Spanning 255.1 miles across Tennessee, this trek from Surgoinsville to Nashville takes approximately 4 hours and 11 minutes of driving time. Because this route relies on local roads rather than high-speed interstates, it functions best as a single-day trip. You should budget about $39 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating through the Southeast, you will transition from the smaller community of Surgoinsville toward the major hub of Nashville. Since the drive is quite direct, you can easily complete it in one day, though the turn-heavy nature of the roads makes it feel more involved than a typical highway cruise.
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
127.5 miles from Surgoinsville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
180.6 mi
3h 17m
US 11W
40.4 mi
46m
West Main Street
16.1 mi
19m
West Stone Drive
6.5 mi
7m
Rogersville Bypass
5.2 mi
5m
Appalachian Highway
2.2 mi
2m
Downtown Loop
1.1 mi
1m
James Robertson Parkway
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 180.6 mi, about 3h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Surgoinsville, TN and Nashville, TN.
1
Start on SR 346
208 ft·9 sec·West Main Street
2
Turn left onto Surgoinsville Creek Road
0.6 mi·2 min·Surgoinsville Creek Road
3
Turn slight left onto Nelhms Street
127 ft·5 sec·Nelhms Street
4
Turn left onto US 11W; SR 1
6.5 mi·7 min·West Stone Drive
5
Continue on US 11W; SR 1
5.2 mi·5 min·Rogersville Bypass
6
Continue on US 11W; SR 1
16 mi·19 min·West Main Street
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 11W; SR 1
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 11W; SR 1
8
Merge onto US 11W; US 25E; SR 1; SR 32; ADHS S
2.2 mi·2 min·Appalachian Highway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 11W
40 mi·45 min·US 11W
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
11
Merge onto I 40
24 mi·27 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
155 mi·2 hr 46 min·I 40
Toward NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·3 min·I 40
Exit 213BToward I 24 West, I 40 West: NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24
0.3 mi·28 sec·I 24
Exit 211Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, LouisvilleUse the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 24
1.1 mi·1 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 48Toward James Robertson Parkway, State CapitolUse the right lane.
17
Turn straight onto US 31; US 41; US 431
0.7 mi·1 min·James Robertson Parkway
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North
129 ft·6 sec·3rd Avenue North
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
0.3 mi·43 sec·Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto 7th Avenue North
0.2 mi·1 min·7th Avenue North
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 11-minute duration, try to depart early in the morning to allow for a relaxed pace throughout the day. You only have one planned stop on this itinerary, so use that time wisely to stretch your legs and refuel your vehicle. Keep the $39 fuel estimate in mind when planning your budget, and ensure your tank is topped off before heading out on these local roads. Since the route is composed of winding local streets rather than major expressways, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersections. The primary advantage here is flexibility; take your time navigating the turns rather than rushing, as the lack of highway segments means you are driving through the heart of the local landscape.
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 127.5 miles from Surgoinsville, TN, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 180.6 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 56 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.5 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nashville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Surgoinsville, 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 Surgoinsville, TN
This is one driving day of about 255.1 miles and 4h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Surgoinsville, 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 180.6 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 95.1 and 254.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
95.1 mi into trip|~1h 53m 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
9
250 mi into trip|~4h 39m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
9
252.1 mi into trip|~4h 43m in|I 24
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 211
Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
8
253.6 mi into trip|~4h 45m in
Take the exit toward James Robertson Parkway, State Capitol
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 48
Toward James Robertson Parkway, State Capitol
6
254.5 mi into trip|~4h 47m in|3rd Avenue North
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.88 one way
$79.76 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$43.79
$87.58
premium
$4.89
$49.09
$98.18
diesel
$5.61
$56.32
$112.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.5
0
$26.79
$12.24
Efficient EV
63.8
0
$22.32
$10.20
EV Truck/SUV
102
1
$35.71
$16.33
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Surgoinsville, TN
Late night
in Surgoinsville on Sunday
Local time
2:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Nashville, TN
Late night
in Nashville on Sunday
Local time
1:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
19 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
4h 49m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a very different experience than the standard interstate commute, as this route features zero highway miles and consists entirely of local navigation. You will primarily follow Surgoinsville Creek Road, Nelhms Street, and West Stone Drive to reach your destination. The personality of this drive is decidedly turn-heavy, requiring your full attention as you transition between these local thoroughfares. Unlike a monotonous stretch of asphalt, this path keeps you engaged with frequent changes in direction. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience where the road surface and navigation require consistent focus throughout the 255.1-mile journey.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 180.6 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 11W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 95.1 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 255.1 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 95.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 250 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 252.1 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 49m. Total distance: 255.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 180.6 miles on I 40. 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.
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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 95.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 250 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 252.1 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Nashville, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
