Origin
Portland, TN
Morning in Portland on Sunday
Local time
11:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Portland, TN to Nashville, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
39.5 mi
64 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portland, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Nashville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Portland, TN to Nashville, TN is 39.5 miles and takes about 49 minutes via I 65, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive connecting two locations within the Southeast region, specifically within Tennessee. Given its short duration and primary use of major interstates, it's an ideal trip for a quick transit or an easy addition to a longer journey. You'll find this route practical for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 30.9 mi | 34m |
| Maple Street | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| I 24 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| College Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| James Robertson Parkway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Broadway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 7th Avenue North | 0.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 30.9 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portland, TN and Nashville, TN.
1
Start on SR 109
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
North Broadway
2
Take the exit
303 ft
·
8 sec
3
Turn slight right onto SR 52
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Oak Street
4
Continue on SR 52
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Maple Street
5
Continue on SR 52
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
College Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 65 South: Nashville
7
Merge onto I 65
31 mi
·
34 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 24
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 24
Exit 86
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga, Knoxville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 48
Toward James Robertson Parkway, State Capitol
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on Interstate Drive
374 ft
·
6 sec
·
Interstate Drive
11
Turn right onto US 31; US 41; US 431
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
James Robertson Parkway
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North
129 ft
·
6 sec
·
3rd Avenue North
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto 7th Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
7th Avenue North
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.8 miles from Portland, 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 5.7 and 39 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.7 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
36.6 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
I 24
Continue onto I 24 toward I 24 East: Chattanooga, Knoxville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 86
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga, Knoxville
8
38.1 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward James Robertson Parkway, State Capitol
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 48
Toward James Robertson Parkway, State Capitol
6
39 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
3rd Avenue North
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
39 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Turn right onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.18 one way
$12.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.78 | $13.56 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.60 | $15.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.72 | $17.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.15 | $1.90 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.46 | $1.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.53 | $2.53 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Nashville, TN
Morning in Nashville on Sunday
Local time
11:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
49m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 83% of the journey utilizing major roads like I 65 and I 24. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 30.9 miles on I 65, offering a consistent pace. The profile suggests a smooth, high-speed experience for the majority of the trip, transitioning from Maple Street onto the interstate system. Expect a consistent driving environment without significant changes in road type.
83% 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: 30.9 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Maple Street. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in near I 65.
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 39.5 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 5.7 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.6 miles (I 24): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Portland, TN to Nashville, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Knoxville along the way.
Knoxville
36.6 mi in
|
~43m
|
via I 24
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 39.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.9 miles on I 65. 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 Nashville, 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 5.7 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.6 miles (I 24): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Nashville, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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