If you are looking to travel from Pulaski to Clarksville, Tennessee, you are looking at a 122.5-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 1 minute. This route functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend roughly $18 on fuel for the trip, making it a budget-friendly option for your regional travel. Because both cities are located within the Southeast, the climate and general landscape remain consistent throughout the drive. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that gets you from point A to point B efficiently without requiring a major time investment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.4 miles from Pulaski, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
59.5 mi
1h 4m
I 24
36.1 mi
39m
Lewisburg Highway
11 mi
16m
Madison Street
4.7 mi
8m
Downtown Loop
3.4 mi
4m
TN 76
3.4 mi
3m
East Grigsby Street
0.6 mi
<1m
North 1st Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 59.5 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pulaski, TN and Clarksville, TN.
1
Start on US 31
0.5 mi·55 sec·North 1st Street
2
Turn right onto US 31A
0.6 mi·49 sec·East Grigsby Street
3
Continue on US 31A
11 mi·16 min·Lewisburg Highway
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
5
Merge onto I 65
59 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 82BToward I 40 East: KnoxvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 40
0.1 mi·10 sec·Downtown Loop
8
Continue on I 40
0.5 mi·42 sec·Downtown Loop
Exit 211B; 211AToward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksville, Louisville, Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto Downtown Loop
2.8 mi·4 min·Downtown Loop
Exit 211BToward I 24 West: Clarksville, LouisvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 24
2.1 mi·2 min·I 24
Exit 46AToward I 24 West, I 65 North: Clarksville, LouisvilleUse the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Take the exit onto I 24
34 mi·36 min·I 24
Exit 88Toward I 24 West: ClarksvilleUse the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward TN 76
13
Keep slight left at fork
283 ft·9 sec
14
Continue on TN 76
3.4 mi·3 min·TN 76
15
Turn right onto US 41A
4.7 mi·8 min·Madison Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto US 41A
0.4 mi·44 sec·University Avenue
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 41A; SR 48
0.3 mi·45 sec·College Street
18
Turn left onto North 2nd Street
134 ft·2 sec·North 2nd Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Arrive at destination
North 2nd Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip of just over two hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid local congestion. Without any designated stops built into the itinerary, feel free to pace yourself and pull over whenever you need a quick break to stretch your legs. Given that the route relies on local roads, keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you leave Pulaski, even though the estimated cost is only $18. A helpful tip for this specific journey is to double-check your GPS settings before heading out, as the reliance on East Grigsby Street and local highways can be tricky to navigate compared to a simple interstate commute. Staying focused on the frequent turns will ensure you reach Clarksville without unnecessary detours.
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 60.4 miles from Pulaski, TN, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.5 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 27 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.4 miles or 1h 10m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarksville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pulaski, 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 Pulaski, TN
This is one driving day of about 120.7 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Pulaski, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 59.5 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 12.3 and 115.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
12.3 mi into trip|~18m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
71.8 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 82B
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville
9
72.7 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|Downtown Loop
Keep slight left at fork onto Downtown Loop toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 211B
Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
7
77.6 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|I 24
Take the exit onto I 24 toward I 24 West: Clarksville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 88
Toward I 24 West: Clarksville
6
115.3 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|US 41A / Madison Street
Turn right onto US 41A / Madison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.87 one way
$37.74 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.72
$41.44
premium
$4.89
$23.23
$46.46
diesel
$5.61
$26.65
$53.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.2
0
$12.67
$5.79
Efficient EV
30.2
0
$10.56
$4.83
EV Truck/SUV
48.3
0
$16.90
$7.72
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Pulaski, TN
Morning
in Pulaski on Sunday
Local time
6:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clarksville, TN
Morning
in Clarksville on Sunday
Local time
6:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Cloudy
SSW 10 mph3% 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
16 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
2h 23m 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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 58.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway share. You will navigate primarily via East Grigsby Street, Lewisburg Highway, and I-40 East, requiring your full attention behind the wheel. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on East Grigsby Street, you will find yourself constantly adjusting to changing road conditions and local traffic patterns. This lack of highway consistency means you should stay alert, as the route demands more engagement than a standard freeway slog. Ultimately, the road’s personality is defined by these technical, winding local passages rather than long, open stretches of high-speed pavement.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.5 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and I 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.3 miles in near I 65.
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 120.7 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 12.3 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.7 miles (Downtown Loop): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Pulaski, TN and Clarksville, TN, road signs point toward Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Louisville
72.2 mi in|~1h 24m|via I 40
Knoxville
72.2 mi in|~1h 24m|via I 40
Chattanooga
72.2 mi in|~1h 24m|via I 40
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 120.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.5 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 Clarksville, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.3 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.7 miles (Downtown Loop): 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 Clarksville, TN before heading back.
