Origin
McEwen, TN
Morning in McEwen on Tuesday
Local time
8:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from McEwen, TN to Nashville, TN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
56.3 mi
91 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McEwen, TN
Kelly
Nashville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
McEwen to Nashville is 56.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 12 minutes via I-40, US-70, and SR-46, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, making it a convenient option for a quick journey between these two points. With a short duration and a manageable distance, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing you ample time to explore your destination upon arrival.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 34.8 mi | 37m |
| US 70 | 13.3 mi | 19m |
| SR 46 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| West College Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Downtown Loop | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 7th Avenue North | 0.2 mi | 1m |
| Charlotte Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 34.8 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McEwen, TN and Nashville, TN.
1
Start on High Street
164 ft
·
14 sec
·
High Street
2
Turn sharp left onto US 70
13 mi
·
19 min
·
US 70
3
Continue on US 70 Business
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West College Street
4
Turn right onto SR 46
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
SR 46
Use the left lane.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 40
35 mi
·
37 min
·
I 40
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 40; I 65
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
·
Downtown Loop
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 209
Toward US 70: Charlotte Avenue, Demonbreun Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on 12th Avenue North
200 ft
·
12 sec
·
12th Avenue North
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 70
329 ft
·
7 sec
·
Charlotte Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Continue on Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
13
Turn left onto 7th Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
7th Avenue North
14
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.1 miles from McEwen, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 14.8 and 55.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
14.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
SR 46
Turn right onto SR 46
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
19.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
9
54.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsv...
8
55.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward US 70: Charlotte Avenue, Demonbreun Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 209
Toward US 70: Charlotte Avenue, Demonbreun Stre...
7
55.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
US 70 / Charlotte Avenue
Turn left onto US 70 / Charlotte Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.80 one way
$17.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.66 | $19.33 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.83 | $21.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.43 | $24.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.91 | $2.70 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.93 | $2.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.88 | $3.60 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Nashville, TN
Morning in Nashville on Tuesday
Local time
8:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
1h 12m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 94% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll spend the majority of your time on I-40, which forms the longest continuous stretch of 34.8 miles. Expect a relatively fast-paced journey as you navigate these primary arteries. While the main roads are efficient, be aware that the route also incorporates segments of US-70 and SR-46, which may offer a slightly different driving experience as you transition between them.
94% 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: 34.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 14.8 miles in near SR 46.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 14.8 miles (SR 46): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Nashville, TN
Full guide →Nashville is the capital of the American state of Tennessee. With 716,000 residents in 2022, it is the state's largest city. Nashville is sometimes called the "Country Music Capital of the World" or more often "Music City, USA"; however, Nashville has done much to escape its country music image and become a regional center of culture and commerce. In fact, Dell, Nissan, and Amazon have all moved some operations to or near the city. The music is various; major rap artists and rock bands (Jelly Roll, Young Buck, Haystak, Kings of Leon, Paramore, and Ben Folds) claim Nashville as their hometown, and the city is also the epicenter of the contemporary Christian music industry. Nashville has been the home of the world-famous Grand Ole Opry since 1925. Nashville also has a great bar scene. If you like to drink, you can go "Honky-tonking," also known as bar-hopping.
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 1h 12m. Total distance: 56.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.8 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 Nashville, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 14.8 miles (SR 46): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.4 miles: 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 Nashville, TN before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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