Nashville to New Market is 203.9 miles and takes about 3h 49m via I-40 and I-24, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, connecting the Southeast region from one point to another. Given its mostly highway profile and manageable duration, it's a straightforward drive. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a functional option for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
101.9 miles from Nashville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
102.4 mi
1h 53m
I 24
80.6 mi
1h 27m
Andrew Johnson Highway
11.9 mi
13m
Asheville Highway
6 mi
7m
Downtown Loop
0.8 mi
1m
James Robertson Parkway
0.7 mi
1m
Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
US 25W
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 102.4 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nashville, TN and New Market, 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
93 mi·1 hr 42 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
9.2 mi·11 min·I 40
10
Take the exit onto US 25W
0.3 mi·36 sec·US 25W
Toward US 11E, US 25W, US 70
11
Turn left onto US 11E; US 25W; US 70
6.0 mi·7 min·Asheville Highway
12
Turn straight onto US 11E
12 mi·13 min·Andrew Johnson Highway
13
Turn left onto Churchview Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·Churchview Street
14
Turn right onto Circle Drive
200 ft·8 sec·Circle Drive
15
Arrive at destination
Circle Drive
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3h 49m drive, consider leaving Nashville in the morning to avoid rush hour. With a total distance of 203.9 miles, you can easily complete this in a single day. The $32 fuel estimate is a helpful budget point, and you'll find ample opportunities for fuel and rest stops along I-40. Since this is a relatively short, highway-heavy trip, you have flexibility in when you stop, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you near the end of the 102.4-mile stretch on I-40.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 101.9 miles from Nashville, TN, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.4 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 45 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.9 miles or 1h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Market, 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 203.9 miles and 3h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Nashville, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 102.4 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
$30.95 one way
$61.89 round trip
$3.86/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$34.57
$69.15
premium
$4.73
$37.95
$75.89
diesel
$5.99
$48.10
$96.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.3 kg one way.
EV Charging Along Route
4 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
Nashville, TN - 11th Avenue North - Tesla Supercharger
Nashville, TN
Tesla
12 DCFC
Taubman The Mall at Green Hills (Nashville, TN)
Nashville, TN
Electrify America
8 DCFC
The Mall at Green Hills
Nashville, TN
eVgo Network
6 DCFC
Save A Lot Nashville
Nashville, TN
eVgo Network
4 DCFC
eVgo Network: 2
Electrify America: 1
Tesla: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.2
0
$21.41
$9.79
Efficient EV
51
0
$17.84
$8.16
EV Truck/SUV
81.6
1
$28.55
$13.05
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Nashville, TN
Late night
in Nashville on Monday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
New Market, TN
Late night
in New Market on Monday
Local time
5:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
4 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
3h 49m on the road
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.
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 21.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 90% highway, so expect to be on interstates for the vast majority of your drive. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 102.4 miles on I-40. You'll transition to surface roads, like Andrew Johnson Highway, as you approach your destination. Be prepared for a steady stream of exits and potential merging traffic as you navigate these interstate segments.
90% 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: 102.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 24. You will hit about 10 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.
Driving Effort6/10
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 203.9 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 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.
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.
Top landmarks
•Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum — hall of fame
•Parthenon — Parthenon in Nashville
•Tennessee State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Tennessee
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 49m. Total distance: 203.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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.
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 New Market, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at New Market, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
