Origin
Columbia, TN
Late night in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, TN to Arlington, TN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 16m
Distance
167.9 mi
270 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 4m
★
6 AM
3h 16m
8 AM
3h 40m
10 AM
3h 25m
12 PM
3h 22m
3 PM
3h 26m
5 PM
3h 39m
8 PM
3h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Arlington, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Columbia, TN to Arlington, TN is 167.9 miles and takes about 3h 16m via I 40 and Linden Highway, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect a mixed drive that blends highway travel with some local road cruising. Given the relatively short duration and distance, it's an ideal route for a single-day journey, allowing ample time for an early departure or a leisurely start.
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
83.9 miles from Columbia, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 63.9 mi | 1h 8m |
| Linden Highway | 51.3 mi | 59m |
| Hampshire Pike | 16.5 mi | 20m |
| Columbia Highway | 13 mi | 16m |
| US 412 | 10.5 mi | 11m |
| East Main Street | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| West Church Sttreet | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| West 7th Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 63.9 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, TN and Arlington, TN.
1
Start on West 7th Street
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
West 7th Street
2
Keep slight right at fork onto US 412 Business
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West 7th Street
3
Continue on US 412 Business
17 mi
·
20 min
·
Hampshire Pike
4
Continue on US 412
13 mi
·
16 min
·
Columbia Highway
5
Continue on US 412
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
East Main Street
6
Continue on US 412
51 mi
·
59 min
·
Linden Highway
7
Continue on US 412
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Church Sttreet
8
Continue on US 412
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 412
9
Turn right onto SR 152
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Law Road
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
11
Merge onto I 40
64 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
I 40
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
13
Turn right onto SR 196
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
SR 196
14
Turn straight onto Hickory Withe Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Hickory Withe Road
15
Continue on Forrest Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Forrest Street
16
Arrive at destination
Walker Street
Trip Plan
For this 3h 16m trip, starting early is a good idea to maximize daylight, especially since it’s a single-day recommended drive. With a fuel cost estimated around $26, ensure your tank is full before you depart Columbia, TN, as there's one recommended stop, but you'll want to minimize unnecessary detours. The longest stretch without a break is 63.9 miles on I-40, so plan your refreshment needs accordingly before embarking on that segment. Given the relatively short distance, you have the flexibility to make spontaneous stops if needed.
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 83.9 miles from Columbia, TN, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.9 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 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.9 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 39m
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 Columbia, 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 Columbia, TN
This is one driving day of about 167.9 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Columbia, 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 63.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 83.9 miles from Columbia, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 164.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 412 Business / West 7th Street
Keep slight right at fork onto US 412 Business / West 7th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
99.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m in
|
SR 152 / Law Road
Turn right onto SR 152 / Law Road
Navigation decision point
5
100.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
100.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
|
I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
164.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 8m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.25 one way
$52.50 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $28.82 | $57.64 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.31 | $64.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.07 | $74.14 |
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: 58.7 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 | 50.4 | 0 | $17.63 | $8.06 |
| Efficient EV | 42 | 0 | $14.69 | $6.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.2 | 0 | $23.51 | $10.75 |
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.
Destination
Arlington, TN
Late night in Arlington on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°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
19 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 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This 167.9-mile drive is characterized as a mixed drive, with 45% of the route being highway. You'll experience stretches on I-40, which makes up the longest continuous segment at 63.9 miles, offering a straightforward highway experience. The remainder of the journey incorporates local roads like Linden Highway and Hampshire Pike, likely providing a more varied driving feel as you transition between faster sections and potentially slower, more scenic or populated areas. The profile suggests a dynamic route rather than a monotonous interstate trek.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.9 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near US 412 Business / West 7th Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Columbia, TN to Arlington, TN is easy. At 3h 16m with 45% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (US 412 Business / West 7th Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 99.6 miles (SR 152 / Law Road): Navigation decision point; at 100.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Starting in Columbia, TN
Full guide →Columbia is the county seat of Maury County in Central Tennessee, and is 50 miles south of Nashville. It is home to an estimated 38,224 people and hosts a mule day festival the first weekend of April every year. It is more famously known for being the hometown of the 11th President of the United States, James K. Polk. In addition, numerous antebellum homes are located around the city including Ripavilla, the Atheneum, Elm Springs, Rattle and Snap, and Hamilton Place to name a few. It is a city rich in history and culture endearingly known by its locals as "The Dimple of the Universe". It's safe to say the South has had its moments of racism and racial unrest, but Columbia seems to take it to a higher level. From indiscriminate lynchings as though they were pastimes to a race riot in 1946, racism has seemed pretty systemic here.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 167.9 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 (45%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 63.9 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 0.5 miles (US 412 Business / West 7th Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 99.6 miles (SR 152 / Law Road): Navigation decision point; at 100.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Arlington, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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