Spanning 175.6 miles across Tennessee, this trek from Hickory Withe to Clarksville is a manageable journey that typically takes 3 hours and 37 minutes. Because it is a mixed-profile drive, you can comfortably complete the entire trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $27 on fuel for the excursion, making it a budget-friendly option for travelers moving between these two Southeast locations. Navigating the route requires a transition from the major arteries of I-40 to the more localized feel of the Austin Peay Memorial Highway and Main Street. Whether you are heading out for business or a visit, this trip offers a straightforward path through the state that balances interstate speed with local connections.
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
87.8 miles from Hickory Withe, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
51.1 mi
54m
Austin Peay Memorial Highway
36.5 mi
41m
Main Street
29.8 mi
36m
East Main Street
16.4 mi
24m
US 45E
13.5 mi
19m
Paris Bypass
7.6 mi
8m
US 45 Bypass
6.6 mi
9m
SR 196
3.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 51.1 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hickory Withe, TN and Clarksville, TN.
1
Start on Donelson Drive
34 ft·2 sec·Donelson Drive
2
Turn left onto SR 196
3.7 mi·6 min·SR 196
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
4
Merge onto I 40
51 mi·54 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward TrentonUse the right lane.
6
Merge onto US 45 Bypass
6.6 mi·9 min·US 45 Bypass
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 45E
13 mi·19 min·US 45E
8
Turn right onto US 70A; US 79
2.0 mi·2 min·East Van Hook Street
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on US 70A; US 79
2.1 mi·3 min·Atwood Highway
10
Turn left onto US 70A; US 79
0.7 mi·1 min·Atwood Highway
11
Continue on US 70A; US 79
1.7 mi·2 min·Main Street
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 79
16 mi·24 min·East Main Street
13
Continue on US 79
12 mi·13 min·Austin Peay Memorial Highway
14
Turn right onto SR 218
7.6 mi·8 min·Paris Bypass
15
Turn right onto US 79; SR 218
24 mi·27 min·Austin Peay Memorial Highway
16
Continue on US 79
0.2 mi·11 sec·Fort Donelson Parkway
17
Continue on US 79
0.6 mi·37 sec·Austin Peay Memorial Highway
18
Continue on US 79
0.5 mi·36 sec·Lake Highway
19
Continue on US 79
1.7 mi·1 min·Donelson Parkway
20
Continue on US 79
28 mi·34 min·Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Merge onto US 41A; US 79
0.1 mi·13 sec·Fort Campbell Boulevard
22
Continue on US 41A; US 79
1.6 mi·2 min·Providence Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on US 41A; US 79
0.9 mi·1 min·North 2nd Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
24
Arrive at destination
North 2nd Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a one-day trip, your best bet is to plan for a single, well-timed stop to break up the 3 hour and 37 minute duration. Keep in mind that the 51.1-mile stretch on I-40 is your best opportunity to cover significant ground before your focus shifts to the local roads. Aim to depart early enough to avoid peak congestion, as the mix of highway and local street driving can become more unpredictable during rush hours. Given the $27 fuel estimate, filling up before you merge onto the interstate ensures you won't have to worry about stops in high-traffic zones. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so use your single designated stop to stretch your legs before navigating the final leg on Main Street.
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 87.8 miles from Hickory Withe, TN, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.1 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 39 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.8 miles or 1h 49m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarksville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hickory Withe, 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 Hickory Withe, TN
This is one driving day of about 175.6 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Hickory Withe, 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 51.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 87.8 miles from Hickory Withe, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Taqueria “ EL PRIMO EXPRESS”
4.4
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Early in the drive, ~12 min detour
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 50.2
Jackson, Tennessee
Hours: 10 am–10 pm
+19012203010
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.7 and 75.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3.7 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
4.1 mi into trip|~7m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
55.2 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward Trenton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Trenton
5
55.4 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|US 45 Bypass
Merge onto US 45 Bypass
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
75.5 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|US 70A; US 79 / East Van Hook Street
Turn right onto US 70A; US 79 / East Van Hook Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.45 one way
$54.91 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.14
$60.28
premium
$4.89
$33.79
$67.59
diesel
$5.61
$38.77
$77.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.7
0
$18.44
$8.43
Efficient EV
43.9
0
$15.36
$7.02
EV Truck/SUV
70.2
0
$24.58
$11.24
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Hickory Withe, TN
Late night
in Hickory Withe on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clarksville, TN
Late night
in Clarksville on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°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
1 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
3h 37m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied driving experience as you transition between high-speed infrastructure and slower local roads. With 44% of the trip spent on highways, you will encounter a mix of traffic flow that keeps the drive from feeling monotonous. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-40, covering 51.1 miles, which provides a steady pace before you shift toward the Austin Peay Memorial Highway. This combination of major transit corridors and smaller thoroughfares like Main Street defines the route’s personality. You will find that the character of the road changes significantly as you move away from the heavy interstate traffic and settle into the final segments leading toward Clarksville.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 175.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 3.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Hickory Withe, TN to Clarksville, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Trenton along the way.
Trenton
55.2 mi in|~1h 2m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 175.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.1 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 Clarksville, 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 3.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Clarksville, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
