Shelbyville, TN to Jackson, TN is 153.2 miles and takes about 3h 13m via Linden Highway, Bear Creek Pike, and Hampshire Pike, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a local, turn-heavy experience rather than an interstate cruise. Given the relatively short duration and fuel cost, this trip is easily manageable within a single day, offering a straightforward journey between these two communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76.6 miles from Shelbyville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Linden Highway
51.3 mi
59m
Bear Creek Pike
17 mi
20m
Hampshire Pike
13.3 mi
15m
Columbia Highway
13 mi
16m
US 412
10.7 mi
12m
Old Columbia Road
7.9 mi
14m
Sylvester Chunn Highway
7.5 mi
11m
Union Street
7.2 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
Linden Highway
— 51.3 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shelbyville, TN and Jackson, TN.
1
Start on Public Square North
223 ft·11 sec·Public Square North
2
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·North Spring Street
3
Turn left onto SR 64; SR 130
0.8 mi·1 min·Lane Parkway
4
Turn left onto US 41A
7.2 mi·10 min·Union Street
5
Turn left onto SR 270
2.4 mi·4 min·Old Columbia Road
6
Continue on SR 270
1.5 mi·2 min·Old Columbia Highway
7
Continue on SR 270
5.5 mi·9 min·Old Columbia Road
8
Turn left onto US 31A; SR 99
0.2 mi·25 sec·Nashville Highway
9
Turn right onto SR 99
7.5 mi·11 min·Sylvester Chunn Highway
10
At end of road, turn right onto US 431; SR 99
0.8 mi·1 min·Lewisburg and Franklin Pike
11
Turn left onto SR 99
17 mi·20 min·Bear Creek Pike
12
Continue on US 43; US 412
0.8 mi·57 sec·US 43; US 412
13
Turn left onto US 412
0.3 mi·41 sec·US 412
14
Turn left onto US 412
13 mi·15 min·Hampshire Pike
15
Continue on US 412
13 mi·16 min·Columbia Highway
16
Continue on US 412
4.6 mi·5 min·East Main Street
17
Continue on US 412
51 mi·59 min·Linden Highway
18
Continue on US 412
2.2 mi·2 min·West Church Sttreet
19
Continue on US 412
10 mi·11 min·US 412
20
Turn right onto SR 152
0.8 mi·1 min·Law Road
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
22
Merge onto I 40
6.3 mi·6 min·I 40
23
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 70, US 412 East
24
Turn left onto US 70
4.2 mi·6 min·US 70
25
Turn left onto US 70
1.8 mi·2 min·US 70
26
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
27
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of just over 3 hours and a fuel cost estimated at $24, this is a trip that offers a lot of flexibility. You could easily depart in the morning and arrive in Jackson well before lunchtime. Since there's only one recommended stop and the drive isn't excessively long, you can be spontaneous with breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 51.3-mile stretch on Linden Highway, as services might be more spread out on these local roads compared to interstates.
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 76.6 miles from Shelbyville, TN, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.3 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 34 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.6 miles or 1h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jackson, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Shelbyville, 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 Shelbyville, TN
This is one driving day of about 153.2 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Shelbyville, 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 Linden Highway for about 51.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 146.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Spring Street
Turn right onto North Spring Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|US 41A / Union Street
Turn left onto US 41A / Union Street
Navigation decision point
4
17.6 mi into trip|~29m in|US 31A; SR 99 / Nashville Highway
Turn left onto US 31A; SR 99 / Nashville Highway
Navigation decision point
5
139.9 mi into trip|~2h 56m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
146.4 mi into trip|~3h 3m in
Take the exit toward US 70, US 412 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 70, US 412 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.95 one way
$47.90 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.30
$52.59
premium
$4.89
$29.48
$58.96
diesel
$5.61
$33.82
$67.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46
0
$16.09
$7.35
Efficient EV
38.3
0
$13.40
$6.13
EV Truck/SUV
61.3
0
$21.45
$9.80
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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 18, 2026
Origin
Shelbyville, TN
Late night
in Shelbyville on Tuesday
Local time
4:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Jackson, TN
Late night
in Jackson on Tuesday
Local time
4:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
14 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
3h 13m 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 10.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, with only 16% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate primarily on local roads like Linden Highway, Bear Creek Pike, and Hampshire Pike. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 51.3 miles on Linden Highway, offering a solid period of consistent driving before the turns pick up again. This means you should anticipate frequent adjustments in direction and speed as you make your way across the landscape.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.3 mi on Linden Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Spring Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 13m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Spring Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 41A / Union Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.6 miles (US 31A; SR 99 / Nashville Highway): Navigation decision point.
Jackson is a city in Western Tennessee that grew as a crossroads between various railroads in the four cardinal directions. It was the major commerce center of western Tennessee around the time of its founding in 1821 because Memphis had yet to emerge as a dominant community. Jackson hasn't been without its fair share of trials and travails as it knew the systemic ordeals of slavery for cotton production and lynchings and disenfranchisement as well as other places did in the South, plus high crime and tornadoes.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.3 miles on Linden Highway. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Spring Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 41A / Union Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.6 miles (US 31A; SR 99 / Nashville Highway): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Jackson, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
