Nashville, TN to Spencer, TN is 96.7 miles and takes about 2h 5m via I 24 and John Bragg Highway, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, moving from Tennessee's bustling capital to a more rural setting. It's a straightforward drive, perfect for a quick escape or a transition to another adventure. With a relatively short duration and manageable fuel cost, this route offers convenience without sacrificing the feeling of making progress on a journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.4 miles from Nashville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
32.1 mi
35m
John Bragg Highway
15.6 mi
18m
Spencer Road
15.4 mi
23m
Nashville Highway
10.1 mi
11m
McMinnville Highway
8.2 mi
10m
US 70S
6.7 mi
8m
South Rutherford Boulevard
3.8 mi
5m
West Main Street
1.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 32.1 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nashville, TN and Spencer, 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
2.1 mi·2 min·I 24
Exit 50AToward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit onto I 24
30 mi·33 min·I 24
Exit 213AToward I 24 East: ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Exit 81BToward US 231 North: MurfreesboroUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto US 231
0.6 mi·43 sec·South Church Street
11
Turn right onto South Rutherford Boulevard
3.8 mi·5 min·South Rutherford Boulevard
Use the right lane.
12
Turn right onto US 70S
16 mi·18 min·John Bragg Highway
13
Continue on US 70S
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
14
Continue on US 70S; SR 53
8.2 mi·10 min·McMinnville Highway
15
Continue on US 70S
10 mi·11 min·Nashville Highway
16
Continue on US 70S
0.4 mi·29 sec·West Main Street
17
Take the exit onto US 70S
6.7 mi·8 min·US 70S
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
19
Turn straight onto SR 30
15 mi·23 min·Spencer Road
20
Turn left onto Sparta Street
42 ft·1 sec·Sparta Street
21
Arrive at destination
Sparta Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 2h 5m duration, this is an ideal same-day trip from Nashville. You could easily depart in the morning or afternoon, with plenty of daylight remaining. With only 96.7 miles to cover, you have flexibility to stop if needed, though the longest stretch without a major road change is 32.1 miles. Budgeting around $15 for fuel is a good estimate, so check your tank before leaving Nashville to ensure smooth sailing into Spencer. Keep an eye out for the transition points between I 24 and the local roads to mentally prepare for a change in driving conditions.
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 48.4 miles from Nashville, TN, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.1 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 21 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.4 miles or 59m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spencer, 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 96.7 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 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 32.1 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 34.6 — 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
34.6 mi into trip|~42m in
Take the exit toward US 231 North: Murfreesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 81B
Toward US 231 North: Murfreesboro
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.12 one way
$30.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.60
$33.20
premium
$4.89
$18.61
$37.22
diesel
$5.61
$21.35
$42.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29
0
$10.15
$4.64
Efficient EV
24.2
0
$8.46
$3.87
EV Truck/SUV
38.7
0
$13.54
$6.19
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Nashville, TN
Late night
in Nashville on Tuesday
Local time
4:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Spencer, TN
Late night
in Spencer on Tuesday
Local time
4:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Alexandria, TN
48 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
15 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
2h 5m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 41% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches of faster travel, including a significant 32.1-mile segment on I 24, allowing for steady progress. As you transition to roads like John Bragg Highway and Spencer Road, expect a change in pace. The road character shifts from interstate cruising to more local routes, providing a varied feel behind the wheel. This blend means you won't be stuck in a single driving mode for the entire trip.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.1 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 96.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 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.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 96.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). 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 32.1 miles on I 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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 Spencer, 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. There are 8 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 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 — 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 Spencer, TN before heading back.
