Spanning 168.2 miles across Tennessee, this trek from Collegedale to Columbia is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 16 minutes. Because the route is compact and efficient, it works perfectly as a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend roughly $26 on fuel to complete the transit between these two Southeast locations. Navigating primarily via I-24, the Tennessee National Guard Parkway, and I-65, you will find the infrastructure is well-suited for a quick move between regions. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this drive offers a reliable, no-nonsense path for your itinerary.
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
84.1 miles from Collegedale, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
111.9 mi
2h 6m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
20.8 mi
22m
I 65
11.5 mi
12m
Bear Creek Pike
7.1 mi
8m
I 75
6.9 mi
9m
Apison Pike
3.8 mi
6m
Nashville Highway
1.4 mi
2m
North Garden Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 111.9 mi, about 2h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Collegedale, TN and Columbia, TN.
1
Start on Colcord Drive
70 ft·7 sec·Colcord Drive
2
Turn left onto SR 317
0.8 mi·1 min·Apison Pike
3
At end of road, turn left onto SR 317
3.0 mi·5 min·Apison Pike
4
Continue on SR 317
0.3 mi·42 sec·Volkswagen Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
6
Merge onto I 75; US 11; US 64; SR 317
6.9 mi·9 min·I 75; US 11; US 64; SR 317
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·56 sec
Toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 24
112 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 24
Toward Chattanooga, NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 74AToward I 840 West: Memphis, FranklinUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 840
21 mi·22 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·22 sec
Exit 31Toward I 65: Nashville, HuntsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
1.6 mi·2 min
Exit 31AToward I 65 South: HuntsvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 65
11 mi·12 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 46Toward 412, 99: Columbia, Chapel Hill
15
Keep slight right at fork
162 ft·4 sec
Exit 46Toward 412: Columbia
16
Turn right onto US 412
7.1 mi·8 min·Bear Creek Pike
17
Turn left onto US 31; US 412 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·Nashville Highway
18
Continue on US 31; US 412 Business
0.5 mi·57 sec·North Garden Street
19
Turn left onto West 7th Street
79 ft·2 sec·West 7th Street
20
Arrive at destination
West 7th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 3-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours on the interstates is always a wise move. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel, as this keeps the drive comfortable without adding unnecessary time to your arrival. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longer stretches, as the $26 estimate assumes steady highway conditions. Because the route relies so heavily on I-24 and I-65, checking for construction updates or congestion reports on these specific highways before you leave will help ensure your trip stays within the projected 3-hour window.
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 84.1 miles from Collegedale, TN, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.9 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 37 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.1 miles or 1h 40m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Collegedale, 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 Collegedale, TN
This is one driving day of about 168.2 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Collegedale, 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 111.9 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.3 and 159.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
11.3 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
8
123.8 mi into trip|~2h 25m in
Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 74A
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
8
145.5 mi into trip|~2h 49m in
Take the exit toward I 65: Nashville, Huntsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31
Toward I 65: Nashville, Huntsville
8
145.8 mi into trip|~2h 49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 South: Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 31A
Toward I 65 South: Huntsville
7
159.1 mi into trip|~3h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 412: Columbia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 46
Toward 412: Columbia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.30 one way
$52.59 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.87
$57.74
premium
$4.89
$32.37
$64.74
diesel
$5.61
$37.14
$74.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.5
0
$17.66
$8.07
Efficient EV
42.1
0
$14.72
$6.73
EV Truck/SUV
67.3
0
$23.55
$10.76
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Collegedale, TN
Late night
in Collegedale on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbia, TN
Night
in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
11:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
35 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
3h 16m 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.
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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 121.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 90% of this trip is spent on high-speed thoroughfares. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, tackling a longest uninterrupted stretch of 111.9 miles while cruising along I-24. The drive maintains a consistent, efficient pace that favors interstate travel over local winding roads. While the majority of your time is spent in the steady flow of highway traffic, transitioning between the different arterial roads keeps the route from feeling entirely stagnant. It is a functional, direct drive that prioritizes speed and reliability for the driver.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.9 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.3 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 168.2 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 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 123.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 145.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,435 ft595 ft
Total Climb
1,194 ft
Total Descent
1,196 ft
Highest Point
1,435 ft
~60.1 mi in
Elevation Range
840 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Collegedale, TN and Columbia, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Chattanooga, Franklin, Huntsville, 99: Columbia and Chapel Hill - among others.
Nashville
11.3 mi in|~17m
Chattanooga
12 mi in|~18m|via I 24
Franklin
123.8 mi in|~2h 25m
Huntsville
145.5 mi in|~2h 49m
99: Columbia
158.9 mi in|~3h 4m
Chapel Hill
158.9 mi in|~3h 4m
412: Columbia
159.1 mi in|~3h 4m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 168.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.9 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 Columbia, 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 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 123.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 145.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Columbia, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
