Traveling from Collierville to Arlington, Tennessee, covers 173.2 miles and takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete. This trip is designed as a straightforward, one-day excursion, making it an efficient choice for those looking to reach their destination without an overnight stay. You should budget about $26 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Since both cities are located within the Southeast, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the journey. Because this is a compact route, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your departure time to suit your schedule while keeping travel stress to a minimum.
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
86.6 miles from Collierville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
116.9 mi
2h 5m
State Highway 13
34.4 mi
51m
Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway
15.1 mi
17m
East Main Street
2.3 mi
5m
East Poplar Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
South Church Street
0.5 mi
<1m
North Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
TN 57
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 116.9 mi, about 2h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Collierville, TN and Arlington, TN.
1
Start on North Rowlett Street
321 ft·19 sec·North Rowlett Street
2
Turn right onto North Center Street
246 ft·12 sec·North Center Street
3
Turn right onto East Mulberry Street
382 ft·21 sec·East Mulberry Street
4
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North Main Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto TN 57
1.3 mi·2 min·East Poplar Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on TN 57
0.2 mi·19 sec·TN 57
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
8
Merge onto I 269
15 mi·17 min·Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 East: Nashville
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 East: Nashville
11
Merge onto I 40
117 mi·2 hr 5 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 143Toward SR 13: Linden, Waverly
13
Turn left onto TN 13
15 mi·23 min·State Highway 13
14
Continue on TN 13
0.5 mi·48 sec·South Church Street
15
Continue on TN 13
19 mi·28 min·State Highway 13
16
Turn left onto SR 49
2.3 mi·5 min·East Main Street
17
Turn left onto Arlington Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·Arlington Street
18
Turn right onto West Roby Street
29 ft·1 sec·West Roby Street
19
Arrive at destination
West Roby Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3 hour and 30 minute drive, try to plan for at least one stop to break up the monotony of the long interstate stretches. Since the route is relatively short, you have the advantage of being able to leave whenever fits your preference without needing to worry about complex overnight logistics. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the 116.9-mile stretch on I-40, as this is where you will spend the bulk of your time. By keeping your $26 fuel budget in mind, you can plan your refueling stops strategically to ensure you reach Arlington without any unexpected delays. Having a clear plan for that single stop will keep you refreshed and focused behind the wheel.
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 86.6 miles from Collierville, TN, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.9 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 38 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.6 miles or 1h 38m 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 Arlington, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Collierville, 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 Collierville, TN
This is one driving day of about 173.2 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Collierville, 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 40 for about 116.9 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 135.7 — 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 Center Street
Turn right onto North Center Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Mulberry Street
Turn right onto East Mulberry Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
17.9 mi into trip|~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 40 East: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 40 East: Nashville
6
135.7 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward SR 13: Linden, Waverly
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 143
Toward SR 13: Linden, Waverly
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.08 one way
$54.16 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.73
$59.46
premium
$4.89
$33.33
$66.66
diesel
$5.61
$38.24
$76.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52
0
$18.19
$8.31
Efficient EV
43.3
0
$15.15
$6.93
EV Truck/SUV
69.3
0
$24.25
$11.08
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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 13, 2026
Origin
Collierville, TN
Late night
in Collierville on Sunday
Local time
5:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arlington, TN
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
5:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 10 to 15 mph50% 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
27 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 30m on the road
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.
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 173.2
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 drive, as 96% of your route consists of major thoroughfares like I-40, State Highway 13, and the Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, with the longest uninterrupted stretch spanning 116.9 miles along I-40. The route offers a steady, high-speed experience that prioritizes direct travel over winding backroads. While you will navigate a few different road types, the prevalence of interstate driving ensures a predictable pace. Behind the wheel, you should be prepared for a consistent flow of traffic as you transition across these primary transit corridors.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 116.9 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and State Highway 13. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Center Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 173.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 (North Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Mulberry Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
696 ft300 ft
Total Climb
584 ft
Total Descent
458 ft
Highest Point
696 ft
~160.8 mi in
Elevation Range
396 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Collierville, TN to Arlington, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Waverly along the way.
Waverly
135.7 mi in|~2h 31m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 173.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 116.9 miles on I 40. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Mulberry Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Donelson National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Arlington, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
