This 190.4-mile drive from LaFollette, TN to Nashville, TN is a straightforward, highway-focused journey perfect for a single day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 50 minutes. You'll primarily use I-40, with some sections on Harriman Highway and Frost Bottom Road contributing to about 75% of the route being on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $30. Given its manageable length and the prevalence of main roads, this drive is well-suited for completing in one go, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. It's a practical choice for getting between these two points 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
95.2 miles from LaFollette, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
136.6 mi
2h 27m
Harriman Highway
9.8 mi
11m
Frost Bottom Road
7.1 mi
12m
US 25W
5.7 mi
6m
Briceville Highway
5.3 mi
9m
North Roane Street
4.1 mi
4m
West Central Avenue
3.8 mi
4m
Creek Street
3.8 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 136.6 mi, about 2h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between LaFollette, TN and Nashville, TN.
1
Start on SR 63
0.8 mi·1 min·East Central Avenue
2
Continue on US 25W; SR 63
0.3 mi·19 sec·Jackson Pike
3
Continue on US 25W; SR 63
3.3 mi·5 min·Jacksboro Pike
4
Continue on US 25W; TN 63
3.8 mi·4 min·West Central Avenue
5
Continue on US 25W; TN 63
0.1 mi·8 sec·Royal Blue Road
6
Take the exit onto US 25W
5.7 mi·6 min·US 25W
Toward Knoxville
7
Take the exit onto I 75; US 25W
0.2 mi·25 sec·I 75; US 25W
Toward US 25W South: Rocky Top, Lake City
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75; US 25W
241 ft·5 sec·I 75; US 25W
9
Turn slight right onto US 25W; SR 116
0.8 mi·1 min·North Main Street
10
Turn right onto SR 116
3.8 mi·9 min·Creek Street
11
At end of road, turn left onto SR 116
234 ft·7 sec·Briceville Highway
12
Continue on SR 116
5.2 mi·9 min·Briceville Highway
13
Continue on SR 330
166 ft·3 sec·Briceville Highway
14
Continue on SR 330
7.1 mi·12 min·Frost Bottom Road
15
At end of road, turn right onto SR 330
0.4 mi·43 sec·Dutch Valley Road
16
Continue on SR 330
0.5 mi·1 min·Walden Avenue
17
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 330
0.6 mi·1 min·East Spring Street
18
At end of road, turn right onto SR 330
0.1 mi·14 sec·Main Street
19
Continue on SR 330
0.2 mi·24 sec·Railroad Avenue
20
Turn right onto SR 330
447 ft·11 sec·Winter Gap Road
21
Turn left onto SR 61
1.2 mi·1 min·East Tri County Boulevard
22
Continue on SR 61
9.6 mi·10 min·Harriman Highway
23
Merge onto US 27
0.2 mi·10 sec·Bitter Creek Highway
24
Continue on US 27
0.2 mi·15 sec·Harriman Highway
25
Continue on US 27
2.1 mi·2 min·Hannah Highway
26
Continue on US 27
4.1 mi·4 min·North Roane Street
27
Turn left
0.2 mi·25 sec
28
Merge onto I 40
134 mi·2 hr 24 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
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.
30
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24
0.3 mi·28 sec·I 24
Exit 211Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, LouisvilleUse the slight right lane.
31
Merge onto I 24
1.1 mi·1 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 48Toward James Robertson Parkway, State CapitolUse the right lane.
33
Turn straight onto US 31; US 41; US 431
0.7 mi·1 min·James Robertson Parkway
Use the straight lane.
34
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North
129 ft·6 sec·3rd Avenue North
Use the left lane.
35
Turn right onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
0.3 mi·43 sec·Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
36
Turn right onto 7th Avenue North
0.2 mi·1 min·7th Avenue North
37
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total travel time of under four hours, this route from LaFollette to Nashville is easily achievable as a day trip. Consider departing in the morning to maximize your time at your destination. While the drive is relatively short, there's one marked stop, and the longest stretch on I-40 is over 130 miles, so plan for a brief break if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, with an estimated cost of $30 for the 190.4 miles. A practical tip for this highway-focused drive is to ensure your vehicle is in good condition before you leave, as extended periods on the interstate can be demanding.
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 95.2 miles from LaFollette, TN, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 136.6 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 42 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.2 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 9m
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 LaFollette, 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 LaFollette, TN
This is one driving day of about 190.4 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from LaFollette, 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 136.6 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 185.3 and 189.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
185.3 mi into trip|~3h 40m 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
9
187.4 mi into trip|~3h 43m in|I 24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24 toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 211
Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
8
188.9 mi into trip|~3h 45m in
Take the exit toward James Robertson Parkway, State Capitol
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 48
Toward James Robertson Parkway, State Capitol
6
189.8 mi into trip|~3h 47m in|3rd Avenue North
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
189.8 mi into trip|~3h 48m in|Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Turn right onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.77 one way
$59.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.68
$65.37
premium
$4.89
$36.64
$73.28
diesel
$5.61
$42.04
$84.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.1
0
$19.99
$9.14
Efficient EV
47.6
0
$16.66
$7.62
EV Truck/SUV
76.2
0
$26.66
$12.19
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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 18, 2026
Origin
LaFollette, TN
Late night
in LaFollette on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Nashville, TN
Night
in Nashville on Saturday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Spring City, TN
95 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
28 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 50m 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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 170.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Your drive will largely consist of highway travel, with a significant 75% of the 190.4 miles on main roads like I-40. Expect the longest uninterrupted stretch to be 136.6 miles on I-40, offering a consistent pace for much of the journey. While predominantly highway, the inclusion of Harriman Highway and Frost Bottom Road provides some variation, breaking up the interstate monotony. This profile suggests a drive where you can maintain steady progress, with the character shifting subtly as you transition between these different road types.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 136.6 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Harriman Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 185.3 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 190.4 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 185.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 187.4 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 188.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from LaFollette, TN to Nashville, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Lake City along the way.
Lake City
14.1 mi in|~17m|via I 75; US 25W
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 50m. Total distance: 190.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 136.6 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 Nashville, 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 185.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 187.4 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 188.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Nashville, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
