Traveling from Collierville to Nashville covers a total distance of 202.5 miles, which typically takes about 3 hours and 4 minutes of driving time. Because this route stays entirely within Tennessee and the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent local atmosphere rather than a cross-regional shift. With a total fuel budget of approximately $30, this journey is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. Expect a straightforward pace as you navigate the transit between these two cities. Having a plan for at least one planned stop will help you break up the drive comfortably. Whether you are headed out for business or a quick getaway, this trip is manageable for most drivers looking for a direct path.
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
101.2 miles from Collierville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
181.7 mi
3h 15m
Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway
15.1 mi
17m
East Poplar Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Downtown Loop
0.6 mi
<1m
Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
7th Avenue North
0.2 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
TN 57
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 181.7 mi, about 3h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Collierville, TN and Nashville, 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
182 mi·3 hr 15 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 208AToward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, HuntsvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 40; I 65
0.6 mi·47 sec·Downtown Loop
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 209Toward US 70: Charlotte Avenue, Demonbreun StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on 12th Avenue North
200 ft·12 sec·12th Avenue North
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Turn left onto US 70
329 ft·7 sec·Charlotte Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Continue on Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
18
Turn left onto 7th Avenue North
0.2 mi·1 min·7th Avenue North
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For the best experience, aim to depart early in the day to give yourself ample time to navigate the turn-heavy local roads at a relaxed pace. Since the route includes one recommended stop, use that break to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping your $30 budget in mind for the total transit. Because this is a shorter drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on local traffic patterns on North Center, East Mulberry, and North Main Streets. Always keep your navigation system ready, as the lack of highway miles means you will be making frequent directional changes. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay vigilant at intersections, as the reliance on local streets requires constant engagement with changing traffic signals and road signs.
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 101.2 miles from Collierville, TN, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.7 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 45 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.2 miles or 1h 54m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nashville, 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 202.3 miles and 3h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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 181.7 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 0.1 and 201.5 — 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
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.
9
200.5 mi into trip|~3h 41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsv...
8
201.3 mi into trip|~3h 42m in
Take the exit toward US 70: Charlotte Avenue, Demonbreun Street
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 209
Toward US 70: Charlotte Avenue, Demonbreun Stre...
7
201.5 mi into trip|~3h 43m in|US 70 / Charlotte Avenue
Turn left onto US 70 / Charlotte Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.63 one way
$63.25 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$34.73
$69.45
premium
$4.89
$38.93
$77.86
diesel
$5.61
$44.67
$89.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.7
0
$21.24
$9.71
Efficient EV
50.6
0
$17.70
$8.09
EV Truck/SUV
80.9
1
$28.32
$12.95
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 20, 2026
Origin
Collierville, TN
Late night
in Collierville on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Nashville, TN
Late night
in Nashville on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
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
3h 45m 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...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 202.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined as a turn-heavy local drive, favoring surface streets over the high-speed monotony of interstate travel. You will navigate primarily via North Center Street, East Mulberry Street, and North Main Street, which account for the entirety of the 0% highway share. Because there are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches—the longest segment is 0 miles on North Center Street—you should be prepared for frequent turns and a more active driving experience. The route prioritizes local connectivity, meaning you will need to pay closer attention to navigation than you would on a standard freeway commute. It is a practical, ground-level way to see the landscape between these two points without the distance-blurring speed of a major expressway.
97% 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: 181.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway. 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 Center 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 15 significant decision points across 202.3 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 Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 200.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Nashville is the capital of the American state of Tennessee. With 716,000 residents in 2022, it is the state's largest city. Nashville is sometimes called the "Country Music Capital of the World" or more often "Music City, USA"; however, Nashville has done much to escape its country music image and become a regional center of culture and commerce. In fact, Dell, Nissan, and Amazon have all moved some operations to or near the city. The music is various; major rap artists and rock bands (Jelly Roll, Young Buck, Haystak, Kings of Leon, Paramore, and Ben Folds) claim Nashville as their hometown, and the city is also the epicenter of the contemporary Christian music industry. Nashville has been the home of the world-famous Grand Ole Opry since 1925. Nashville also has a great bar scene. If you like to drink, you can go "Honky-tonking," also known as bar-hopping.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 45m. Total distance: 202.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 181.7 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.
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 Nashville, 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 0.1 miles (North Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 200.5 miles: 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 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Nashville, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
