This 255.6-mile drive from Jamestown to Jackson, Tennessee, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 54 minutes. It's a predominantly highway-focused route, with 85% of the journey on major roads, including I-40. You'll be spending most of your time on the interstate, so expect a steady pace. With an estimated fuel cost of around $40, this trip is budget-friendly for a day excursion. The route stays within the Southeast region, traversing Tennessee from east to west. It's a straightforward drive perfect for those looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
127.8 miles from Jamestown, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
210.7 mi
3h 48m
South York Highway
17 mi
23m
West Deer Lodge Highway
14.9 mi
22m
US 70
6 mi
8m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
3m
East Commercial Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
South Main Street
1 mi
1m
East Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 210.7 mi, about 3h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jamestown, TN and Jackson, TN.
1
Start on SR 52
43 ft·8 sec·East Central Avenue
2
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.0 mi·1 min·South Main Street
3
Continue on South York Highway
1.3 mi·2 min·South York Highway
4
Continue on US 127
16 mi·21 min·South York Highway
5
Turn right onto SR 62
15 mi·22 min·West Deer Lodge Highway
6
Turn straight onto SR 62
1.3 mi·2 min·East Commercial Avenue
7
Turn left onto SR 84
0.7 mi·58 sec·South Holly Street
8
Turn straight onto US 70N; SR 84
366 ft·7 sec·Monterey Highway
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
10
Merge onto I 40
87 mi·1 hr 34 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·3 min·I 40
Exit 213BToward I 24 West, I 40 West: NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
0.4 mi·42 sec·I 40
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, MemphisUse the slight left lane.
13
Merge onto I 40
0.6 mi·52 sec·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 40
2.3 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Exit 210AToward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, LouisvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
121 mi·2 hr 10 min·I 40
Toward I 40 West: MemphisUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 70, US 412 East
17
Turn left onto US 70
4.2 mi·6 min·US 70
18
Turn left onto US 70
1.8 mi·2 min·US 70
19
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 54-minute duration and 255.6-mile length, this trip works well as a single-day adventure. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic. While the longest stretch without a major exit is over 210 miles on I-40, plan for one stop to stretch your legs and refuel. The estimated fuel cost is around $40, so ensure your tank is full before leaving Jamestown to handle the majority of the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as services can be spaced out on I-40.
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 127.8 miles from Jamestown, TN, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 210.7 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 56 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.8 miles or 2h 33m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jackson, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jamestown, 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 Jamestown, TN
This is one driving day of about 255.6 miles and 4h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Jamestown, 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 210.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.2 and 128 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
35.2 mi into trip|~51m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
122.5 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
8
124.6 mi into trip|~2h 28m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
5
125 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|I 40 / Downtown Loop
Merge onto I 40 / Downtown Loop
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
128 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 West: Memphis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.96 one way
$79.92 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$43.87
$87.75
premium
$4.89
$49.19
$98.38
diesel
$5.61
$56.43
$112.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.7
0
$26.84
$12.27
Efficient EV
63.9
0
$22.37
$10.22
EV Truck/SUV
102.2
1
$35.78
$16.36
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Jamestown, TN
Night
in Jamestown on Saturday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, TN
Night
in Jackson on Saturday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
28 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
4h 54m 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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 105.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this drive is largely defined by its highway focus, with 85% of the 255.6 miles spent on major interstates and highways. You'll experience long stretches of consistent driving, including a significant 210.7-mile segment on I-40. While the initial and final portions might involve local roads like South York Highway and West Deer Lodge Highway, the bulk of the journey is a highway-centric experience. This means you can anticipate a relatively uninterrupted flow, making it ideal for making good time.
85% 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: 210.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and South York Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35.2 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 255.6 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 35.2 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 122.5 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jamestown, TN and Jackson, TN, road signs point toward Memphis and Louisville.
Memphis
124.6 mi in|~2h 28m|via I 40
Louisville
125.7 mi in|~2h 30m|via I 40
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 54m. Total distance: 255.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 54m 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 210.7 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 Jackson, 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 35.2 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 122.5 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124.6 miles (I 40): 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 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Jackson, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
