Origin
Columbia, TN
Late night in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, TN to Clarksville, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 42m
Distance
74 mi
119 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 34m
★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 57m
8 PM
1h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Clarksville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 74 miles across Tennessee, this drive between Columbia and Clarksville is a straightforward journey through the Southeast that typically takes about 1 hour and 42 minutes. Because of the relatively short distance, it functions perfectly as a simple day trip, allowing you to complete the transit without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $11 for fuel to cover the full distance. The route keeps you within the same state, offering a consistent regional feel as you navigate from one city to the other. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that works well if you are looking to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37 miles from Columbia, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Main Street | 22.6 mi | 32m |
| State Highway 7 | 21.3 mi | 25m |
| State HWY 46 | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| State Highway 13 | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| Santa Fe Pike | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| State Highway 46 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| South Riverside Drive | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Cumberland Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
North Main Street
— 22.6 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, TN and Clarksville, TN.
1
Start on West 7th Street
79 ft
·
6 sec
·
West 7th Street
2
Turn right onto US 31; US 412 Business
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
North Garden Street
3
Turn left onto TN 7
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
James M Campbell Boulevard North
4
Continue on TN 7
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Santa Fe Pike
5
Continue on TN 7
21 mi
·
25 min
·
State Highway 7
6
Continue on TN 46
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 46
7
Continue on SR 46
8.4 mi
·
11 min
·
State HWY 46
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on SR 46
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Mathis Drive
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 70
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Henslee Drive
10
Turn slight right
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
11
Continue on SR 48
23 mi
·
32 min
·
North Main Street
12
Continue on TN 13; TN 48
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 13
13
Continue on TN 13; TN 48
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Cumberland Drive
14
Turn left onto US 41A Bypass; SR 48
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Riverside Drive
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto SR 48
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
College Street
16
Turn right onto North 2nd Street
134 ft
·
2 sec
·
North 2nd Street
17
Arrive at destination
North 2nd Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 1 hour and 42-minute trip with zero mandatory stops, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule. Aim to depart outside of peak traffic hours to ensure you maintain your estimated travel time across the 74-mile distance. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, as the $11 estimated cost assumes a steady drive without significant idling or detours. Because you are relying on a mix of North Main Street and state highways, stay alert for changing speed limits as you pass through different zones. Taking advantage of the lack of required stops allows you to complete the drive in one efficient push.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37 miles from Columbia, TN, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.6 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 16 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37 miles or 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarksville, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Columbia, TN
This is one driving day of about 74 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Columbia, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on North Main Street for about 22.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37 miles from Columbia, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 and 74 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 31; US 412 Business / North Garden Street
Turn right onto US 31; US 412 Business / North Garden Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.5 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
TN 7 / James M Campbell Boulevard North
Turn left onto TN 7 / James M Campbell Boulevard North
Navigation decision point
4
40.8 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
US 70 / Henslee Drive
At end of road, turn left onto US 70 / Henslee Drive
Navigation decision point
6
72.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
|
US 41A Bypass; SR 48 / South Riverside Drive
Turn left onto US 41A Bypass; SR 48 / South Riverside Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
74 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
|
North 2nd Street
Turn right onto North 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.57 one way
$23.14 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.70 | $25.40 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.24 | $28.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.34 | $32.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.77 | $3.55 |
| Efficient EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.48 | $2.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.6 | 0 | $10.36 | $4.74 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Clarksville, TN
Late night in Clarksville on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°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
30 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
1h 42m 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?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition between local roads and state highways. With a highway share of 54%, the trip balances faster stretches with more tempered driving speeds. You will spend your longest uninterrupted time on the road during a 22.6-mile segment on North Main Street. Navigating via State Highway 7 and State Highway 46 adds variety to the journey, keeping the pace engaging rather than monotonous. You will find that the road conditions shift as you move through these different thoroughfares, requiring you to remain attentive as you transition between municipal streets and state-level roads.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.6 mi on North Main Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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 early in the drive near US 31; US 412 Business / North Garden Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Columbia, TN to Clarksville, TN is easy. At 1h 42m with 54% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 31; US 412 Business / North Garden Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (TN 7 / James M Campbell Boulevard North): Navigation decision point; at 40.8 miles (US 70 / Henslee Drive): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
884 ft
399 ft
Total Climb
1,022 ft
Total Descent
1,191 ft
Highest Point
884 ft
~27.8 mi in
Elevation Range
485 ft
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 1h 42m. Total distance: 74 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.6 miles on North Main Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 31; US 412 Business / North Garden Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (TN 7 / James M Campbell Boulevard North): Navigation decision point; at 40.8 miles (US 70 / Henslee Drive): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clarksville, TN before heading back.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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