This 230.5-mile drive from Hendersonville, TN to Newport, TN is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 22 minutes. The majority of your journey, about 94% of it, will be on highways, primarily I-40, making it a focused drive. With an estimated fuel cost of $36, this route is budget-friendly for a single day's travel. You'll be staying within the Southeast region throughout this Tennessee excursion. It's a straightforward trip designed for efficiency, perfect if you want to get from point A to point B without many detours.
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
115.2 miles from Hendersonville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
199.2 mi
3h 38m
SR 109
13.3 mi
18m
Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
5.5 mi
6m
US 25W
4 mi
6m
South Water Avenue
2.1 mi
2m
West Main Street
1.7 mi
2m
Gallatin Road
1.4 mi
2m
East Main Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 199.2 mi, about 3h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hendersonville, TN and Newport, TN.
1
Start on Walton Ferry Road
53 ft·4 sec·Walton Ferry Road
2
Turn right onto US 31E
1.7 mi·2 min·West Main Street
3
Continue on US 31E
1.4 mi·2 min·Gallatin Road
4
Continue on US 31E
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward SR 386 North
6
Merge onto TN 386
5.5 mi·6 min·Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on SR 665
0.9 mi·1 min·Long Hollow Pike
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward SR 109 South: Gallatin, Lebanon
9
Merge onto SR 109
2.6 mi·2 min·SR 109
10
Take the exit
291 ft·8 sec
11
Merge onto SR 109
2.1 mi·2 min·South Water Avenue
12
Continue on SR 109
7.1 mi·11 min·SR 109
13
Continue on SR 109
3.6 mi·4 min·SR 109
14
Turn left
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville
15
Merge onto I 40
152 mi·2 hr 45 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·40 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
10 mi·11 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: Asheville
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward US 411 South: Sevierville
19
Keep slight left at fork
261 ft·8 sec
20
Turn left onto US 25W; US 70; US 411
0.3 mi·28 sec·US 25W; US 70; US 411
21
Turn straight onto US 25W; US 70
3.7 mi·5 min·US 25W; US 70
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn left onto North Cosby Highway
402 ft·6 sec·North Cosby Highway
Use the left lane.
23
At end of road, turn right onto East Main Street
0.3 mi·22 sec·East Main Street
24
Turn right onto US 321
235 ft·6 sec·McMahan Avenue
25
Turn right
56 ft·4 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour and 22 minute duration, this route is best tackled in a single day. Departing in the morning will give you ample time to reach Newport without feeling rushed, and you'll only need to factor in one planned stop. The longest stretch without a major road change is nearly 200 miles on I-40, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before embarking on that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as planning for gas stops on such a highway-centric route is key to a smooth journey.
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 115.2 miles from Hendersonville, TN, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 199.2 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 51 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.2 miles or 2h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Newport, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hendersonville, 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 Hendersonville, TN
This is one driving day of about 230.5 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Hendersonville, 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 199.2 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.1 and 215.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.1 mi into trip|~6m in|TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
Merge onto TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
10.6 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward SR 109 South: Gallatin, Lebanon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SR 109 South: Gallatin, Lebanon
5
26.7 mi into trip|~37m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
179 mi into trip|~3h 22m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
215.7 mi into trip|~4h 3m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East: Asheville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 40 East: Asheville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.04 one way
$68.08 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$37.58
$75.16
premium
$4.72
$42.80
$85.59
diesel
$4.80
$43.52
$87.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.2
0
$24.20
$11.06
Efficient EV
57.6
0
$20.17
$9.22
EV Truck/SUV
92.2
1
$32.27
$14.75
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Hendersonville, TN
Late night
in Hendersonville on Sunday
Local time
1:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 5 mph35% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Newport, TN
Late night
in Newport on Sunday
Local time
2:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 5 mph53% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
5 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
4h 22m 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...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 31.8
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 206.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for this trip, with 94% of the route utilizing major roadways like I-40, SR 109, and Vietnam Veterans Boulevard. The personality of the drive is predominantly that of a fast-paced interstate journey. You'll encounter one significant stretch of uninterrupted driving for 199.2 miles on I-40, meaning long periods where you'll be cruising at highway speeds. While the focus is on efficient travel, the landscape will change as you progress eastward across Tennessee.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 199.2 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and SR 109. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in near TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 230.5 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 4.1 miles (TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.7 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Newport is a city in Tennessee with a history of bootlegging and a bit of desperation to make it out of poverty in Appalachia. Though it went through a lot of ups and downs over the years, there aren't a whole lot of singular attractions to visit here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 22m. Total distance: 230.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 199.2 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Newport, 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. There are 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles (TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.7 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Newport, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
