This 115.8-mile journey from Nashville, TN to Grimsley, TN is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 18 minutes. You'll primarily travel on I-24 and I-40, with a portion on Clarkrange Highway, making it a largely highway-focused drive. With an estimated fuel cost of around $18, this route offers an economical option for exploring within the Southeast region. The drive is straightforward and efficient, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. It's a practical choice for a quick getaway or a direct trip to Grimsley.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.9 miles from Nashville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
80.6 mi
1h 27m
Clarkrange Highway
14.8 mi
22m
I 40
8.9 mi
10m
South York Highway
6.2 mi
8m
East Commercial Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
Downtown Loop
0.8 mi
1m
James Robertson Parkway
0.7 mi
1m
South Holly Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 80.6 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nashville, TN and Grimsley, 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 EastUse 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
81 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 24
Exit 50AToward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the slight left lane.
8
Continue on I 40
8.9 mi·10 min·I 40
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 70N, Primary SR 84: Monterey, Livingston
10
Turn straight onto US 70N; SR 84
0.6 mi·59 sec·South Holly Street
11
Turn right onto SR 62
1.4 mi·2 min·East Commercial Avenue
12
Turn straight onto SR 62
15 mi·22 min·Clarkrange Highway
13
Turn left onto US 127
6.2 mi·8 min·South York Highway
14
Turn left
42 ft·3 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 18-minute duration, leaving Nashville in the morning allows ample time to reach Grimsley without feeling rushed. With no designated stops, you have the flexibility to pull over as needed for breaks or fuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a change in major highway is 80.6 miles on I-24. The estimated fuel cost of $18 suggests this is an affordable trip, but it's always wise to factor in a little extra for unexpected detours or local travel upon arrival in Grimsley.
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 57.9 miles from Nashville, TN, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.6 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 25 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.9 miles or 1h 6m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grimsley, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 115.8 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Nashville, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 24 for about 80.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 2.5 — 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.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~3m in|James Robertson Parkway
Turn left onto James Robertson Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
1.4 mi into trip|~4m in|Interstate Drive
Turn right onto Interstate Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.10 one way
$36.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.88
$39.75
premium
$4.89
$22.28
$44.57
diesel
$5.61
$25.57
$51.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.7
0
$12.16
$5.56
Efficient EV
29
0
$10.13
$4.63
EV Truck/SUV
46.3
0
$16.21
$7.41
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 20, 2026
Origin
Nashville, TN
Late night
in Nashville on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Grimsley, TN
Late night
in Grimsley on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Baxter, TN
58 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
26 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
2h 18m 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 highway-focused experience for about 78% of this 115.8-mile route. The majority of your travel will be on interstates like I-24 and I-40, offering steady progress. You'll encounter an uninterrupted stretch of 80.6 miles on I-24, which is the longest segment of the drive. While primarily interstate, the inclusion of Clarkrange Highway adds a different feel before you reach Grimsley. This route prioritizes efficiency over winding backroads, making for a predictable drive.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.6 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and Clarkrange Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 18m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 1.4 miles (Interstate Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Nashville, TN and Grimsley, TN, road signs point toward Primary Sr 84: Monterey and Livingston.
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.
The longest stretch is about 80.6 miles on I 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 1.4 miles (Interstate Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Grimsley, TN before heading back.
