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
72.4 mi
116 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shelbyville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Shelbyville, TN to Hendersonville, TN is 72.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 28 minutes via I 24 and Florida Short Route, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region, primarily in Tennessee, offering a mixed driving experience. It's a straightforward trip, ideal for a single-day journey when you need to get from point A to B efficiently. Consider this route if you're looking for a practical and relatively quick connection between these two Tennessee locations.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 24 | 40.5 mi | 46m |
| Florida Short Route | 9.2 mi | 10m |
| Shelbyville Highway | 8.6 mi | 9m |
| South Church Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| West Main Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| North Main Street | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Vietnam Veterans Boulevard | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Downtown Loop | 2.3 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Shelbyville, TN and Hendersonville, TN.
Start on Public Square North
Turn right onto North Spring Street
Turn right onto SR 64; SR 130
Turn left onto SR 82
Continue on US 231; SR 82
Continue on US 231; SR 269
Continue on US 231
Turn left
Merge onto I 24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24
Merge onto I 24
Continue on I 24
Continue on I 65
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 386
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto Center Point Road
Turn left onto US 31E
Turn right onto Walton Ferry Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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.
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 36.2 miles from Shelbyville, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 23.3 and 69.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left toward US 231 South: Shelbyville, Calsonic Arena, Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 24 toward I 24West, I 40 West: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24 toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard toward SR 386: Hendersonville, Gallatin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center, Hendersonville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$11.32 one way
$22.64 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.43 | $24.86 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.93 | $27.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.99 | $31.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.60 | $3.48 |
| Efficient EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.34 | $2.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29 | 0 | $10.14 | $4.63 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Shelbyville on Sunday
Local time
5:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Hendersonville on Sunday
Local time
5:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This 72.4-mile drive features a 56% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads like I 24. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 40.5 miles on I 24, providing a solid period of consistent travel. Expect a mixed drive, transitioning from interstate speeds to potentially more local road conditions as you approach your destination. This blend means the road's character will shift, offering a varied experience behind the wheel rather than a monotonous interstate grind.
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 23.3 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.4 miles you will encounter 15 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 23.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.7 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 54.9 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Shelbyville, TN and Hendersonville, TN, road signs point toward Calsonic Arena, Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, Louisville and Gallatin.
Calsonic Arena
Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
Louisville
Gallatin
Hendersonville is a city in Sumner County of the American state of Tennessee. It is a well-known suburb of Nashville, Tennessee, and has been the home of many country music stars, including Conway Twitty, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 72.4 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 (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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