Trip from Chapel Hill, TN to Clarksville, TN

Drive Time

2h 37m

Distance

117.5 mi

189 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 27m ★
6 AM
2h 38m
8 AM
2h 59m
10 AM
2h 45m
12 PM
2h 43m
3 PM
2h 46m
5 PM
2h 58m
8 PM
2h 32m

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

Downtown Chapel Hill, TN, TN

Chapel Hill, TN

Andy Staver

Downtown Clarksville, TN, TN

Clarksville, TN

Kelly

Trip Overview

Traveling from Chapel Hill to Clarksville covers 117.5 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 37 minutes. This straightforward journey stays within Tennessee, connecting the Southeast region through a mix of interstate and local roads. Because the travel time is manageable, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $18 on fuel for the round trip, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a visit, the route offers a reliable path that balances highway travel with local navigation.

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

58.8 miles from Chapel Hill, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .

Drive Character

This highway-focused drive relies on a 61% highway share to keep you moving toward your destination. You will spend time navigating sections of I-40, North Main Street, and South Broad Street as you transition between the two cities. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-40, where you can settle in for 55 miles of consistent interstate driving. As you move off the main highway stretches, the road personality shifts to local thoroughfares, requiring you to adjust your pace accordingly. It is a functional drive that trades scenic variety for the efficiency of major roadway connections.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and North Main Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Joe Horton Road.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 2h 37m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Joe Horton Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.2 miles (SR 459 / Lexington Bypass): Navigation decision point; at 7.5 miles (TN 22 / South Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Joe Horton Road

At end of road, turn right onto Joe Horton Road

Navigation decision point

5
6.2 mi into trip | ~11m in | SR 459 / Lexington Bypass

At end of road, turn right onto SR 459 / Lexington Bypass

Navigation decision point

7
7.5 mi into trip | ~13m in | TN 22 / South Broad Street

At end of road, turn left onto TN 22 / South Broad Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
6
74.6 mi into trip | ~1h 30m in

Take the exit toward SR 48: Centerville, Dickson

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 163 Toward SR 48: Centerville, Dickson
6
115.7 mi into trip | ~2h 34m in | US 41A Bypass; SR 48 / South Riverside Drive

Turn left onto US 41A Bypass; SR 48 / South Riverside Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Towns Along This Route

Between Chapel Hill, TN and Clarksville, TN, road signs point toward Primary Sr 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington, Huntingdon and Dickson.

Primary Sr 22: Parkers Crossroad

19.4 mi in | ~31m

Lexington

19.4 mi in | ~31m

Huntingdon

19.4 mi in | ~31m

Dickson

74.6 mi in | ~1h 30m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 55 mi 58m
North Main Street 23.4 mi 33m
South Broad Street 11.9 mi 17m
SR 48 9.3 mi 16m
State Highway 13 7.6 mi 11m
Life Road 5.8 mi 10m
South Riverside Drive 1.5 mi 2m
Lexington Bypass 1.3 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 55 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chapel Hill, TN and Clarksville, TN.

1

Start on this road

0.2 mi · 44 sec · this road
2

At end of road, turn right onto Joe Horton Road

0.2 mi · 41 sec · Joe Horton Road
3

Turn right onto SR 200

0.8 mi · 1 min · Life Road
4

Continue on SR 200

5.0 mi · 8 min · Life Road
5

At end of road, turn right onto SR 459

1.3 mi · 2 min · Lexington Bypass
6

At end of road, turn left onto TN 22

12 mi · 17 min · South Broad Street
Use the none lane.
7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington, Huntingdon
8

Merge onto I 40

55 mi · 58 min · I 40
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 163 Toward SR 48: Centerville, Dickson
10

Turn left onto SR 48

9.3 mi · 16 min · SR 48
11

Turn left onto US 70 Business

332 ft · 8 sec · West College Street
12

Turn right onto SR 48

23 mi · 33 min · North Main Street
13

Continue on TN 13; TN 48

7.6 mi · 11 min · State Highway 13
14

Continue on TN 13; TN 48

0.5 mi · 1 min · Cumberland Drive
Use the none lane.
15

Turn left onto US 41A Bypass; SR 48

1.5 mi · 2 min · South Riverside Drive
Use the left lane.
16

Turn right onto SR 48

0.2 mi · 28 sec · College Street
Use the none lane.
17

Turn right onto North 2nd Street

134 ft · 2 sec · North 2nd Street
18

Arrive at destination

North 2nd Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns. You only need to build in one planned stop to keep the 2-hour and 37-minute duration comfortable. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longer interstate segments, as the $18 cost estimate assumes steady driving conditions. Because this route utilizes both I-40 and local streets like North Main and South Broad, stay alert for transitions between high-speed highway traffic and slower town driving. Prioritizing a mid-morning or mid-afternoon departure can help you avoid the heaviest congestion on the more urban portions of the drive.

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58.8 miles from Chapel Hill, TN, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55 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 80 miles or 1h 40m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 58.8 miles or 1h 13m 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 5m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarksville, TN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Chapel Hill, 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 Chapel Hill, TN

This is one driving day of about 117.5 miles and 2h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chapel Hill, 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 I 40 for about 55 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 58.8 mi from Chapel Hill, TN · 1h 13m into the drive

Downtown Franklin, TN, TN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Franklin, TN

59 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

Franklin, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Franklin, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 58.8 miles from Chapel Hill, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Clarksville, TN

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.85 one way

$35.69 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 41 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $19.67 $39.35
premium $4.80 $22.18 $44.36
diesel $5.64 $26.10 $52.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 41.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 35.3 0 $12.34 $5.64
Efficient EV 29.4 0 $10.28 $4.70
EV Truck/SUV 47 0 $16.45 $7.52

Gas CO2

41 kg

EV CO2

14 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Chapel Hill, TN

Evening in Chapel Hill on Sunday

Local time

6:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clarksville, TN

Evening in Clarksville on Sunday

Local time

6:32 PM

CDT

Current temp

63°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

2 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

2h 37m 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 Chapel Hill, TN to Clarksville, TN covers 117.5 miles and takes about 2h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, North Main Street, South Broad 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 58.8 miles from Chapel Hill, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.85 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.
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 2h 37m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Joe Horton Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.2 miles (SR 459 / Lexington Bypass): Navigation decision point; at 7.5 miles (TN 22 / South Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Chapel Hill, TN and Clarksville, TN, road signs point toward Primary Sr 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington, Huntingdon and Dickson.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Clarksville, TN to Chapel Hill, TN

Plan the drive back the other way.

117.4 mi 2h 38m

Explore more options from Chapel Hill, TN or browse trips ending in Clarksville, TN.

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