Spanning 255.1 miles across Tennessee, this journey from Nashville to Surgoinsville typically takes about 4 hours and 50 minutes of driving time. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate run, you should plan on dedicating a full day to complete the trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $39, the route is affordable for a solo traveler or a small group. You will remain within the Southeast region for the duration of your trip, transitioning from the heart of Middle Tennessee toward the eastern part of the state. It is a straightforward excursion that works perfectly as a single-day commitment, allowing you to reach your destination by evening without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
127.5 miles from Nashville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
100.8 mi
1h 51m
I 24
80.6 mi
1h 27m
Rutledge Pike
28.5 mi
32m
Lee Highway
27.1 mi
31m
Rogersville Bypass
11.7 mi
13m
Appalachian Highway
1.7 mi
1m
Main Street
1.3 mi
2m
Downtown Loop
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 100.8 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nashville, TN and Surgoinsville, 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
7.6 mi·9 min·I 40
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 11W: Knoxville Zoo
11
Keep slight right at fork
391 ft·9 sec
Toward US 11W: Mascot, Blaine, Rutledge, Bean Station
12
Continue on US 11W
29 mi·32 min·Rutledge Pike
13
Continue on US 11W; SR 1
12 mi·13 min·Lee Highway
14
Merge onto US 11W; US 25E; SR 1; SR 32; ADHS S
1.7 mi·1 min·Appalachian Highway
15
Turn left onto Old US 11W
1.2 mi·2 min·Main Street
16
Turn left onto US 11W; SR 1
16 mi·18 min·Lee Highway
17
Continue on US 11W; SR 1
3.4 mi·3 min·Rogersville Bypass
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 11W; SR 1
8.3 mi·9 min·Rogersville Bypass
19
Turn right onto Nelhms Street
127 ft·5 sec·Nelhms Street
20
Continue on Surgoinsville Creek Road
0.1 mi·30 sec·Surgoinsville Creek Road
21
Continue on Surgoinsville Creek Road
0.1 mi·24 sec·Surgoinsville Creek Road
22
Continue on Surgoinsville Creek Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Surgoinsville Creek Road
23
Turn right onto SR 346
208 ft·4 sec·Main Street
24
Arrive at destination
SR 346
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4 hour and 50 minute trek, try to depart Nashville early in the morning to avoid local congestion on the initial city segments. Budget for at least one planned stop to stretch your legs, as the constant turning can be more fatiguing than highway cruising. Keep your $39 fuel estimate in mind, and consider topping off your tank before leaving the Nashville metro area to ensure you have a smooth ride. Since you have the flexibility of a single-day trip, feel free to adjust your pace based on traffic conditions along those local roads. Staying alert on the winding sections is the best way to ensure you arrive in Surgoinsville feeling refreshed.
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 127.5 miles from Nashville, TN, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.8 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 56 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.5 miles or 2h 22m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Surgoinsville, 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 255.1 miles and 4h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 100.8 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 184 — 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
184 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 11W: Mascot, Blaine, Rutledge, Bean Station
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 11W: Mascot, Blaine, Rutledge, Bean S...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.88 one way
$79.76 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$43.79
$87.58
premium
$4.89
$49.09
$98.18
diesel
$5.61
$56.32
$112.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.5
0
$26.79
$12.24
Efficient EV
63.8
0
$22.32
$10.20
EV Truck/SUV
102
1
$35.71
$16.33
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Nashville, TN
Night
in Nashville on Saturday
Local time
11:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Surgoinsville, TN
Late night
in Surgoinsville on Sunday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live 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
19 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
4h 50m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 17.6
Cumberland Gap was the first great gateway to the west. Come follow the path of bison, Native Americans, longhunters, and pioneers. Walk where 300,000 people crossed the Appalachians to settle America...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 219.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a more engaging experience than a standard highway commute, as this route is defined by its turn-heavy, local road profile. You will navigate through city streets like James Robertson Parkway and Interstate Drive, keeping your focus sharp as you transition away from the Nashville area. Since the highway share is 0%, you won't be spending your time on monotonous, high-speed interstates; instead, you will experience the road at a more measured, local pace. This technical nature requires a bit more attention behind the wheel, making it a drive where you feel truly connected to the terrain rather than just passing through it.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 24. 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 15 significant decision points across 255.1 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 0.7 miles (James Robertson Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles: 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 Surgoinsville, TN, road signs point toward Blaine, Rutledge and Bean Station.
Blaine
184 mi in|~3h 25m
Rutledge
184 mi in|~3h 25m
Bean Station
184 mi in|~3h 25m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 50m. Total distance: 255.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 100.8 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Surgoinsville, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Surgoinsville, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
