Smyrna, TN to Clinton, TN is 287.3 miles and takes about 5h 38m via I 40 and US 641, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. With 86% of the drive on highways, expect a largely direct route. Given the relatively short duration and highway focus, this is a straightforward drive suitable for a single day. Plan for a practical trip with minimal detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
143.7 miles from Smyrna, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
218.4 mi
3h 56m
US 641
13.8 mi
15m
Harriman Highway
9.6 mi
10m
Oliver Springs Highway
7.1 mi
12m
US 27
6.8 mi
7m
Broadway of America
5.4 mi
8m
West Tri County Boulevard
4.6 mi
5m
SR 114
4.1 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 218.4 mi, about 3h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smyrna, TN and Clinton, TN.
1
Start on Buck Ditch Road
58 ft·4 sec·Buck Ditch Road
2
Turn left onto Smyrna Road
2.0 mi·7 min·Smyrna Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto Buena Vista Road
2.5 mi·6 min·Buena Vista Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto SR 114
4.1 mi·7 min·SR 114
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 70; SR 114
2.4 mi·3 min·Broad Street
6
Continue on US 70
5.4 mi·8 min·Broadway of America
7
Turn right onto US 70
1.6 mi·2 min·US 70
8
Turn right onto US 641
14 mi·15 min·US 641
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
10
Merge onto I 40
81 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 40
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 208AToward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, HuntsvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
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.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
137 mi·2 hr 28 min·I 40
Exit 211AToward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward US 27: Harriman, Rockwood
16
Keep slight right at fork
335 ft·8 sec
17
Merge onto US 27
6.8 mi·7 min·US 27
18
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 61
9.6 mi·10 min·Harriman Highway
19
Continue on SR 61
4.6 mi·5 min·West Tri County Boulevard
20
Turn left onto SR 61
7.1 mi·12 min·Oliver Springs Highway
21
At end of road, turn left onto TN 61
1.1 mi·1 min·Oak Ridge Turnpike
22
Continue on TN 61
1.1 mi·1 min·Oak Ridge Highway
23
Continue on TN 61
384 ft·6 sec·South Charles G Seivers Boulevard
24
Continue on TN 61
0.4 mi·41 sec·South Charles G. Seivers Boulevard
25
Continue on SR 61
2.1 mi·3 min·South Charles G Seivers Boulevard
26
Turn left onto US 25W
0.5 mi·50 sec·South Main Street
27
Turn right onto Market Street
135 ft·7 sec·Market Street
28
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 38-minute drive, leaving Smyrna in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. The longest stretch without a major road change is 218.4 miles on I 40, so plan your primary fuel and rest stop before or during that segment. With a fuel cost estimate of $45, it’s wise to fill up before you leave or at a major exit along I 40. Since this is a one-day trip, you have flexibility, but be mindful of the transition from highway driving to surface roads like US 641 towards the end of your route.
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 143.7 miles from Smyrna, TN, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 218.4 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 63 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.7 miles or 2h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clinton, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Smyrna, 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 Smyrna, TN
This is one driving day of about 287.3 miles and 5h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Smyrna, 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 I 40 for about 218.4 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 116.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.5 mi into trip|~14m in|SR 114
At end of road, turn left onto SR 114
Navigation decision point
5
8.6 mi into trip|~21m in|US 70; SR 114 / Broad Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 70; SR 114 / Broad Street
Navigation decision point
5
32.1 mi into trip|~51m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
9
113.4 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsv...
9
116.6 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 211A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattan...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.92 one way
$95.85 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$52.09
$104.17
premium
$5.26
$59.48
$118.97
diesel
$6.18
$69.89
$139.78
Estimated Tolls: $0.08
Oak Ridge Turnpike
(1.1 mi)$0.08
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.2
1
$30.17
$13.79
Efficient EV
71.8
0
$25.14
$11.49
EV Truck/SUV
114.9
1
$40.22
$18.39
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Smyrna, TN
Morning
in Smyrna on Sunday
Local time
6:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Clear
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Clinton, TN
Morning
in Clinton on Sunday
Local time
7:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Mostly Clear
NE 5 mph0% 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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
5h 38m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
21 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 138.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 86% of the 287.3 miles spent on major roadways like I 40. You'll experience a long, continuous stretch of 218.4 miles on I 40 before transitioning to surface roads like US 641 and Harriman Highway. Expect a good amount of highway cruising, and be aware of denser exit traffic as you approach and depart major towns. The final portion will involve more local road driving.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 218.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 641. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in near SR 114.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 287.3 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 4.5 miles (SR 114): Navigation decision point; at 8.6 miles (US 70; SR 114 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 32.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,796 ft402 ft
Total Climb
1,677 ft
Total Descent
1,369 ft
Highest Point
1,796 ft
~205.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,394 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Smyrna, TN and Clinton, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Rockwood.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 38m. Total distance: 287.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 218.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.08 in tolls one way, starting with Oak Ridge Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 28 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Clinton, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles (SR 114): Navigation decision point; at 8.6 miles (US 70; SR 114 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 32.1 miles (I 40): 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Clinton, TN before the return drive.
