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Trip from Waverly, TN to Nashville, TN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 27m

Distance

65.9 mi

106 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 20m ★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Tennessee, United States

Waverly, TN

Wikimedia Commons

capital and largest city of Tennessee, United States

Nashville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Waverly, TN to Nashville, TN is 65.9 miles and takes about 1h 27m via I 40 and US 70, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive connects two points within the Southeast region, specifically within Tennessee. It's a short hop, making it ideal for a quick transition or a day trip without much fuss. You'll mostly be on major highways, so expect a functional and direct journey rather than a winding scenic adventure. Consider this route when you need to get from Waverly to Nashville efficiently.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 34.8 mi 37m
US 70 21.6 mi 32m
SR 46 4.6 mi 6m
West College Street 1.5 mi 2m
East Main Street 1.2 mi 2m
Downtown Loop 0.6 mi <1m
Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard 0.5 mi 1m
7th Avenue North 0.2 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 34.8 mi, about 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waverly, TN and Nashville, TN.

1

Start on Mill Street

253 ft · 16 sec · Mill Street
2

At end of road, turn left onto North Court Square

330 ft · 8 sec · North Court Square
3

Continue on East Main Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
4

Turn left onto East Acre Avenue

114 ft · 6 sec · East Acre Avenue
5

Turn right onto US 70

22 mi · 32 min · US 70
6

Continue on US 70 Business

1.5 mi · 2 min · West College Street
7

Turn right onto SR 46

4.6 mi · 6 min · SR 46
Use the left lane.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Use the left lane.
9

Merge onto I 40

35 mi · 37 min · I 40
Use the straight lane.
10

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 208A Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11

Merge onto I 40; I 65

0.6 mi · 47 sec · Downtown Loop
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Exit 209 Toward US 70: Charlotte Avenue, Demonbreun Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on 12th Avenue North

200 ft · 12 sec · 12th Avenue North
Use the left / straight lanes.
14

Turn left onto US 70

329 ft · 7 sec · Charlotte Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
15

Continue on Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard

0.5 mi · 1 min · Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
16

Turn left onto 7th Avenue North

0.2 mi · 1 min · 7th Avenue North
17

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Burns, TN, TN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Burns, TN

33 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Burns, TN to Nashville, TN

35.7 mi · 45m

Pacing Suggestions

McEwen, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Burns, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 33 miles from Waverly, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 24.4 and 65.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
24.4 mi into trip | ~37m in | SR 46

Turn right onto SR 46

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
29 mi into trip | ~44m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
9
64 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 208A Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsv...
8
64.9 mi into trip | ~1h 23m in

Take the exit toward US 70: Charlotte Avenue, Demonbreun Street

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 209 Toward US 70: Charlotte Avenue, Demonbreun Stre...
7
65.1 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in | US 70 / Charlotte Avenue

Turn left onto US 70 / Charlotte Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.30 one way

$20.61 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $11.31 $22.62
premium $4.89 $12.68 $25.36
diesel $5.61 $14.55 $29.10

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 23.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.8 0 $6.92 $3.16
Efficient EV 16.5 0 $5.77 $2.64
EV Truck/SUV 26.4 0 $9.23 $4.22

Gas CO2

23 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (65% 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

Waverly, TN

Night in Waverly on Saturday

Local time

11:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Nashville, TN

Night in Nashville on Saturday

Local time

11:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

76°F

Burns, TN

33 mi in

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

24 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

1h 27m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This is a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the journey utilizing major roads like I 40 and US 70. You'll experience a significant stretch of 34.8 miles on I 40, offering a consistent pace. The route is predominantly straightforward, designed for efficient travel. While it's primarily highway, the inclusion of US 70 and SR 46 might introduce brief moments of more local road conditions, but the overall character remains that of a quick connection.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.8 mi on I 40.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.4 miles in near SR 46.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 24.4 miles (SR 46): Lane positioning matters here; at 29 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 64 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 65.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 34.8 miles on I 40. 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 Nashville, 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 24.4 miles (SR 46): Lane positioning matters here; at 29 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 64 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Stones River National Battlefield and Fort Donelson 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 Nashville, TN before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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