Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 31m
Distance
167 mi
269 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nashville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Athens, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Nashville to Athens covers 167 miles of Tennessee landscape, making it a straightforward journey that fits perfectly into a single day. You can expect to spend about 3 hours and 31 minutes on the road, relying primarily on I-24, I-40, and SR 68. With a fuel budget of approximately $25, this trip is an economical way to traverse the Southeast. Because the drive is relatively short, there is no need to split it into an overnight stay unless you prefer a leisurely pace. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick getaway, this route offers a reliable connection between two key Tennessee hubs.
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
83.5 miles from Nashville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 24 | 80.6 mi | 1h 27m |
| I 40 | 26 mi | 28m |
| SR 68 | 22.1 mi | 32m |
| Watts Bar Highway | 10 mi | 13m |
| North Main Street | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| St Hwy 305 | 6.9 mi | 12m |
| Highway 305 | 4 mi | 6m |
| New Lake Road | 3.4 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Nashville, TN and Athens, TN.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn left onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Turn left onto James Robertson Parkway
Turn right onto Interstate Drive
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 24
Continue on I 40
Take the exit
Turn straight onto US 127
Continue on SR 68
Continue on Herb M Wassom Mem Highway
Continue on Piccadilly Avenue
Continue on SR 302
At end of road, turn left onto SR 68; SR 302
Enter roundabout
Continue
Turn slight right onto SR 68
Turn right onto SR 305
Continue on SR 305
Continue on SR 305
Turn right onto SR 39
Arrive at destination
Planning for this 167-mile trip is simple, but keeping a few logistical details in mind will ensure a smooth ride. Since the drive takes under four hours, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, though leaving mid-morning can help you avoid the heaviest traffic near Nashville. You only need to account for one planned stop to break up the drive, which is plenty to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep your $25 fuel budget in mind when selecting your pit stop to ensure you are ready for the final stretch on SR 68. Above all, prioritize steady pacing during the long highway segments to stay alert behind the wheel.
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.
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 37 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.5 miles or 1h 34m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Athens, TN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Nashville, 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 Nashville, TN
This is one driving day of about 167 miles and 3h 31m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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.
A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 83.5 miles from Nashville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 24 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 109.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto James Robertson Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 24 East
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 24 toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 127, TN 28: Crossville, Jamestown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$26.11 one way
$52.22 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $28.67 | $57.33 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.14 | $64.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.87 | $73.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.1 | 0 | $17.54 | $8.02 |
| Efficient EV | 41.8 | 0 | $14.61 | $6.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66.8 | 0 | $23.38 | $10.69 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Nashville on Tuesday
Local time
4:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Athens on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 84% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a rhythm early on, tackling the longest uninterrupted stretch of 80.6 miles while navigating I-24. As you transition from the interstate system onto the local flow of SR 68, the character of the drive shifts from a fast-paced transit to a more localized experience. Expect a consistent, efficient ride that keeps you moving steadily toward your destination. It is a practical route for those who value predictability and want to cover the distance without unnecessary detours.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and I 40. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 167 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.4 miles (Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (James Robertson Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Nashville, TN to Athens, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Jamestown along the way.
Jamestown
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 31m. Total distance: 167 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Nashville, TN or browse trips ending in Athens, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.
