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Drive Time
3h 48m
Distance
167.5 mi
270 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brighton, TN
Kelly
Clarksville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Brighton, TN to Clarksville, TN covers 167.5 miles and takes about 3h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Austin Peay Memorial Highway, Main Street, US 70A for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37.4 miles on Austin Peay Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.19 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
83.7 miles from Brighton, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 6m into the drive .
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The drive from Brighton, TN to Clarksville, TN covers 167.5 miles and takes about 3h 48m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Old Highway 51.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 167.5 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 0.3 miles (Old Highway 51): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 1.1 miles (US 51): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles (TN 54 / South Maple Street): Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn sharp right onto Old Highway 51
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Merge onto US 51
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto TN 54 / South Maple Street
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto TN 54 / North Washington Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Keep slight left at fork onto US 79 / East Main Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Austin Peay Memorial Highway | 37.4 mi | 42m |
| Main Street | 29.8 mi | 36m |
| US 70A | 24.1 mi | 35m |
| State Route 54 | 21.7 mi | 32m |
| East Main Street | 16.4 mi | 24m |
| Paris Bypass | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| US 51 | 6.5 mi | 10m |
| West Van Hook Street | 3.6 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between Brighton, TN and Clarksville, TN.
Start on East Kenwood Avenue
Turn sharp right onto Old Highway 51
Continue on Old State Route 51
Merge onto US 51
Continue on US 51; TN 59
Turn right onto TN 54
Turn left onto TN 54
Turn right onto TN 54
Continue on TN 54
Enter roundabout onto TN 54
Continue on TN 54
Continue on US 70A; US 79
Turn left onto US 70A; US 79
Continue on US 70A; US 79
Continue on US 70A; US 79
Continue on US 70A; US 79
Continue on US 70A; US 79
Continue on US 70A; US 79
Continue on US 70A; US 79
Continue on US 70A; US 79
Turn left onto US 70A; US 79
Continue on US 70A; US 79
Keep slight left at fork onto US 79
Continue on US 79
Turn right onto SR 218
Turn right onto US 79; SR 218
Continue on US 79
Continue on US 79
Continue on US 79
Continue on US 79
Continue on US 79
Merge onto US 41A; US 79
Continue on US 41A; US 79
Continue on US 41A; US 79
Arrive at destination
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.
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 80 miles or 2h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.7 miles or 2h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarksville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Brighton, 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 Brighton, TN
This is one driving day of about 167.5 miles and 3h 48m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83.7 mi from Brighton, TN · 2h 6m 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 83.7 miles from Brighton, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Clarksville, 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 Clarksville, TN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$26.19 one way
$52.37 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $28.75 | $57.50 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.23 | $64.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.98 | $73.96 |
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: 58.6 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 | 50.3 | 0 | $17.59 | $8.04 |
| Efficient EV | 41.9 | 0 | $14.66 | $6.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67 | 0 | $23.45 | $10.72 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Brighton on Tuesday
Local time
10:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Night in Clarksville on Tuesday
Local time
10:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Cloudy
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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