Traveling between Lebanon and Jackson covers approximately 159.5 miles, a journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 34 minutes. You will primarily navigate via I-40 West and I-24 West, moving through the Southeast region of Tennessee. Since the total transit time is under three hours, this trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion. You should budget roughly $24 for fuel to complete the transit. It is a straightforward connection that works well if you need to reach your destination quickly without the need for an overnight stay.
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
79.8 miles from Lebanon, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
147.8 mi
2h 40m
US 70
6 mi
8m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
3m
South Cumberland Street
1.8 mi
3m
East Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Public Square
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 147.8 mi, about 2h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lebanon, TN and Jackson, TN.
1
Start on US 231; US 70 Business
164 ft·2 sec·Public Square
2
Continue on US 231
1.8 mi·3 min·South Cumberland Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 40 West: Nashville
4
Merge onto I 40
24 mi·26 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
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.
6
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.
7
Merge onto I 40
0.6 mi·52 sec·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
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.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 70, US 412 East
11
Turn left onto US 70
4.2 mi·6 min·US 70
12
Turn left onto US 70
1.8 mi·2 min·US 70
13
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 34 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility when planning your departure time. You only need to account for one planned stop to keep the drive comfortable. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between local roads and the interstates, as the route is characterized by its turn-heavy nature. Because fuel costs for the trip are estimated at $24, filling your tank in Lebanon before you head out is a smart way to simplify your logistics. Use your single stop to stretch your legs, as the technical nature of the road requires more focus than a typical highway drive.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79.8 miles from Lebanon, TN, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 147.8 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 35 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.8 miles or 1h 29m 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 24m
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 Lebanon, 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 Lebanon, TN
This is one driving day of about 159.5 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Lebanon, 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 147.8 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 2 and 31.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2 mi into trip|~3m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
26.4 mi into trip|~30m 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
28.5 mi into trip|~33m 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
28.9 mi into trip|~34m 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
31.9 mi into trip|~38m 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
$24.94 one way
$49.87 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.38
$54.76
premium
$4.89
$30.69
$61.39
diesel
$5.61
$35.22
$70.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.9
0
$16.75
$7.66
Efficient EV
39.9
0
$13.96
$6.38
EV Truck/SUV
63.8
0
$22.33
$10.21
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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
Lebanon, TN
Night
in Lebanon on Saturday
Local time
11:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, TN
Night
in Jackson on Saturday
Local time
11:18 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 58m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a simple highway cruise for this 159.5-mile trek. While the route incorporates I-40 West and I-24 West, the presence of South Cumberland Street keeps the experience grounded in local navigation. With 0% of the trip classified as highway-only driving, you will find yourself managing frequent transitions rather than settling into a long, monotonous stretch. The longest uninterrupted segment occurs on South Cumberland Street, meaning you should be prepared for more active steering compared to a standard interstate haul.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 147.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 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 9 significant decision points across 159.5 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 2 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.5 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 Lebanon, TN and Jackson, TN, road signs point toward Memphis and Louisville.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 159.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 147.8 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 2 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.5 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jackson, TN before heading back.
