This 100-mile drive from Arlington to Jackson, Tennessee, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 8 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, requiring just one day of travel with no need to split the journey. The route is predominantly highway, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B. Expect a fuel cost of around $16 for this journey. Since both your origin and destination are in the Southeast region, you'll experience a consistent regional feel throughout.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50 miles from Arlington, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 100 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 96% of the journey taking place on interstates and state highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-40, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 55.8 miles. While the majority is highway driving, there are brief moments on State Highway 13 and US 70 that may offer a slight change of pace. Overall, anticipate a consistent driving experience primarily on well-maintained, high-speed roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 55.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and State Highway 13. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Arlington Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Arlington, TN to Jackson, TN is easy. At 2h 8m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Arlington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SR 49 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (TN 13 / State Highway 13): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Arlington Street
Turn left onto Arlington Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 49 / West Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto SR 49 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
2.4 mi into trip|~6m in|TN 13 / State Highway 13
Turn right onto TN 13 / State Highway 13
Navigation decision point
3
37.2 mi into trip|~58m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
93.2 mi into trip|~1h 58m 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
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
55.8 mi
59m
State Highway 13
34.3 mi
50m
US 70
6 mi
8m
West Main Street
2.3 mi
5m
East Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
North Church Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Arlington Street
0.1 mi
<1m
West Roby Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 55.8 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TN and Jackson, TN.
1
Start on West Roby Street
29 ft·6 sec·West Roby Street
2
Turn left onto Arlington Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·Arlington Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto SR 49
2.3 mi·5 min·West Main Street
4
Turn right onto TN 13
19 mi·28 min·State Highway 13
5
Continue on TN 13
0.5 mi·48 sec·North Church Street
6
Continue on TN 13
15 mi·22 min·State Highway 13
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
8
Merge onto I 40
56 mi·59 min·I 40
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 70, US 412 East
10
Turn left onto US 70
4.2 mi·6 min·US 70
11
Turn left onto US 70
1.8 mi·2 min·US 70
12
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
13
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
With a short 2-hour duration, this route offers flexibility for departure times. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your day at your destination, or depart later if you prefer a more relaxed start. There are no specific stops recommended, so plan your fuel and rest breaks as needed, perhaps around the halfway point or when you feel the need. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a break is nearly 56 miles on I-40, ensuring you're prepared.
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 50 miles from Arlington, TN, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 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 22 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50 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 46m
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 Arlington, 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 Arlington, TN
This is one driving day of about 100 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Arlington, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 55.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50 mi from Arlington, TN
· 1h 11m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
National Battlefield
Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donels...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.63 one way
$31.27 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.17
$34.33
premium
$4.89
$19.24
$38.49
diesel
$5.61
$22.08
$44.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30
0
$10.50
$4.80
Efficient EV
25
0
$8.75
$4.00
EV Truck/SUV
40
0
$14.00
$6.40
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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
Arlington, TN
Evening
in Arlington on Friday
Local time
6:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, TN
Evening
in Jackson on Friday
Local time
6:44 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Waverly, TN
50 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 8m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Arlington, TN to Jackson, TN covers 100 miles and takes about 2h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, State Highway 13, US 70. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50 miles from Arlington, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.63 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Arlington, TN to Jackson, TN is easy. At 2h 8m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Arlington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SR 49 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (TN 13 / State Highway 13): Navigation decision point.
The route from Arlington, TN to Jackson, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Fort Donelson National Battlefield.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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.
