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 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lake Avenue
—
—
Key-Hulse Road
—
—
Fairmount Pike
—
—
Taft Highway
—
—
Signal Mountain Boulevard
—
—
Signal Mountain Road
—
—
24
—
—
I 840 West
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Lake Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Walden, TN and Jackson, TN.
1
Start on Ivory Avenue
0.2 mi·58 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 Taft Highway
3.1 mi·4 min·Taft Highway
6
Continue on Signal Mountain Boulevard
3.0 mi·4 min·Signal Mountain Boulevard
7
Continue on Signal Mountain Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Signal Mountain Road
8
Take the ramp slight right
0.3 mi·45 sec
9
Merge slight left
3.3 mi·4 min
10
Keep slight right to continue on 24: Nashville, Birmingham
0.4 mi·42 sec·24: Nashville, Birmingham
11
Merge slight left
105 mi·1 hr 57 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
0.9 mi·1 min·I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
13
Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway
54 mi·58 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
14
Merge slight left
89 mi·1 hr 35 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward US 70, US 412 East
0.1 mi·17 sec·US 70, US 412 East
16
Turn left
4.2 mi·6 min
17
Turn left
1.8 mi·2 min
18
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
19
Arrive at your destination
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 32m into the drive.
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 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134 miles or 2h 32m 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 9m
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.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.90 one way
$83.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$46.00
$92.01
premium
$4.89
$51.57
$103.15
diesel
$5.61
$59.17
$118.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
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, 2026-04-13.
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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Walden, TN
Late night
in Walden on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, TN
Night
in Jackson on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Winchester, TN
134 mi in
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
8 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
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.
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.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Lake Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 4m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Walden, TN to Jackson, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
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.
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.
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.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Walden, TN to Jackson, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
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.
