Origin
Pulaski, TN
Morning in Pulaski on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pulaski, 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
1h 28m
Distance
74.1 mi
119 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pulaski, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Nashville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward trip from Pulaski to Nashville, this 74.1-mile journey is an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. Expect to spend approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes behind the wheel, making it a highly manageable drive through the heart of Tennessee. With a fuel budget of roughly $11, this is an economical route that requires no overnight stops to complete comfortably. Since both cities are located within the Southeast, the transit feels familiar and consistent. Whether you are commuting or heading to the city for a quick getaway, the route offers a practical connection between these two points without unnecessary complexity.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 59.9 mi | 1h 5m |
| Lewisburg Highway | 11 mi | 16m |
| Downtown Loop | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| East Grigsby Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North 1st Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| George L Davis Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 7th Avenue North | 0.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 59.9 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pulaski, TN and Nashville, 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 left at fork onto I 65
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
I 65
Exit 82A
Toward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, Louisville
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 40; I 65
0.6 mi
·
45 sec
·
Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 209
Toward Church Street, Charlotte Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto US 70
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
George L Davis Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Turn right onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto 7th Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
7th Avenue North
12
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37 miles from Pulaski, 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 12.3 and 73.3 — 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.
9
71.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
I 65
Keep slight left at fork onto I 65 toward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, 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 82A
Toward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, Louisvil...
5
72.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
I 40; I 65 / Downtown Loop
Merge onto I 40; I 65 / Downtown Loop
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
72.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward Church Street, Charlotte Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 209
Toward Church Street, Charlotte Avenue
5
73.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Turn right onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.58 one way
$23.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.72 | $25.44 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.26 | $28.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.36 | $32.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.78 | $3.56 |
| Efficient EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.48 | $2.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.6 | 0 | $10.37 | $4.74 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Nashville, TN
Morning in Nashville on Sunday
Local time
6:31 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
29 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
1h 28m 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 trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 81% of your travel time spent on major roads like I-65, the Lewisburg Highway, and the Downtown Loop. You will settle into a rhythmic pace during your longest uninterrupted stretch, which covers 59.9 miles on I-65. While the initial segments may involve local roads, the transition to the interstate defines the bulk of the experience. Expect a functional, efficient drive rather than a winding backroad tour. Staying alert during that long interstate block is key, as the character of the road remains consistent until you reach the final approach into the Nashville area.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.9 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 65 and Lewisburg Highway. 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 Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.1 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 12.3 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.8 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.2 miles (I 40; I 65 / Downtown Loop): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 74.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.9 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 12.3 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.8 miles (I 65): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.2 miles (I 40; I 65 / Downtown Loop): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 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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