Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Jackson, TN to Dayton, TN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 15m
Distance
265.6 mi
427 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 2m
★
6 AM
5h 15m
8 AM
5h 42m
10 AM
5h 25m
12 PM
5h 22m
3 PM
5h 26m
5 PM
5h 41m
8 PM
5h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jackson, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Dayton, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Jackson, TN to Dayton, TN is 265.6 miles and takes about 5h 15m via I 40 and US 27, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, entirely within Tennessee, making it a straightforward drive. With most of the route on highways, you'll likely spend a good portion of your time cruising at speed. It's a manageable distance for a single day, so you can be flexible with your departure time and when you decide to stop.
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
132.8 miles from Jackson, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 25m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 89.2 mi | 1h 35m |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | 52.2 mi | 55m |
| US 27 | 15.8 mi | 19m |
| John Bragg Highway | 15.6 mi | 18m |
| TN 8 | 12.6 mi | 17m |
| Harrison Ferry Road | 12.3 mi | 17m |
| SR 111 | 11.5 mi | 13m |
| Nashville Highway | 10.1 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 89.2 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, TN and Dayton, 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
89 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
I 40
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
7
Merge onto I 840
52 mi
·
55 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
2 min
Exit 53A
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 24
6.2 mi
·
6 min
·
I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 81B
Toward US 231 North: Murfreesboro
Use the right lane.
11
Merge onto US 231
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
South Church Street
12
Turn right onto South Rutherford Boulevard
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
South Rutherford Boulevard
Use the right lane.
13
Turn right onto US 70S
16 mi
·
18 min
·
John Bragg Highway
14
Continue on US 70S
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
15
Continue on US 70S; SR 53
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
McMinnville Highway
16
Continue on US 70S
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Nashville Highway
17
Continue on US 70S
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
18
Continue on SR 380
308 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Main Street
19
Continue on SR 380
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
West Main Street
20
Continue on SR 380
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
East Main Street
21
At end of road, turn left onto SR 56
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Beersheba Highway
22
Turn slight left onto TN 8
12 mi
·
17 min
·
Harrison Ferry Road
23
Continue on TN 8
7.3 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 8
24
At end of road, turn right onto TN 8; TN 111
13 mi
·
17 min
·
TN 8; TN 111
25
Continue on SR 111
11 mi
·
13 min
·
SR 111
26
Continue on TN 111
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
TN 111
27
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
28
Merge onto US 27
16 mi
·
19 min
·
US 27
29
Turn left onto SR 30
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
3rd Avenue
Use the left lane.
30
Turn left onto Church Street
351 ft
·
17 sec
·
Church Street
31
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
301 ft
·
13 sec
·
2nd Avenue
32
Arrive at destination
2nd Avenue
Trip Plan
Consider leaving Jackson in the morning to make the most of the daylight for your 5h 15m drive. With only one recommended stop and the bulk of the miles on I 40, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you approach the transition from I 40 to US 27, as services might be more spread out on the latter. The $42 fuel estimate should give you a good baseline for planning your budget for this 265.6-mile trip.
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 132.8 miles from Jackson, TN, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.2 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 58 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.8 miles or 2h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dayton, 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 265.6 miles and 5h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 I 40 for about 89.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
133 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 132.8 miles from Jackson, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
ONE9 Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
1.6 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.7 mi from route
Buc-ee's
2.1 mi from route
The Bug Man
2.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 96 and 156 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
96 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
Take the exit toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
5
96.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
|
I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge onto I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
149 mi into trip
|
~2h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 53A
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
5
149.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 45m in
|
I 24
Merge onto I 24
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
156 mi into trip
|
~2h 51m in
Take the exit toward US 231 North: Murfreesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 81B
Toward US 231 North: Murfreesboro
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.31 one way
$88.61 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
93 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $48.15 | $96.31 |
| premium | $5.26 | $54.99 | $109.98 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $64.61 | $129.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 79.7 | 0 | $27.89 | $12.75 |
| Efficient EV | 66.4 | 0 | $23.24 | $10.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 106.2 | 1 | $37.18 | $17.00 |
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 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.
Origin
Jackson, TN
Morning in Jackson on Sunday
Local time
6:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Sunny
NNE 10 to 15 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Dayton, TN
Morning in Dayton on Sunday
Local time
7:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Sunny
N 10 to 15 mph
2% chance
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
3 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
5h 15m 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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 155.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 76% of the 265.6 miles on major roads like I 40. You'll experience a long stretch of 89.2 miles on I 40 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to see a lot of exit signs and interchanges during the highway portions, with a change to more rural cruising as you get closer to Dayton.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.2 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 96 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 265.6 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 96 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96.7 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 149 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,854 ft
402 ft
Total Climb
1,810 ft
Total Descent
1,522 ft
Highest Point
1,854 ft
~208.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,452 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Dayton, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Franklin along the way.
Franklin
96 mi in
|
~1h 45m
About the Cities
Starting in Jackson, TN
Full guide →Founded 1821
Jackson is a city in Western Tennessee that grew as a crossroads between various railroads in the four cardinal directions. It was the major commerce center of western Tennessee around the time of its founding in 1821 because Memphis had yet to emerge as a dominant community. Jackson hasn't been without its fair share of trials and travails as it knew the systemic ordeals of slavery for cotton production and lynchings and disenfranchisement as well as other places did in the South, plus high crime and tornadoes.
Arriving in Dayton, TN
Full guide →Founded 1820
Dayton is the seat of Rhea County in Eastern Tennessee.
Top landmarks
- • Rhea County Courthouse — historic building in Tennessee
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 15m. Total distance: 265.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89.2 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 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 Dayton, 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 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 96 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96.7 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 149 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Dayton, TN before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Dayton, TN
Explore more options from Jackson, TN or browse trips ending in Dayton, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.