Hendersonville, TN to Oliver Springs, TN is 160.2 miles and takes about 3h 3m via I 40, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, connecting two points in the Southeast region. For the most part, you'll be on a straightforward highway route, making it a good option for a single-day trip. Given the relatively short duration and primary highway focus, it's a practical choice for efficiently getting from point A to point B without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.1 miles from Hendersonville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
115.5 mi
2h 4m
SR 109
13.3 mi
18m
Harriman Highway
9.6 mi
10m
US 27
6.8 mi
7m
Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
5.5 mi
6m
South Water Avenue
2.1 mi
2m
West Main Street
1.7 mi
2m
Gallatin Road
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 115.5 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hendersonville, TN and Oliver Springs, 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
115 mi·2 hr 4 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward US 27: Harriman, Rockwood
17
Keep slight right at fork
335 ft·8 sec
18
Merge onto US 27
6.8 mi·7 min·US 27
19
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 61
9.6 mi·10 min·Harriman Highway
20
Continue on SR 61
1.2 mi·1 min·West Tri County Boulevard
21
Turn right onto SR 330
0.2 mi·39 sec·Winter Gap Road
22
Arrive at destination
Winter Gap Road
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 3 hours and a 1-day recommendation, this trip offers plenty of flexibility. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and take advantage of the 115.5-mile stretch on I-40 without needing a stop for fuel. The $25 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices before you depart. Given the limited number of stops suggested, plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the transition from I-40 to SR 109 if needed.
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 80.1 miles from Hendersonville, TN, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.5 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 35 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.1 miles or 1h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oliver Springs, 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 160.2 miles and 3h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 115.5 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 4.1 and 142.4 — 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.
5
142.2 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward US 27: Harriman, Rockwood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 27: Harriman, Rockwood
5
142.4 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.05 one way
$50.09 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.50
$55.00
premium
$4.89
$30.83
$61.66
diesel
$5.61
$35.37
$70.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
29 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Buc-ee's - Tesla Supercharger
Crossville, TN
Tesla
16 DCFC
Food City - Tesla Supercharger
Kingston, TN
Tesla
16 DCFC
Jackson Plaza - Tesla Supercharger
Cookeville, TN
Tesla
8 DCFC
Stonehaus Winery - Tesla Supercharger
Crossville, TN
Tesla
8 DCFC
Merchant Pointe - Tesla Supercharger
Hendersonville, TN
Tesla
7 DCFC
Cookeville, TN
Cookeville, TN
RIVIAN_ADVENTURE
6 DCFC
Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corp - District Office
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.1
0
$16.82
$7.69
Efficient EV
40.1
0
$14.02
$6.41
EV Truck/SUV
64.1
0
$22.43
$10.25
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Hendersonville, TN
Morning
in Hendersonville on Sunday
Local time
9:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Oliver Springs, TN
Morning
in Oliver Springs on Sunday
Local time
10:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
30 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
3h 3m 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...
21 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 27.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 85% of your travel occurring on major highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-40, including a long stretch of 115.5 miles. While there are some segments on SR 109 and Harriman Highway, the overall character is one of consistent speed and direct travel. Expect a generally smooth experience with minimal interruptions, allowing for steady progress towards your destination.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 115.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 160.2 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hendersonville, TN and Oliver Springs, TN, road signs point toward Lebanon and Rockwood.
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 3h 3m. Total distance: 160.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 115.5 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 Oliver Springs, 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 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. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Oliver Springs, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
