This 74.2-mile drive from Forest Hills, TN to Hendersonville, TN is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. The journey primarily utilizes I-24, the Florida Short Route, and Shelbyville Highway, with 55% of the route being highway driving. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this is an economical option for a quick getaway or a straightforward commute. The mixed drive profile suggests a blend of faster highway sections and potentially more local road experiences, making it a practical choice for those seeking a straightforward transit between these two Southeast region locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.1 miles from Forest Hills, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
40.5 mi
46m
Florida Short Route
9.2 mi
10m
Shelbyville Highway
8.6 mi
9m
South Church Street
2.7 mi
4m
West Main Street
2.7 mi
4m
Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
2.4 mi
2m
Downtown Loop
2.3 mi
3m
North Main Street
2.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 40.5 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forest Hills, TN and Hendersonville, TN.
1
Start on Forest Avenue
0.2 mi·54 sec·Forest Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 41A
2.2 mi·3 min·Madison Street
3
Turn right onto US 231 Business; SR 82
2.2 mi·2 min·North Main Street
4
Continue on US 231; SR 82
9.2 mi·10 min·Florida Short Route
5
Continue on US 231; SR 269
8.6 mi·9 min·Shelbyville Highway
6
Continue on US 231
2.7 mi·4 min·South Church Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward US 231 South: Shelbyville, Calsonic Arena, Tennessee Walking Horse National CelebrationUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 24
29 mi·32 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 24
2.2 mi·2 min·I 24
Exit 52AToward I 24West, I 40 West: NashvilleUse the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24
0.3 mi·28 sec·I 24
Exit 211Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, LouisvilleUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 24
2.3 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 24
9.0 mi·10 min·I 24
Exit 46AToward I 24 West, I 65 North: Clarksville, LouisvilleUse the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Continue on I 65
0.2 mi·14 sec·I 65
14
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 386
2.4 mi·2 min·Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
Exit 95Toward SR 386: Hendersonville, GallatinUse the slight right lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 2Toward Center Point Road, HendersonvilleUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
163 ft·6 sec
Toward Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center, HendersonvilleUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto Center Point Road
0.2 mi·38 sec·Center Point Road
18
Turn left onto US 31E
2.7 mi·4 min·West Main Street
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Walton Ferry Road
53 ft·1 sec·Walton Ferry Road
20
Arrive at destination
Walton Ferry Road
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 30-minute duration, this trip offers great flexibility; you can depart anytime without needing to split the drive. Plan your fuel stops accordingly, keeping in mind the estimated $12 cost for the 74.2 miles. The longest stretch on I-24 is over 40 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with that duration before hitting that section. While there are no designated stops mentioned, consider a brief pause in a town along Shelbyville Highway if you need a break, making the most of the drive's manageable length.
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 37.1 miles from Forest Hills, TN, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.5 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 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.1 miles or 45m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hendersonville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Forest Hills, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Forest Hills, TN
This is one driving day of about 74.2 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Forest Hills, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 24 for about 40.5 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 25.2 and 71.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
25.2 mi into trip|~31m in
Turn left toward US 231 South: Shelbyville, Calsonic Arena, Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 231 South: Shelbyville, Calsonic Aren...
9
54.6 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|I 24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 24 toward I 24West, I 40 West: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 52A
Toward I 24West, I 40 West: Nashville
9
56.8 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|I 24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24 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 right lane.
Exit 211
Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
9
68.6 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard toward SR 386: Hendersonville, Gallatin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 95
Toward SR 386: Hendersonville, Gallatin
9
71.3 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center, Hendersonville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center, Hend...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.60 one way
$23.20 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.74
$25.47
premium
$4.89
$14.28
$28.56
diesel
$5.61
$16.38
$32.76
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: 26 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
22.3
0
$7.79
$3.56
Efficient EV
18.6
0
$6.49
$2.97
EV Truck/SUV
29.7
0
$10.39
$4.75
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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Forest Hills, TN
Morning
in Forest Hills on Tuesday
Local time
9:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hendersonville, TN
Morning
in Hendersonville on Tuesday
Local time
9:43 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 30m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this 74.2-mile route, with a significant 55% spent on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a 40.5-mile segment on I-24, offering a chance to maintain steady speed. As you transition off the interstate to roads like the Florida Short Route and Shelbyville Highway, the driving experience will likely shift, potentially involving more local traffic and varying speed limits. This blend means you'll experience both efficient highway travel and more community-oriented road segments as you cover the 74.2 miles.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.5 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 25.2 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 25.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.6 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.8 miles (I 24): 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.
Between Forest Hills, TN and Hendersonville, TN, road signs point toward Calsonic Arena, Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, Louisville and Gallatin.
Hendersonville is a city in Sumner County of the American state of Tennessee. It is a well-known suburb of Nashville, Tennessee, and has been the home of many country music stars, including Conway Twitty, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 74.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.5 miles on I 24. 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 Hendersonville, 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 25.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.6 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.8 miles (I 24): 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hendersonville, TN before heading back.
