Embarking on this 268-mile journey from Walden to Jackson, Tennessee, will take you approximately 5 hours and 4 minutes of driving time. This route is designed as a single-day adventure, meaning you can comfortably complete it without an overnight stop. With a projected fuel cost of around $41, it's an economical choice for exploring the Southeast region of Tennessee. The profile suggests a turn-heavy local drive, so be prepared for a more engaging experience than a straight highway cruise. This drive offers a true taste of local Tennessee roads.
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
134 miles from Walden, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
104.9 mi
1h 57m
I 40
88.8 mi
1h 35m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
53.7 mi
58m
US 70
6 mi
8m
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 24
— 104.9 mi, about 1h 57m
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 Jackson, 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
89 mi·1 hr 35 min·I 40
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 70, US 412 East
16
Turn left onto US 70
4.2 mi·6 min·US 70
17
Turn left onto US 70
1.8 mi·2 min·US 70
18
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration and local road nature, starting your drive in Walden earlier in the day is advisable to maximize daylight. While the route is manageable in one day, the frequent turns mean you might want to plan for one brief stop to stretch your legs and grab a refreshment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the 0% highway share means you'll be passing through smaller towns where gas stations might be less frequent than on major interstates. A good tip is to fill up before you leave Walden to ensure you have plenty of fuel for the initial leg of this predominantly local road journey.
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 134 miles from Walden, TN, or about 2h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.9 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 59 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134 miles or 2h 37m 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 10m
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 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 268 miles and 5h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 24 for about 104.9 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.5 and 261.2 — 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
5
118.7 mi into trip|~2h 21m 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.
5
261.2 mi into trip|~4h 54m 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
$39.58 one way
$79.15 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$43.69
$87.38
premium
$4.72
$49.76
$99.52
diesel
$4.80
$50.60
$101.21
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: 93.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.4
0
$28.14
$12.86
Efficient EV
67
0
$23.45
$10.72
EV Truck/SUV
107.2
1
$37.52
$17.15
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Walden, TN
Morning
in Walden on Sunday
Local time
6:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 1:18AM EDT by NWS Morristown TN
Destination
Jackson, TN
Late night
in Jackson on Sunday
Local time
5:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 1:18AM EDT by NWS Morristown TN
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
1 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
5h 4m 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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 120.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This isn't your typical interstate experience; expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' with a 0% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the emphasis on local roads implies frequent turns and changes in speed. You'll be navigating primarily via Lake Avenue, Key-Hulse Road, and Fairmount Pike, which suggests a winding path through communities rather than high-speed travel. The drive will likely feel intimate and connected to the landscape as you traverse these local thoroughfares.
96% 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: 104.9 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and I 40. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12.5 miles in.
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 268 miles you will encounter 9 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 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 ft402 ft
Total Climb
1,670 ft
Total Descent
3,166 ft
Highest Point
1,905 ft
Elevation Range
1,503 ft
Notable High Points
1,887 ft at ~57.4 miles+802 ft prominence
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 Jackson, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Franklin along the way.
Jackson is a city in Western Tennessee that grew as a crossroads between various railroads in the four cardinal directions. It was the major commerce center of western Tennessee around the time of its founding in 1821 because Memphis had yet to emerge as a dominant community. Jackson hasn't been without its fair share of trials and travails as it knew the systemic ordeals of slavery for cotton production and lynchings and disenfranchisement as well as other places did in the South, plus high crime and tornadoes.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 4m. Total distance: 268 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 104.9 miles on I 24. 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 Jackson, 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 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 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Jackson, TN before the return drive.
