The drive from Bedford, TN to Hendersonville, TN covers 79.6 miles and takes about 1h 38m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 24, Florida Short Route, Shelbyville Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 40.5 miles on I 24.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.44 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.
Midpoint
39.8 miles from Bedford, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 79.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Bedford, TN to Hendersonville, TN covers 79.6 miles and takes about 1h 38m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 24 is the longest continuous segment at about 40.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 30.6 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 30.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.2 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
30.6 mi into trip|~39m in
Turn left toward US 231 South: Shelbyville, Calsonic Arena, Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 231 South: Shelbyville, Calsonic Aren...
9
60 mi into trip|~1h 12m in|I 24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 24 toward I 24West, I 40 West: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 52A
Toward I 24West, I 40 West: Nashville
9
62.2 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|I 24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24 toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 211
Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
9
74 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard toward SR 386: Hendersonville, Gallatin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 95
Toward SR 386: Hendersonville, Gallatin
9
76.7 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center, Hendersonville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center, Hend...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bedford, TN and Hendersonville, TN, road signs point toward Calsonic Arena, Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, Louisville and Gallatin.
Calsonic Arena
30.6 mi in|~39m
Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
30.6 mi in|~39m
Louisville
62.2 mi in|~1h 14m|via I 24
Gallatin
74 mi in|~1h 29m|via TN 386
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
40.5 mi
46m
Florida Short Route
9.2 mi
10m
Shelbyville Highway
8.6 mi
9m
SR 64
6.6 mi
9m
South Church Street
2.7 mi
4m
West Main Street
2.7 mi
4m
Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
2.4 mi
2m
North Main Street
2.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 40.5 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bedford, TN and Hendersonville, TN.
1
Start on SR 64
6.6 mi·9 min·SR 64
2
Merge onto US 231; SR 64; SR 130
1.0 mi·1 min·South Cannon Boulevard
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 231 Business; SR 82
2.4 mi·3 min·North Main Street
4
Continue on US 231; SR 82
9.2 mi·10 min·Florida Short Route
5
Continue on US 231; SR 269
8.6 mi·9 min·Shelbyville Highway
6
Continue on US 231
2.7 mi·4 min·South Church Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward US 231 South: Shelbyville, Calsonic Arena, Tennessee Walking Horse National CelebrationUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 24
29 mi·32 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 24
2.2 mi·2 min·I 24
Exit 52AToward I 24West, I 40 West: NashvilleUse the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24
0.3 mi·28 sec·I 24
Exit 211Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, LouisvilleUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 24
2.3 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 24
9.0 mi·10 min·I 24
Exit 46AToward I 24 West, I 65 North: Clarksville, LouisvilleUse the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Continue on I 65
0.2 mi·14 sec·I 65
14
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 386
2.4 mi·2 min·Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
Exit 95Toward SR 386: Hendersonville, GallatinUse the slight right lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 2Toward Center Point Road, HendersonvilleUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
163 ft·6 sec
Toward Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center, HendersonvilleUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto Center Point Road
0.2 mi·38 sec·Center Point Road
18
Turn left onto US 31E
2.7 mi·4 min·West Main Street
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto Walton Ferry Road
53 ft·1 sec·Walton Ferry Road
20
Arrive at destination
Walton Ferry Road
Trip Plan
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 39.8 miles from Bedford, TN, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.5 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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.8 miles or 49m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hendersonville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bedford, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bedford, TN
This is one driving day of about 79.6 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Bedford, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 24 for about 40.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.8 mi from Bedford, TN
· 49m into the drive
The midpoint is around 39.8 miles from Bedford, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hendersonville, TN
The final approach into Hendersonville, TN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.44 one way
$24.89 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.66
$27.33
premium
$4.89
$15.32
$30.64
diesel
$5.61
$17.57
$35.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.9
0
$8.36
$3.82
Efficient EV
19.9
0
$6.96
$3.18
EV Truck/SUV
31.8
0
$11.14
$5.09
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Bedford, TN
Evening
in Bedford on Friday
Local time
5:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hendersonville, TN
Evening
in Hendersonville on Friday
Local time
5:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°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
4 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
1h 38m 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 Bedford, TN to Hendersonville, TN covers 79.6 miles and takes about 1h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 24, Florida Short Route, Shelbyville Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.8 miles from Bedford, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.44 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79.6 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 30.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.2 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Bedford, TN and Hendersonville, TN, road signs point toward Calsonic Arena, Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, Louisville and Gallatin.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Stones River 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.
