Traveling from Thompson's Station to Clarksville covers 79.6 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 22 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip within the Southeast, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $12 for fuel to cover the distance. The route utilizes a combination of Thompsons Station Road West, Columbia Pike, and I-840 East to navigate between these two Tennessee towns. It is a straightforward trek that works well for travelers looking for a direct route rather than a multi-day expedition.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39 miles from Thompson's Station, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
36.1 mi
39m
I 65
22.4 mi
24m
Madison Street
4.7 mi
8m
Downtown Loop
3.4 mi
4m
TN 76
3.4 mi
3m
Columbia Pike
1.9 mi
2m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
1.8 mi
1m
Thompsons Station Road West
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 36.1 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thompson's Station, TN and Clarksville, TN.
1
Start on Thompsons Station Road West
0.4 mi·58 sec·Thompsons Station Road West
2
At end of road, turn left onto Thompsons Station Road West
0.3 mi·33 sec·Thompsons Station Road West
3
Turn left onto US 31
1.9 mi·2 min·Columbia Pike
4
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 840 East: Murfreesboro
5
Merge onto I 840
1.8 mi·1 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Exit 31Toward I 65: Nashville, HuntsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.5 mi·2 min
Exit 31BToward I 65 North: NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 65
22 mi·24 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 82BToward I 40 East: KnoxvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 40
0.1 mi·10 sec·Downtown Loop
11
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.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto Downtown Loop
2.8 mi·4 min·Downtown Loop
Exit 211BToward I 24 West: Clarksville, LouisvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 24
2.1 mi·2 min·I 24
Exit 46AToward I 24 West, I 65 North: Clarksville, LouisvilleUse the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Take the exit onto I 24
34 mi·36 min·I 24
Exit 88Toward I 24 West: ClarksvilleUse the slight left / straight lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward TN 76
16
Keep slight left at fork
283 ft·9 sec
17
Continue on TN 76
3.4 mi·3 min·TN 76
18
Turn right onto US 41A
4.7 mi·8 min·Madison Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto US 41A
0.4 mi·44 sec·University Avenue
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 41A; SR 48
0.3 mi·45 sec·College Street
21
Turn left onto North 2nd Street
134 ft·2 sec·North 2nd Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
22
Arrive at destination
North 2nd Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact 1-hour and 22-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid local traffic bottlenecks. You will not need to plan for major stops, as the direct nature of the route allows for a continuous flow. Keep your $12 fuel budget in mind as you head out, and ensure your vehicle is ready for a trip that relies entirely on local roads rather than high-speed interstates. One concrete tip for this specific drive is to keep your navigation app active at all times, as the reliance on Thompsons Station Road West and Columbia Pike means you will be making several turns to stay on track.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39 miles from Thompson's Station, TN, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.1 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarksville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Thompson's Station, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Thompson's Station, TN
This is one driving day of about 77.9 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Thompson's Station, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 24 for about 36.1 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 34.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
4.9 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward I 65: Nashville, Huntsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31
Toward I 65: Nashville, Huntsville
8
5.1 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 North: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31B
Toward I 65 North: Nashville
8
28.9 mi into trip|~34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 82B
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville
9
29.9 mi into trip|~36m in|Downtown Loop
Keep slight left at fork onto Downtown Loop 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 left / slight right lanes.
Exit 211B
Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
7
34.8 mi into trip|~43m in|I 24
Take the exit onto I 24 toward I 24 West: Clarksville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 88
Toward I 24 West: Clarksville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.18 one way
$24.36 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.37
$26.74
premium
$4.89
$14.99
$29.98
diesel
$5.61
$17.20
$34.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.4
0
$8.18
$3.74
Efficient EV
19.5
0
$6.82
$3.12
EV Truck/SUV
31.2
0
$10.91
$4.99
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 16, 2026
Origin
Thompson's Station, TN
Morning
in Thompson's Station on Sunday
Local time
7:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clarksville, TN
Morning
in Clarksville on Sunday
Local time
7:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Rain Showers Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph65% 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
29 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
1h 34m 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 19.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate through various local roads, meaning the pace remains steady and attentive throughout the 79.6-mile journey. Since there are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches—with the longest stretch being 0 miles on Thompsons Station Road West—you should be prepared for frequent transitions between roads. The character of the drive is defined by these local connections, requiring you to stay focused on turn-by-turn navigation as you move through the Tennessee landscape.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.1 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and I 65. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.9 miles you will encounter 19 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 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Thompson's Station, TN and Clarksville, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Clarksville is the county seat of Montgomery County, in Central Tennessee. Founded in 1784, Clarksville is one of the south's most historic cities. Today, visitors can experience that history through memorable attractions, unique historic architecture and a variety of annual festivals and events.
Steeped in history, Clarksville began as a settlement along the banks of the Cumberland and Red Rivers by Revolutionary War hero John Montgomery in the early 1780s. In 1785, Clarksville became Tennessee's first incorporated city.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 77.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.1 miles on I 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Clarksville, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clarksville, TN before heading back.
