This 336-mile journey from Walden, TN to Bartlett, TN is estimated to take about 6 hours and 20 minutes of driving time, making it a feasible one-day trip. You'll be navigating primarily local roads, indicated by a 0% highway share and a "turn-heavy local drive" profile. Budget approximately $51 for fuel for this drive. With only one recommended stop, you can maintain a steady pace. This route stays within the Southeast region, offering a consistent regional feel throughout your travels. Consider this a straightforward, local-focused drive for your Tennessee road trip.
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
168 miles from Walden, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
157.6 mi
2h 49m
I 24
104.9 mi
1h 57m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
53.7 mi
58m
Stage Road
5.6 mi
10m
US 27
3.3 mi
4m
Taft Highway
3.1 mi
4m
Signal Mountain Boulevard
3 mi
4m
Signal Mountain Road
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 157.6 mi, about 2h 49m
Traffic on I-24
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 9 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,974 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,367
Quietest
2 AM
~348 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Walden, TN and Bartlett, TN.
1
Start on Ivory Avenue
0.2 mi·57 sec·Ivory Avenue
2
Turn right onto Lake Avenue
0.3 mi·59 sec·Lake Avenue
3
Continue on Key-Hulse Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Key-Hulse Road
4
Turn straight onto Fairmount Pike
0.3 mi·1 min·Fairmount Pike
5
Turn straight onto US 127
3.1 mi·4 min·Taft Highway
6
Continue on US 127
3.0 mi·4 min·Signal Mountain Boulevard
7
Continue on US 127
1.6 mi·2 min·Signal Mountain Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
9
Merge onto US 27
3.3 mi·4 min·US 27
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·42 sec
Toward 24: Nashville, BirminghamUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 24
105 mi·1 hr 57 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 74AToward I 840 West: Memphis, FranklinUse the right lane.
13
Merge onto I 840
54 mi·58 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 40
158 mi·2 hr 49 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 18Toward US 64: BartlettUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward US 64: Bartlett, SomervilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto US 64
5.6 mi·10 min·Stage Road
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
TN 15
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour 20-minute drive time and the local road nature of this route, starting early in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and minimize potential delays. While this trip is designed for a single day, the single recommended stop offers a good opportunity to stretch your legs and refuel. Be prepared for frequent turns and varying speed limits as you traverse local roads. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to your GPS or navigation system, as the "turn-heavy" profile means missing a turn could significantly impact your travel time.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 168 miles from Walden, TN, or about 3h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 157.6 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 74 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 168 miles or 3h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bartlett, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Walden, 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 Walden, TN
This is one driving day of about 336 miles and 6h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Walden, 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 157.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.5 and 330.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
12.5 mi into trip|~21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 24: Nashville, Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 24: Nashville, Birmingham
5
12.9 mi into trip|~22m in|I 24
Merge onto I 24
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
117.9 mi into trip|~2h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 74A
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
7
330 mi into trip|~6h 9m in
Take the exit toward US 64: Bartlett
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 18
Toward US 64: Bartlett
9
330.2 mi into trip|~6h 9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 64: Bartlett, Somerville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 64: Bartlett, Somerville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.62 one way
$99.24 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg118 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$54.78
$109.56
premium
$4.72
$62.38
$124.77
diesel
$4.80
$63.44
$126.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 117.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
100.8
1
$35.28
$16.13
Efficient EV
84
0
$29.40
$13.44
EV Truck/SUV
134.4
1
$47.04
$21.50
Gas CO2
118 kg
EV CO2
39 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Walden, TN
Late night
in Walden on Sunday
Local time
2:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 0 to 5 mph53% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bartlett, TN
Late night
in Bartlett on Sunday
Local time
1:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
W 0 to 10 mph7% 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
3 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
6h 20m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 115.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly interactive driving experience on this route, with a "turn-heavy local drive" profile and no interstate cruising. The absence of highway driving means you'll be engaging with the road constantly, utilizing roads like Lake Avenue, Key-Hulse Road, and Fairmount Pike. Since there are no significant highway stretches, the longest uninterrupted drive segment isn't a primary concern. This drive's character is defined by its frequent changes in direction and reliance on local thoroughfares, offering a more hands-on feel behind the wheel compared to highway travel.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 157.6 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.5 miles in.
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 10 significant decision points across 336 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 12.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.9 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 117.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,905 ft278 ft
Total Climb
567 ft
Total Descent
2,194 ft
Highest Point
1,905 ft
Elevation Range
1,627 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 Walden, TN to Bartlett, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Franklin along the way.
Bartlett is a city in metropolitan Memphis, Tennessee. It has several buildings of historic interest, and a walkable Historic District". In 2018, the population of Bartlett was almost 60,000. The Trail of Tears runs along Stage Road through the city. It commemorates the forced relocations between 1830 and 1850 of approximately 60,000 Native Americans from their ancestral homelands in the Southeastern U.S. to areas west of the Mississippi River that had been designated as Indian Territory.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 20m. Total distance: 336 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 20m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 157.6 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 33 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 Bartlett, 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 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.9 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 117.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bartlett, TN before the return drive.
