Origin
Arlington, TN
Late night in Arlington on Saturday
Local time
12:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arlington, TN to Columbia, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 16m
Distance
168 mi
270 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 4m
★
6 AM
3h 16m
8 AM
3h 40m
10 AM
3h 25m
12 PM
3h 22m
3 PM
3h 26m
5 PM
3h 39m
8 PM
3h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arlington, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Columbia, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Arlington, TN to Columbia, TN covers 168 miles and takes about 3h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 412, I 40, Forrest Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 99.6 miles on US 412. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.26 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84 miles from Arlington, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 168 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 16m highway drive covering 168 miles, with most of the trip on US 412 and I 40. The longest continuous stretch is about 99.6 miles on US 412.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 412 is the longest continuous segment at about 99.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 412 and I 40. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 16m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
3.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
3.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
67.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward 152: Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 93
Toward 152: Lexington
4
67.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
SR 152 / Law Road
Turn right onto SR 152 / Law Road
Navigation decision point
4
119.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m in
|
US 412
Keep slight right at fork onto US 412
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
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 Arlington, TN to Columbia, TN, road signs begin pointing toward 152: Lexington along the way.
152: Lexington
67.5 mi in
|
~1h 16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 412 | 99.6 mi | 1h 58m |
| I 40 | 64 mi | 1h 8m |
| Forrest Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Hickory Withe Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| SR 196 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Law Road | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Walker Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 7th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 412
— 99.6 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, TN and Columbia, TN.
1
Start on Walker Street
68 ft
·
3 sec
·
Walker Street
2
Continue on Forrest Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Forrest Street
3
Continue on Hickory Withe Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Hickory Withe Road
4
Continue on SR 196
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
SR 196
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
6
Merge onto I 40
64 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 93
Toward 152: Lexington
8
Turn right onto SR 152
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
Law Road
9
Turn left onto US 412
10 mi
·
11 min
·
US 412
10
Turn left onto US 412
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
US 412
11
Continue on US 412;SR 114
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
US 412;SR 114
12
Merge onto US 412; SR 114
16 mi
·
17 min
·
US 412; SR 114
13
Continue on US 412; SR 100
14 mi
·
16 min
·
US 412; SR 100
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 412
49 mi
·
59 min
·
US 412
15
Arrive at destination
West 7th Street
Trip Plan
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 84 miles from Arlington, TN, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 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 37 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, 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 168 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Arlington, 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 US 412 for about 99.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84 mi from Arlington, TN · 1h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 84 miles from Arlington, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 412 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.6 miles.
Arriving in Columbia, TN
The final approach into Columbia, TN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Columbia, TN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.26 one way
$52.53 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $28.84 | $57.68 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.33 | $64.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.09 | $74.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.4 | 0 | $17.64 | $8.06 |
| Efficient EV | 42 | 0 | $14.70 | $6.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.2 | 0 | $23.52 | $10.75 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
Columbia, TN
Late night in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
12:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 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
3h 16m 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 Columbia, TN covers 168 miles and takes about 3h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 412, I 40, Forrest Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84 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 $26.26 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 16m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.5 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Arlington, TN to Columbia, TN, road signs begin pointing toward 152: Lexington along the way.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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