This drive from Hickory Withe, TN to Nashville, TN covers 184.2 miles and will take you about 3 hours and 23 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's perfect for a single day. You'll primarily be on I-40, making up 99% of your journey, so expect a consistent driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $29, it's an economical option for a quick getaway or a necessary commute. This route stays within the Southeast region, offering a smooth transition from one point to another within Tennessee.
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
92.1 miles from Hickory Withe, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
178.2 mi
3h 11m
SR 196
3.7 mi
6m
Downtown Loop
0.6 mi
<1m
Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
7th Avenue North
0.2 mi
1m
Charlotte Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
12th Avenue North
<0.1 mi
<1m
Donelson Drive
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 178.2 mi, about 3h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hickory Withe, TN and Nashville, 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
178 mi·3 hr 11 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 208AToward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, HuntsvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 40; I 65
0.6 mi·47 sec·Downtown Loop
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 209Toward US 70: Charlotte Avenue, Demonbreun StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on 12th Avenue North
200 ft·12 sec·12th Avenue North
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Turn left onto US 70
329 ft·7 sec·Charlotte Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
11
Turn left onto 7th Avenue North
0.2 mi·1 min·7th Avenue North
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 23 minute duration, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day drive from Hickory Withe to Nashville. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize your time at your destination. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 178.2 miles on I-40, you can plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the midpoint. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the long interstate stretches, as services can be spread out. The estimated fuel cost is $29, so factor that into your budget.
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 92.1 miles from Hickory Withe, TN, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 178.2 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 41 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.1 miles or 1h 42m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nashville, 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 184.2 miles and 3h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 178.2 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.7 and 183.4 — 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.
9
182.3 mi into trip|~3h 19m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsv...
8
183.1 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Take the exit toward US 70: Charlotte Avenue, Demonbreun Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 209
Toward US 70: Charlotte Avenue, Demonbreun Stre...
7
183.4 mi into trip|~3h 20m in|US 70 / Charlotte Avenue
Turn left onto US 70 / Charlotte Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.80 one way
$57.60 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.62
$63.24
premium
$4.89
$35.45
$70.90
diesel
$5.61
$40.67
$81.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.3
0
$19.34
$8.84
Efficient EV
46.1
0
$16.12
$7.37
EV Truck/SUV
73.7
0
$25.79
$11.79
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
22 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
2:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Nashville, TN
Late night
in Nashville on Sunday
Local time
2:34 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 23m 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...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 184.2
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 drive for this 184.2-mile journey. The vast majority of your time will be spent on I-40, which accounts for 99% of the route. This means you'll experience long, uninterrupted stretches, including one segment of 178.2 miles solely on I-40. The profile suggests a consistent pace, with the Downtown Loop and SR 196 being minor deviations from the main interstate artery. You'll likely find the road character to be predictable and efficient, with minimal technical driving involved.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 178.2 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and SR 196. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 184.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 182.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 23m. Total distance: 184.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 178.2 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 182.3 miles: 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 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Nashville, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
