Origin
McKenzie, TN
Late night in McKenzie on Sunday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from McKenzie, TN to Clarksville, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 36m
Distance
80.4 mi
129 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 29m
★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McKenzie, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Clarksville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from McKenzie to Clarksville, you are looking at a manageable 80.4-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 36 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations unless you choose to stay longer. Budgeting around $12 for fuel should comfortably cover your travel costs between these two Tennessee towns. Both the starting point and your destination are located within the Southeast, keeping the transition between locations relatively consistent. Because this is a direct, turn-heavy local drive, it serves as a straightforward connection rather than a long-haul haul across states.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.2 miles from McKenzie, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Austin Peay Memorial Highway | 36.5 mi | 41m |
| Main Street | 28.1 mi | 34m |
| Paris Bypass | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| Highland Drive | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Donelson Parkway | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Providence Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| North 2nd Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Cedar Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Austin Peay Memorial Highway
— 36.5 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McKenzie, TN and Clarksville, TN.
1
Start on this road
77 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto SR 124
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Cedar Street
3
Turn left onto US 79
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Highland Drive
4
Continue on US 79
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Austin Peay Memorial Highway
5
Turn right onto SR 218
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Paris Bypass
6
Turn right onto US 79; SR 218
24 mi
·
27 min
·
Austin Peay Memorial Highway
7
Continue on US 79
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
Fort Donelson Parkway
8
Continue on US 79
0.6 mi
·
37 sec
·
Austin Peay Memorial Highway
9
Continue on US 79
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Lake Highway
10
Continue on US 79
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Donelson Parkway
11
Continue on US 79
28 mi
·
34 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Merge onto US 41A; US 79
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Fort Campbell Boulevard
13
Continue on US 41A; US 79
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Providence Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 41A; US 79
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North 2nd Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
North 2nd Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best without needing a complex itinerary. Because there are no mandatory stops built into the 80.4-mile path, feel free to pace the drive according to your own energy levels. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route means you should stay alert for frequent direction changes rather than settling into a cruise-control mindset. Given the $12 fuel estimate, you can easily fuel up before you leave McKenzie to avoid any mid-trip stress. As a specific tip, prioritize checking your GPS for turn instructions before you hit the local stretches, as the frequent transitions can be easy to miss if you aren't paying close attention.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.2 miles from McKenzie, TN, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.5 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 18 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.2 miles or 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarksville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving McKenzie, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from McKenzie, TN
This is one driving day of about 80.4 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from McKenzie, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Austin Peay Memorial Highway for about 36.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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
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 55 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 77.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SR 124 / Cedar Street
Turn left onto SR 124 / Cedar Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 79 / Highland Drive
Turn left onto US 79 / Highland Drive
Navigation decision point
3
14.9 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
SR 218 / Paris Bypass
Turn right onto SR 218 / Paris Bypass
Navigation decision point
3
22.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
US 79; SR 218 / Austin Peay Memorial Highway
Turn right onto US 79; SR 218 / Austin Peay Memorial Highway
Navigation decision point
3
77.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
|
US 41A; US 79 / Fort Campbell Boulevard
Merge onto US 41A; US 79 / Fort Campbell Boulevard
Merge point - match speed before joining
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.57 one way
$25.14 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.80 | $27.60 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.47 | $30.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.75 | $35.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.44 | $3.86 |
| Efficient EV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.04 | $3.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.2 | 0 | $11.26 | $5.15 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Clarksville, TN
Late night in Clarksville on Sunday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Dover, TN
40 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
23 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
1h 36m 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.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donels...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 44.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive defined by its local character, as this route is not a high-speed interstate haul. With only 2% of the trip spent on highways, you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating local roads like Main Street, the Paris Bypass, and the Austin Peay Memorial Highway. You will encounter your longest stretch of consistent driving along that 36.5-mile segment of the Austin Peay Memorial Highway. Prepare for a turn-heavy experience that requires your full attention compared to the monotony of a major freeway. The road’s personality shifts throughout the drive, making it a more engaging, hands-on experience behind the wheel.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.5 mi on Austin Peay Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 124 / Cedar Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from McKenzie, TN to Clarksville, TN is easy. At 1h 36m with 2% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SR 124 / Cedar Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 79 / Highland Drive): Navigation decision point; at 14.9 miles (SR 218 / Paris Bypass): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
681 ft
355 ft
Total Climb
365 ft
Total Descent
265 ft
Highest Point
681 ft
~60.3 mi in
Elevation Range
326 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 80.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (2%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.5 miles on Austin Peay Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (SR 124 / Cedar Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 79 / Highland Drive): Navigation decision point; at 14.9 miles (SR 218 / Paris Bypass): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Fort Donelson 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 Clarksville, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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