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Trip from Dickson, TN to Jackson, 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 48m

Distance

92.6 mi

149 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 41m ★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 54m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 55m
5 PM
2h 4m
8 PM
1h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Tennessee, USA

Dickson, TN

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Madison County, Tennessee, United States

Jackson, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Connecting Dickson and Jackson, Tennessee, this 92.6-mile drive is a straightforward journey across the Southeast that typically takes about 1 hour and 48 minutes. Given its manageable length, it works perfectly as a simple day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-40, Center Avenue, and US-70, keeping your travel costs predictable with an estimated fuel budget of $14. Because the route is compact and efficient, you have the flexibility to head out early or late depending on your schedule. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick getaway, this drive offers a reliable connection between these two Tennessee hubs without the fatigue of a long-haul trek.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

46.3 miles from Dickson, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 76.3 mi 1h 21m
Center Avenue 9.1 mi 16m
US 70 6 mi 8m
East Main Street 0.7 mi 1m
Church Street 0.1 mi <1m
West College Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 76.3 mi, about 1h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dickson, TN and Jackson, TN.

1

Start on US 70 Business

386 ft · 9 sec · West College Street
2

Turn right onto SR 48 Alternate

0.1 mi · 10 sec · Church Street
3

Continue on SR 48 Alternate

9.1 mi · 16 min · Center Avenue
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 163 Toward SR 48: Centerville
5

Merge onto I 40

76 mi · 1 hr 21 min · I 40
6

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Toward US 70, US 412 East
7

Turn left onto US 70

4.2 mi · 6 min · US 70
8

Turn left onto US 70

1.8 mi · 2 min · US 70
9

Turn right onto East Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Main Street
10

Arrive at destination

East Main Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip with no mandatory stops required, you have the freedom to plan your departure around your personal preferences. You should account for the $14 fuel cost before you leave, ensuring your tank is ready for the 92.6-mile trek. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch spans 76.3 miles, try to handle any necessary errands or vehicle checks in Dickson before merging onto I-40. If you are prone to fatigue, even on shorter drives, feel free to utilize the transitions onto US-70 or Center Avenue as natural points to stretch your legs. Keeping a flexible timeline is your biggest advantage, as you can easily navigate this route in under two hours without feeling rushed.

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 46.3 miles from Dickson, TN, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.3 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 20 miles or 28m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 46.3 miles or 56m 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 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jackson, TN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Dickson, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Dickson, TN

This is one driving day of about 92.6 miles and 1h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Dickson, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 76.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Tennessee, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waverly, TN

46 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

McEwen, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Johnsonville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 46.3 miles from Dickson, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.3 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Los Portales Mexican Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Jackson, Tennessee

Near the end, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 92.6

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+17316646217

Visit website

Los Portales Mexican Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 92.6

Jackson, Tennessee

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+17316646217

Visit website

Taqueria “ EL PRIMO EXPRESS”

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 92.6

Jackson, Tennessee

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+19012203010

Taco Bell

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 92.6

Jackson, Tennessee

Hours: 9 am–1 pm

+17316683353

Visit website

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 92.6

Jackson, Tennessee

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+17317362362

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 5

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 92 — 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 | SR 48 Alternate / Church Street

Turn right onto SR 48 Alternate / Church Street

Navigation decision point

5
9.3 mi into trip | ~16m in

Take the ramp toward SR 48: Centerville

Navigation decision point

Exit 163 Toward SR 48: Centerville
3
9.5 mi into trip | ~16m in | I 40

Merge onto I 40

Merge point - match speed before joining

5
85.8 mi into trip | ~1h 38m in

Take the exit toward US 70, US 412 East

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 70, US 412 East
3
92 mi into trip | ~1h 47m in | East Main Street

Turn right onto East Main Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.48 one way

$28.95 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $15.90 $31.79
premium $4.89 $17.82 $35.64
diesel $5.61 $20.44 $40.89

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 32.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 27.8 0 $9.72 $4.44
Efficient EV 23.2 0 $8.10 $3.70
EV Truck/SUV 37 0 $12.96 $5.93

Gas CO2

32 kg

EV CO2

11 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 15, 2026

Origin

Dickson, TN

Late night in Dickson on Sunday

Local time

12:56 AM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Jackson, TN

Late night in Jackson on Sunday

Local time

12:56 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

78°F

Waverly, TN

46 mi in

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

1 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

1h 48m 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 highway-focused experience, as 89% of your travel time will be spent on major roads. The most significant portion of your journey is a 76.3-mile stretch on I-40, which dominates the transit and allows for steady, consistent speeds. While the transition onto Center Avenue and US-70 provides a shift in pace, the route remains largely focused on getting you to your destination efficiently. You won't find many technical turns or winding backroads here, making it a predictable, high-speed drive. By keeping your eyes on the interstate, you can anticipate a smooth transit across the regional landscape.

89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.3 mi on I 40.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Center Avenue. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near SR 48 Alternate / Church Street.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Dickson, TN to Jackson, TN is easy. At 1h 48m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (SR 48 Alternate / Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.5 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 92.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 76.3 miles on I 40. 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: at 0.1 miles (SR 48 Alternate / Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.5 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jackson, 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.

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