Traveling from Harriman to Jackson covers 270.3 miles across Tennessee, making for a straightforward trek that lasts approximately 4 hours and 56 minutes. Since this route is almost entirely highway-focused, you can easily complete it in a single day, leaving you plenty of time at your destination. Expect to spend about $41 on fuel for the journey, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because the trip is contained within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent atmosphere throughout the drive. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that works well if you need to reach Jackson efficiently without the need for an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
135.2 miles from Harriman, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
257.9 mi
4h 39m
US 70
6 mi
8m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
3m
North Roane Street
2.5 mi
2m
East Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 257.9 mi, about 4h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harriman, TN and Jackson, TN.
1
Start on US 27
2.5 mi·2 min·North Roane Street
2
Turn left
0.2 mi·25 sec
3
Merge onto I 40
134 mi·2 hr 24 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·3 min·I 40
Exit 213BToward I 24 West, I 40 West: NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
0.4 mi·42 sec·I 40
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, MemphisUse the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 40
0.6 mi·52 sec·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 40
2.3 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Exit 210AToward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, LouisvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
121 mi·2 hr 10 min·I 40
Toward I 40 West: MemphisUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 70, US 412 East
10
Turn left onto US 70
4.2 mi·6 min·US 70
11
Turn left onto US 70
1.8 mi·2 min·US 70
12
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this drive, try to depart early in the morning to avoid potential congestion, especially when navigating the Downtown Loop. You only need to plan for one strategic stop to stretch your legs and refuel, which keeps your momentum steady over the nearly five-hour duration. Because the route is so heavily reliant on I-40, keep an eye on traffic reports for that specific corridor to avoid any unexpected delays. Given the $41 fuel budget, filling up your tank before you merge onto the main interstate stretch is a smart way to simplify your travel logistics. This route is flexible enough that you can easily tailor your pace to suit your personal comfort level.
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 135.2 miles from Harriman, TN, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 257.9 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 59 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.2 miles or 2h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 1m
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 Harriman, 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 Harriman, TN
This is one driving day of about 270.3 miles and 4h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Harriman, 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 257.9 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 142.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.7 mi into trip|~3m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
137.1 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
8
139.3 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
5
139.7 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|I 40 / Downtown Loop
Merge onto I 40 / Downtown Loop
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
142.6 mi into trip|~2h 36m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 West: Memphis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.26 one way
$84.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$46.40
$92.80
premium
$4.89
$52.02
$104.03
diesel
$5.61
$59.68
$119.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.1
1
$28.38
$12.97
Efficient EV
67.6
0
$23.65
$10.81
EV Truck/SUV
108.1
1
$37.84
$17.30
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Harriman, TN
Late night
in Harriman on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, TN
Late night
in Jackson on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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
4h 56m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 121.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With a 98% highway share, you should prepare for a drive dominated by interstate travel. The vast majority of your time—specifically 257.9 miles—will be spent on a single, uninterrupted stretch of I-40. While you will navigate bits of US 70 and the Downtown Loop at the start and finish, the personality of this trip is defined by the steady pace of the interstate. You can expect a consistent, high-speed experience that requires focus but offers very few technical road challenges. It is a classic highway grind that gets you from point A to point B with predictable efficiency.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 257.9 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 270.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 137.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 139.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,962 ft410 ft
Total Climb
1,512 ft
Total Descent
1,897 ft
Highest Point
1,962 ft
~38.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,553 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Harriman, TN and Jackson, TN, road signs point toward Memphis and Louisville.
Jackson is a city in Western Tennessee that grew as a crossroads between various railroads in the four cardinal directions. It was the major commerce center of western Tennessee around the time of its founding in 1821 because Memphis had yet to emerge as a dominant community. Jackson hasn't been without its fair share of trials and travails as it knew the systemic ordeals of slavery for cotton production and lynchings and disenfranchisement as well as other places did in the South, plus high crime and tornadoes.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 56m. Total distance: 270.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 257.9 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.
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 Jackson, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 137.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 139.3 miles (I 40): 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Jackson, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
