Traveling from Thompson's Station to Jackson covers 124.9 miles across the Southeast, typically taking about 1 hour and 57 minutes of driving time. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $19 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating this route involves primarily local roads like Thompsons Station Road West, Columbia Pike, and the Tennessee National Guard Parkway. Since the entire trip is within Tennessee, you will remain in the Southeast region for the duration of your drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
63.9 miles from Thompson's Station, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
88.8 mi
1h 35m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
28.9 mi
31m
US 70
6 mi
8m
Columbia Pike
2.1 mi
3m
East Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Thompsons Station Road West
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 88.8 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thompson's Station, TN and Jackson, 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
2.1 mi·3 min·Columbia Pike
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
5
Merge onto I 840
29 mi·31 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 40
89 mi·1 hr 35 min·I 40
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 70, US 412 East
8
Turn left onto US 70
4.2 mi·6 min·US 70
9
Turn left onto US 70
1.8 mi·2 min·US 70
10
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
11
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward, sub-two-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops for such a short duration, but keeping your gas tank filled is still a smart move given the $19 fuel estimate. Pay close attention to the transitions between Thompsons Station Road West and the Tennessee National Guard Parkway, as the turn-heavy nature of the route can be disorienting. If you are traveling during peak hours, factor in a little extra time for local traffic congestion. Use the lack of designated stops as an opportunity to head out whenever it best suits your personal schedule.
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 63.9 miles from Thompson's Station, TN, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.8 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 28 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.9 miles or 1h 11m 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 55m
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 Thompson's Station, 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 Thompson's Station, TN
This is one driving day of about 127.8 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 40 for about 88.8 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 120.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|Thompsons Station Road West
At end of road, turn left onto Thompsons Station Road West
Navigation decision point
3
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|US 31 / Columbia Pike
Turn left onto US 31 / Columbia Pike
Navigation decision point
5
3.2 mi into trip|~5m in|I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge onto I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
32.1 mi into trip|~37m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
120.9 mi into trip|~2h 12m 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
$19.98 one way
$39.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.94
$43.87
premium
$4.89
$24.59
$49.19
diesel
$5.61
$28.22
$56.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.3
0
$13.42
$6.13
Efficient EV
32
0
$11.18
$5.11
EV Truck/SUV
51.1
0
$17.89
$8.18
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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 15, 2026
Origin
Thompson's Station, TN
Late night
in Thompson's Station on Sunday
Local time
2:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, TN
Late night
in Jackson on Sunday
Local time
2:50 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
26 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
2h 22m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route has a highway share of 0%. You will spend your time navigating local roads, which requires more attention than a standard highway commute. Because the road is composed entirely of local stretches, there is no single long, uninterrupted highway segment to settle into. Instead, the character of the drive is defined by frequent turns and changing road conditions. Staying alert is essential as you transition between the various local thoroughfares that connect these two communities.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Thompsons Station Road West.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Thompson's Station, TN to Jackson, TN is easy. At 2h 22m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (Thompsons Station Road West): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 31 / Columbia Pike): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 22m. Total distance: 127.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 88.8 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 0.4 miles (Thompsons Station Road West): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 31 / Columbia Pike): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jackson, TN before heading back.
