Spanning 147.2 miles across Tennessee, this drive from Jackson to Bedford typically takes about 3 hours and 6 minutes. You will primarily navigate via US 412, the New Lewisburg Highway, and the Shelbyville Highway. Because the journey is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stay. Budgeting around $22 for fuel should cover your needs for the duration of the trip. Since both Jackson and Bedford reside within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent cultural and geographic feel as you traverse the state.
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
73.6 miles from Jackson, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 412
98 mi
1h 55m
New Lewisburg Highway
10.7 mi
15m
Shelbyville Highway
8.7 mi
13m
I 40
6.3 mi
6m
New Columbia Highway
5.2 mi
7m
Nashville Highway
5.1 mi
7m
James M Campbell Boulevard West
4.3 mi
6m
Whitehall Street
4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 412
— 98 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, TN and Bedford, TN.
1
Start on East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 70
1.8 mi·2 min·US 70
3
Turn right onto US 70
4.0 mi·6 min·Whitehall Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
5
Merge onto I 40
6.3 mi·6 min·I 40
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 93Toward 152: Lexington
7
Turn right onto SR 152
0.7 mi·49 sec·Law Road
8
Turn left onto US 412
10 mi·11 min·US 412
9
Turn left onto US 412
7.5 mi·8 min·US 412
10
Continue on US 412;SR 114
3.5 mi·3 min·US 412;SR 114
11
Merge onto US 412; SR 114
16 mi·17 min·US 412; SR 114
12
Continue on US 412; SR 100
14 mi·16 min·US 412; SR 100
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 412
47 mi·56 min·US 412
14
Turn right onto SR 50
4.3 mi·6 min·James M Campbell Boulevard West
15
Continue on TN 50
11 mi·15 min·New Lewisburg Highway
16
Continue on SR 50
5.2 mi·7 min·New Columbia Highway
17
Continue on US 431
1.3 mi·2 min·North Ellington Parkway
18
Turn left onto US 31A; SR 272
5.1 mi·7 min·Nashville Highway
19
Turn right onto SR 64
8.7 mi·13 min·Shelbyville Highway
20
Arrive at destination
SR 64
Trip Plan
Planning for this 3-hour journey is straightforward, as you only need to account for one stop to keep your schedule flexible. Departing early in the morning helps you avoid potential congestion on the main highways, ensuring a smoother transition between the larger stretches and the final local roads. Since your fuel costs are estimated at $22, filling up before you leave Jackson is a smart way to minimize stops along the way. Keep a close watch on your transition from US 412 to the secondary highways, as road speeds will change significantly once you exit the main thoroughfare.
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 73.6 miles from Jackson, TN, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98 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 32 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.6 miles or 1h 27m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bedford, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jackson, 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 Jackson, TN
This is one driving day of about 147.2 miles and 3h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Jackson, 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 US 412 for about 98 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 0.7 and 64.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|US 70
At end of road, turn left onto US 70
Navigation decision point
3
2.5 mi into trip|~3m in|US 70 / Whitehall Street
Turn right onto US 70 / Whitehall Street
Navigation decision point
5
13.1 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward 152: Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 93
Toward 152: Lexington
4
13.2 mi into trip|~17m in|SR 152 / Law Road
Turn right onto SR 152 / Law Road
Navigation decision point
4
64.9 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|US 412
Keep slight right at fork onto US 412
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.01 one way
$46.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.27
$50.53
premium
$4.89
$28.33
$56.65
diesel
$5.61
$32.50
$65.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.2
0
$15.46
$7.07
Efficient EV
36.8
0
$12.88
$5.89
EV Truck/SUV
58.9
0
$20.61
$9.42
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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
Jackson, TN
Late night
in Jackson on Sunday
Local time
5:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bedford, TN
Late night
in Bedford on Sunday
Local time
5:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
27 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 6m 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...
29 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 142.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 73% of your journey spent on faster routes. You can expect a consistent pace, anchored by a significant 98-mile stretch on US 412, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the drive. The road’s personality shifts from the primary highway corridors toward the more localized feel of the New Lewisburg and Shelbyville Highways as you approach your destination. While the experience is largely about efficient transit, the mix of road types ensures you aren't stuck on a monotonous interstate for the entire duration.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98 mi on US 412.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 412 and New Lewisburg Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near US 70.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 6m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (US 70): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (US 70 / Whitehall Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Jackson, TN to Bedford, TN, road signs begin pointing toward 152: Lexington along the way.
152: Lexington
13.1 mi in|~16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 6m. Total distance: 147.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 98 miles on US 412. 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 0.7 miles (US 70): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (US 70 / Whitehall Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Bedford, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
