Spanning 400.2 miles across Tennessee, this trek from Jonesborough to Jackson connects the eastern edge of the state to the west. Expect to spend approximately 6 hours and 3 minutes behind the wheel, making this a long but manageable single-day commitment for most drivers. While you can complete the journey in one day, the 1-stop recommendation suggests you should plan for at least one significant break to keep your energy levels up. Budget roughly $61 for fuel to cover the distance. Since the route stays entirely within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent cultural backdrop as you traverse the state. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a highway sprint, it is best suited for those who prefer navigating local roads over monotonous interstate travel.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
200.1 miles from Jonesborough, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
331.1 mi
6h
Andrew Johnson Highway
35.2 mi
42m
I 81
22.7 mi
24m
US 70
6 mi
8m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
3m
West Jackson Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
East Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
West College Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 331.1 mi, about 6h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jonesborough, TN and Jackson, TN.
1
Start on North Cherokee Street
435 ft·16 sec·North Cherokee Street
2
Turn left onto West College Street
0.2 mi·42 sec·West College Street
3
Turn right onto North 2nd Avenue
509 ft·22 sec·North 2nd Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 11E; US 321
0.8 mi·1 min·West Jackson Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Continue on US 11E; US 321
35 mi·42 min·Andrew Johnson Highway
6
Turn left
0.3 mi·39 sec
7
Merge onto I 81
22 mi·23 min·I 81
8
Continue on I 81
0.7 mi·45 sec·I 81
Exit 1BToward I 40 West: Knoxville
9
Merge onto I 40
53 mi·59 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
155 mi·2 hr 46 min·I 40
Toward NashvilleUse 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 6-hour and 3-minute duration, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you reach Jackson before dark. Since this route lacks high-speed highway stretches, plan your single designated stop carefully to maximize your time off the road and stretch your legs. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $61 estimate can fluctuate based on local road conditions and frequent stopping. Because you are navigating turn-heavy local streets rather than interstates, rely on a reliable GPS system to manage the frequent turns on West College Street and North 2nd Avenue. Treat this as a flexible journey where the lack of highway pace allows you to adjust your speed comfortably according to local traffic.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 200.1 miles from Jonesborough, TN, or about 3h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 331.1 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 88 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 200.1 miles or 3h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 17m
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 Jonesborough, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jonesborough, TN
This is one driving day of about 400.2 miles and 7h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Jonesborough, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 331.1 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 272.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|North 2nd Avenue
Turn right onto North 2nd Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
112.2 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Nashville
9
267.1 mi into trip|~4h 56m 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
269.2 mi into trip|~4h 59m 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
7
272.5 mi into trip|~5h 4m 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
$62.57 one way
$125.13 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg140 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$68.70
$137.39
premium
$4.89
$77.01
$154.03
diesel
$5.61
$88.36
$176.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$63
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 140 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
120.1
1
$42.02
$19.21
Efficient EV
100.1
1
$35.02
$16.01
EV Truck/SUV
160.1
2
$56.03
$25.61
Gas CO2
140 kg
EV CO2
47 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Jonesborough, TN
Night
in Jonesborough on Saturday
Local time
9:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, TN
Evening
in Jackson on Saturday
Local time
8:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Lafayette, TN
200 mi in
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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
31 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
7h 24m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 248.4
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a hands-on experience, as this route features a 0% highway share, relying instead on local arteries like West College Street, North 2nd Avenue, and West Jackson Boulevard. You will spend the entire 400.2 miles navigating turn-heavy local roads, which demands more focus and active steering than a standard interstate cruise. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of high-speed pavement, the pace remains steady but requires constant attention to navigation. The road’s personality is defined by its local character, offering a more intimate look at the terrain than a typical highway route. You should anticipate a drive that feels more like a series of connected local segments than one long, fast-paced haul.
90% 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: 331.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Andrew Johnson Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near North 2nd Avenue.
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 14 significant decision points across 400.2 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 0.3 miles (North 2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 112.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 267.1 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 Jonesborough, TN and Jackson, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Memphis and Louisville.
Nashville
112.2 mi in|~2h 9m|via I 40
Memphis
269.2 mi in|~4h 59m|via I 40
Louisville
270.3 mi in|~5h 1m|via I 40
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 24m. Total distance: 400.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 24m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 331.1 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 44 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 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 44 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (North 2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 112.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 267.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.4 hours each way, a round trip means 14.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Jackson, TN before the return drive.
