Spurgeon, TN to Hendersonville, TN is 277 miles and takes about 5h 12m via I 40 and I 81, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, traveling through the Southeast region. With 95% of the route on highways, expect a straightforward drive for the most part. This is a very manageable one-day trip, ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get between these two points without a lengthy overnight stay.
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
138.5 miles from Spurgeon, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
188.8 mi
3h 25m
I 81
59.2 mi
1h 3m
SR 109
14.8 mi
20m
Nashville Pike
5.7 mi
8m
East Main Street
3 mi
4m
Fort Henry Drive
3 mi
4m
Gallatin Road
1.4 mi
2m
Kingsport Highway
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 188.8 mi, about 3h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spurgeon, TN and Hendersonville, TN.
1
Start on this road
96 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Gray Station Road
402 ft·15 sec·Gray Station Road
3
Turn left onto SR 36
0.3 mi·25 sec·Kingsport Highway
4
Continue on SR 36
3.0 mi·4 min·Fort Henry Drive
5
Turn left
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 59Toward SR 36: Kingsport, Johnson City
6
Merge onto I 81
58 mi·1 hr 2 min·I 81
7
Continue on I 81
0.7 mi·45 sec·I 81
Exit 1BToward I 40 West: Knoxville
8
Merge onto I 40
53 mi·59 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
136 mi·2 hr 26 min·I 40
Toward NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Exit 232Toward TN 109: GallatinUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto SR 109
13 mi·18 min·SR 109
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto SR 109
2.1 mi·2 min·SR 109
Use the left lane.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward US 31E: Gallatin, HendersonvilleUse the right lane.
14
Turn right onto US 31E
5.7 mi·8 min·Nashville Pike
15
Continue on US 31E
1.4 mi·2 min·East Main Street
16
Continue on US 31E
1.4 mi·2 min·Gallatin Road
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on US 31E
1.7 mi·2 min·East Main Street
18
Turn left onto Walton Ferry Road
53 ft·1 sec·Walton Ferry Road
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
Walton Ferry Road
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, departing in the morning should allow ample time to reach Hendersonville before evening. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with stops, but consider a break around the halfway point of the 188.8-mile stretch on I 40. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that longer highway segment, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost is $43, so plan accordingly. You'll be on SR 109 for the final portion, so be aware of potentially more local traffic as you get closer to Hendersonville.
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 138.5 miles from Spurgeon, TN, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.8 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 61 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.5 miles or 2h 33m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hendersonville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Spurgeon, 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 Spurgeon, TN
This is one driving day of about 277 miles and 5h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Spurgeon, 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 188.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 266.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 36 / Kingsport Highway
Turn left onto SR 36 / Kingsport Highway
Navigation decision point
6
3.4 mi into trip|~5m in
Turn left toward SR 36: Kingsport, Johnson City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 59
Toward SR 36: Kingsport, Johnson City
7
115.6 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Nashville
7
251.6 mi into trip|~4h 35m in
Take the exit toward TN 109: Gallatin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 232
Toward TN 109: Gallatin
7
266.7 mi into trip|~4h 56m in
Take the exit toward US 31E: Gallatin, Hendersonville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 31E: Gallatin, Hendersonville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.21 one way
$92.41 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$50.22
$100.44
premium
$5.26
$57.35
$114.70
diesel
$6.18
$67.39
$134.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.1
1
$29.09
$13.30
Efficient EV
69.3
0
$24.24
$11.08
EV Truck/SUV
110.8
1
$38.78
$17.73
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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 19, 2026
Origin
Spurgeon, TN
Evening
in Spurgeon on Monday
Local time
7:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hendersonville, TN
Evening
in Hendersonville on Monday
Local time
6:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Areas Of Fog
0 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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
5h 12m 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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 248.4
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 76.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 95% of this 277-mile trip, primarily using I 40 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 188.8 miles on I 40. Expect the transition to surface roads to occur in the final miles as you approach your destination. Given the high highway percentage, you'll likely notice frequent exits and merging traffic as you navigate the interstates.
95% 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: 188.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near SR 36 / Kingsport Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 277 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (SR 36 / Kingsport Highway): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,999 ft484 ft
Total Climb
1,373 ft
Total Descent
2,304 ft
Highest Point
1,999 ft
~178.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,514 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Spurgeon, TN to Hendersonville, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Nashville along the way.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 12m. Total distance: 277 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 188.8 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 30 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 Hendersonville, 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 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (SR 36 / Kingsport Highway): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hendersonville, TN before the return drive.
