Origin
Nashville, TN
Morning in Nashville on Sunday
Local time
9:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nashville, TN to Christiana, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
42.7 mi
69 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nashville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Christiana, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward trip through Tennessee, the 42.7-mile drive from Nashville to Christiana is a quick and efficient trek. You can easily complete this journey in about 54 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day outing. With an estimated fuel budget of only $6, it is also very budget-friendly for a short-haul trip. Because both locations are situated within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent landscape throughout the drive. You won't need to worry about overnight logistics, as the route is short enough to handle as a simple out-and-back trip. This drive is ideal if you prioritize speed and direct access over winding, scenic backroads.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 24 | 31.6 mi | 35m |
| Shelbyville Highway | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| South Church Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Hwy 269 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Downtown Loop | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| James Robertson Parkway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 31.6 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nashville, TN and Christiana, TN.
1
Start on this road
0.4 mi
·
2 min
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto James Robertson Parkway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
James Robertson Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn right onto Interstate Drive
451 ft
·
9 sec
·
Interstate Drive
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 24 East
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Merge onto I 24
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Downtown Loop
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 24
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 24
Exit 50A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Use the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit onto I 24
30 mi
·
32 min
·
I 24
Exit 213A
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 81A
Toward US 231 South: Shelbyville
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto US 231
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
South Church Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 231
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Shelbyville Highway
12
Turn left onto Hwy 269
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Hwy 269
13
Turn left onto Main Street
492 ft
·
23 sec
·
Main Street
14
Turn right onto Church Street
16 ft
·
5 sec
·
Church Street
15
Turn left
11 ft
·
0 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.3 miles from Nashville, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 34.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.4 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
1.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 24 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 24 East
9
2.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 24
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
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 50A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattan...
7
4.6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 24
Take the exit onto I 24 toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 213A
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
7
34.1 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward US 231 South: Shelbyville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 81A
Toward US 231 South: Shelbyville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.68 one way
$13.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.33 | $14.66 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.22 | $16.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.43 | $18.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
| Efficient EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.74 | $1.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.98 | $2.73 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Christiana, TN
Morning in Christiana on Sunday
Local time
9:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
54m 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 trip is heavily highway-focused, with 78% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-24, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 31.6 miles. Once you exit the interstate, the character of the road shifts as you transition onto the Shelbyville Highway and South Church Street to reach your final destination. Expect a functional, fast-paced driving experience that favors efficiency over technical turns. The transition from the high-speed interstate to local arterial roads happens quickly, so stay alert as you navigate the final miles into Christiana.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.6 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and Shelbyville Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 42.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
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 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (I 24): 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.
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 Nashville, TN to Christiana, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Chattanooga along the way.
Chattanooga
2.5 mi in
|
~6m
|
via I 24
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 42.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.6 miles on I 24. 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 Christiana, 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 0.4 miles (Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Christiana, 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, 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
Continue From Christiana, TN
More trips to Christiana, TN
Explore more options from Nashville, TN or browse trips ending in Christiana, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.