Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 41A; SR 48; SR 76
275 ft·10 sec·College Street
5
Turn right onto US 41A
0.9 mi·1 min·North 2nd Street
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on US 41A; US 79
1.6 mi·2 min·Providence Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 41A; US 79
11 mi·18 min·Fort Campbell Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·57 sec
9
Merge onto I 24
4.1 mi·4 min·I 24
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·42 sec
Exit 81Toward I 169 North: Hopkinsville
11
Continue on I 169
34 mi·36 min·I 169
12
Continue on I 169
0.6 mi·40 sec·I 169
Exit 34C
13
Merge onto I 69
45 mi·48 min·I 69
14
Take the exit onto US 41
6.7 mi·10 min·US 41
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Toward I 69 North
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 69 North
17
Merge onto I 69
171 mi·3 hr 8 min·I 69
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on I 69; I 465
4.9 mi·5 min·I 69; I 465
19
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 44BToward I 70 East: DaytonUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto I 70
59 mi·1 hr 6 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
21
Take the exit
0.5 mi·44 sec
Exit 149AToward Williamsburg Pike, Tom Raper Way
22
Turn straight onto Williamsburg Pike
1.3 mi·2 min·Williamsburg Pike
23
Continue on Northwest 5th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Northwest 5th Street
24
Turn left onto Richmond Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Richmond Avenue
25
Continue on North D Street
0.4 mi·58 sec·North D Street
26
Turn right onto US 27; SR 227
150 ft·1 sec·Chester Boulevard
27
Continue on US 27; SR 227
0.3 mi·29 sec·North 8th Street
28
Turn left onto East Main Street
372 ft·10 sec·East Main Street
29
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 36m estimated drive time, leaving Clarksville, TN in the morning should allow you to reach Richmond, IN with plenty of daylight to spare. You'll want to plan for at least one stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 220.9-mile stretch on I 69, to avoid any unexpected delays. The efficient, highway-focused nature of this route means you have flexibility with stops; consider a quick meal break or a brief rest at a rest area to break up the drive.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 172.8 miles from Clarksville, TN, or about 3h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 220.9 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 76 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.8 miles or 3h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, IN 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 345.6 miles and 6h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 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 69 for about 220.9 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 341.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North 3rd Street
Turn left onto North 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 41A; SR 48; SR 76 / College Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 41A; SR 48; SR 76 / College Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 41A / North 2nd Street
Turn right onto US 41A / North 2nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
281.7 mi into trip|~5h 20m in
Take the exit toward I 70 East: Dayton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44B
Toward I 70 East: Dayton
6
341.4 mi into trip|~6h 29m in
Take the exit toward Williamsburg Pike, Tom Raper Way
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 149A
Toward Williamsburg Pike, Tom Raper Way
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.65 one way
$115.30 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$62.66
$125.31
premium
$5.26
$71.56
$143.11
diesel
$6.18
$84.07
$168.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
103.7
1
$36.29
$16.59
Efficient EV
86.4
0
$30.24
$13.82
EV Truck/SUV
138.2
1
$48.38
$22.12
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
40 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.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Clarksville, TN
Afternoon
in Clarksville on Monday
Local time
12:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Areas Of Fog
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Richmond, IN
Afternoon
in Richmond on Monday
Local time
1:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Clear
SE 1 mph0% 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
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
6h 36m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donels...
29 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 11.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly on highways, with 77% of the 345.6 miles spent on interstates like I 69 and I 169. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 220.9 miles on I 69, indicating extended periods of uninterrupted highway cruising. Expect a fairly consistent driving experience with frequent exits and entry ramps as you transition between highway segments and approach your destination in Indiana.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 220.9 mi on I 69.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 69 and Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North 3rd Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 345.6 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 0.1 miles (North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 41A; SR 48; SR 76 / College Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (US 41A / North 2nd Street): 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.
Top landmarks
•Customs House Museum and Cultural Center — Clarksville, Tennessee, former customs house and former post office
Richmond is a city in Central Indiana. It was founded by Carolina Quakers in 1806. Known as the "cradle of recorded jazz" or formerly as the Rose City for its rose cultivation, it has the honor of having had the first complete high school orchestra in the country and of being the recording center of such greats as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, not to mention a major producer of lawnmowers and school buses. It has also been home to some historical intrigues like Jim Jones and The Wright Brothers.
Top landmarks
•Madonna of the Trail — series of 12 monuments dedicated to the spirit of pioneer women in the United St...
•Starr Historic District — historic district in Richmond, Indiana
•Earlham College Observatory — historic observatory in Richmond, Indiana, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 36m. Total distance: 345.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 36m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 220.9 miles on I 69. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 21 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Richmond, IN 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. There are 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 41A; SR 48; SR 76 / College Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (US 41A / North 2nd Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Donelson National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Richmond, IN before the return drive.
