Origin
Nashville, TN
Afternoon in Nashville on Sunday
Local time
4:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nashville, TN to Smithville, 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 29m
Distance
65.2 mi
105 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nashville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Smithville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to escape Nashville for a quick change of scenery, the 65.2-mile journey to Smithville is an accessible trip that takes roughly 1 hour and 29 minutes. Because this is a straightforward trek within the Southeast region of Tennessee, it works perfectly as a simple day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend about $10 on fuel for the round trip, making it a budget-friendly outing for a weekend or afternoon. You will navigate through local roads like James Robertson Parkway and Interstate Drive rather than sticking to major interstates. It is an ideal route for travelers who prefer local roads over high-speed transit and want to reach their destination without a complicated itinerary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 24 | 28.7 mi | 31m |
| Sparta Pike | 15.2 mi | 21m |
| Nashville Highway | 13.3 mi | 20m |
| Old Nashville Highway | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| West Broad Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Downtown Loop | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| James Robertson Parkway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 28.7 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nashville, TN and Smithville, 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
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 24
Exit 50A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Use the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 239A
Toward US 70 East: Watertown
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn slight right onto US 70
15 mi
·
21 min
·
Sparta Pike
10
Continue on US 70
13 mi
·
19 min
·
Nashville Highway
11
Continue on US 70
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Nashville Highway
12
Continue on US 70
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Nashville Highway
13
Continue on US 70
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Nashville Highway
14
Continue on US 70
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West Broad Street
15
Turn left onto South Mountain Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Mountain Street
16
Turn right onto West Market Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Market Street
17
Arrive at destination
West Market Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.6 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 31.2 — 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.
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
31.2 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward US 70 East: Watertown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 239A
Toward US 70 East: Watertown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.19 one way
$20.39 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.19 | $22.38 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.55 | $25.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.40 | $28.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.85 | $3.13 |
| Efficient EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.13 | $4.17 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Smithville, TN
Afternoon in Smithville on Sunday
Local time
4:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Lebanon, TN
33 mi in
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
20 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 29m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route avoids highways entirely, maintaining a 0% highway share as you navigate the local transit network. The roads are winding and require frequent adjustments, giving the trip a more hands-on feel compared to a standard freeway cruise. Since there are no designated stops on this 65.2-mile path, you will be in the driver’s seat for the duration of the 1-hour and 29-minute trip. It is a technical drive that rewards drivers who enjoy staying alert and navigating the curves of local Tennessee infrastructure.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.7 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 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 Effort
6/10
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 65.2 miles you will encounter 9 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,028 ft
554 ft
Total Climb
744 ft
Total Descent
270 ft
Highest Point
1,028 ft
~65.2 mi in
Elevation Range
474 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 65.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.7 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 Smithville, 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 0.7 miles (James Robertson Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles: 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 Smithville, 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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