Origin
Columbia, TN
Morning in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
9:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, TN to Goodlettsville, 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 11m
Distance
60.2 mi
97 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Goodlettsville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Columbia, TN to Goodlettsville, TN is 60.2 miles and takes about 1h 11m via I 65, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region, connecting two points in Tennessee. It's a straightforward trip, primarily utilizing interstate highways, making it a convenient option for a quick journey. Expect a largely highway-focused experience that should be easy to navigate, fitting comfortably into a single day without feeling rushed.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 36.5 mi | 40m |
| I 24 | 9 mi | 10m |
| Bear Creek Pike | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| Downtown Loop | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Nashville Highway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Rivergate Parkway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Garden Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 36.5 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, TN and Goodlettsville, TN.
1
Start on West 7th Street
79 ft
·
6 sec
·
West 7th Street
2
Turn right onto US 31; US 412 Business
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Garden Street
3
Continue on US 31; US 412 Business
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Nashville Highway
4
Turn right onto US 412
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Bear Creek Pike
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
6
Merge onto I 65
36 mi
·
39 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 82B
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 40
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Downtown Loop
9
Continue on I 40
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Downtown Loop
Exit 211B; 211A
Toward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksville, Louisville, Knoxville, Chattanooga
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto Downtown Loop
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Downtown Loop
Exit 211B
Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 24
9.0 mi
·
10 min
·
I 24
Exit 46A
Toward I 24 West, I 65 North: Clarksville, Louisville
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Continue on I 65
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
I 65
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 65
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 96
Toward Rivergate Parkway, Goodlettsville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
246 ft
·
8 sec
Toward Goodlettsville
Use the left / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Rivergate Parkway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Rivergate Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn slight right
256 ft
·
9 sec
18
Turn slight right onto US 31W; US 41
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
US 31W; US 41
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.1 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 9.1 and 58.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
8
45.3 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 82B
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville
9
46.3 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
Downtown Loop
Keep slight left at fork onto Downtown Loop toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 211B
Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
8
58.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward Rivergate Parkway, Goodlettsville
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 96
Toward Rivergate Parkway, Goodlettsville
8
58.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Goodlettsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward Goodlettsville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.41 one way
$18.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.33 | $20.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.58 | $23.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.29 | $26.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.32 | $2.89 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.27 | $2.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.43 | $3.85 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Goodlettsville, TN
Morning in Goodlettsville on Sunday
Local time
9:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Belle Meade, TN
30 mi in
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 11m 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 drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 77% of the route on interstates. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 36.5 miles on I 65, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. While the main roads include I 65, I 24, and Bear Creek Pike, the overall character leans towards efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. The transition between these roads is designed for smooth, albeit highway-driven, progression.
77% 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: 36.5 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 45.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.3 miles (Downtown Loop): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Columbia, TN and Goodlettsville, TN, road signs point toward Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Louisville
45.7 mi in
|
~52m
|
via I 40
Knoxville
45.7 mi in
|
~52m
|
via I 40
Chattanooga
45.7 mi in
|
~52m
|
via I 40
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 11m. Total distance: 60.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.5 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Goodlettsville, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 45.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.3 miles (Downtown Loop): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Goodlettsville, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Goodlettsville, TN
More trips to Goodlettsville, TN
Explore more options from Columbia, TN or browse trips ending in Goodlettsville, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.