Traveling from Collegedale to Gallatin covers 161.3 miles across Tennessee, making this a straightforward journey that fits easily into a single day. You should plan for roughly 3 hours and 12 minutes of drive time, with a fuel budget of about $25 to complete the trip. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent environment throughout the drive. This route is efficient for those looking to reach their destination quickly without needing an overnight stay. It serves as a practical, highway-focused connection between these two points, perfect for a one-day turnaround.
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
80.6 miles from Collegedale, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
111.3 mi
2h 6m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
18.5 mi
19m
Central Pike
16.8 mi
22m
I 75
6.9 mi
9m
Apison Pike
3.8 mi
6m
South Water Avenue
1.7 mi
3m
Volkswagen Drive
0.3 mi
<1m
Colcord Drive
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 111.3 mi, about 2h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Collegedale, TN and Gallatin, 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
111 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 24
Toward Chattanooga, NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·55 sec
Exit 74BToward I 840 East: Lebanon, KnoxvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 840
19 mi·19 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·51 sec
Exit 72BToward TN 265 West: Central PikeUse the right lane.
12
Continue on SR 109; SR 265
17 mi·22 min·Central Pike
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on South Water Avenue
1.7 mi·3 min·South Water Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto TN 25
67 ft·1 sec·West Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
TN 25
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule rather than worrying about multiple overnight stops. You only need to build in one planned stop to keep your energy up during the 3-hour and 12-minute commute. Be mindful that with 111.3 miles of your journey occurring on I-24, you should keep an eye on traffic patterns to ensure you stay on schedule. Prior to heading out, verify your fuel levels, as the $25 estimated cost can fluctuate based on your vehicle's specific efficiency. Aiming for an early morning departure is a smart way to avoid the heaviest congestion on the major highways along this path.
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 80.6 miles from Collegedale, TN, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.3 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 35 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.6 miles or 1h 36m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gallatin, 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 161.3 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 111.3 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.1 and 142.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.1 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
4.4 mi into trip|~8m in|I 75; US 11; US 64; SR 317
Merge onto I 75; US 11; US 64; SR 317
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
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
123.3 mi into trip|~2h 24m in
Take the exit toward I 840 East: Lebanon, Knoxville
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 74B
Toward I 840 East: Lebanon, Knoxville
7
142.4 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Take the exit toward TN 265 West: Central Pike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 72B
Toward TN 265 West: Central Pike
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.22 one way
$50.43 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.69
$55.38
premium
$4.89
$31.04
$62.08
diesel
$5.61
$35.61
$71.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.4
0
$16.94
$7.74
Efficient EV
40.3
0
$14.11
$6.45
EV Truck/SUV
64.5
0
$22.58
$10.32
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Gallatin, TN
Late night
in Gallatin on Sunday
Local time
1:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
3 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 12m 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 122.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive defined by efficiency, as 85% of your travel time is spent on highways. The journey relies heavily on I-24, where you will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch of 111.3 miles cruising along the interstate. After clearing the heavier interstate traffic, the route transitions onto the Tennessee National Guard Parkway and Central Pike to navigate toward your destination. While the interstate portion provides a fast, consistent pace, the final segments offer a shift in rhythm as you move off the main arterial roads. You will find that the road character is functional rather than leisurely, prioritizing speed to get you to Gallatin.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.3 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 161.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 4.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (I 75; US 11; US 64; SR 317): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Gallatin, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville.
Nashville
11.3 mi in|~17m
Chattanooga
12 mi in|~18m|via I 24
Knoxville
123.3 mi in|~2h 24m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 161.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.3 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 Gallatin, 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 4.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (I 75; US 11; US 64; SR 317): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 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 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Gallatin, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
