Origin
Clarksville, TN
Night in Clarksville on Tuesday
Local time
9:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clarksville, TN to Central, TN
Data updated 2 hours ago
Drive Time
3h 45m
Distance
173.6 mi
279 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 33m
★
6 AM
3h 46m
8 AM
4h 11m
10 AM
3h 55m
12 PM
3h 52m
3 PM
3h 56m
5 PM
4h 10m
8 PM
3h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clarksville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Central, TN
Diego Girón
Trip Overview
The drive from Clarksville, TN to Central, TN covers 173.6 miles and takes about 3h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, State Highway 48, TN 19 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 97.3 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.14 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
86.8 miles from Clarksville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 54m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 3h 45m highway drive covering 173.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and State Highway 48. The longest continuous stretch is about 97.3 miles on I 40.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 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 97.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and State Highway 48. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Main Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 173.6 miles you will encounter 20 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 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.3 miles (SR 48 Alternate / Church Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
33.3 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
SR 48 Alternate / Church Street
Turn right onto SR 48 Alternate / Church Street
Navigation decision point
5
42.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the ramp toward SR 48: Centerville
Navigation decision point
Exit 163
Toward SR 48: Centerville
5
140 mi into trip
|
~2h 51m in
Take the exit toward US 70: Brownsville, Ripley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 70: Brownsville, Ripley
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 Clarksville, TN to Central, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Ripley along the way.
Ripley
140 mi in
|
~2h 51m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 97.3 mi | 1h 44m |
| State Highway 48 | 23.4 mi | 34m |
| TN 19 | 15.7 mi | 23m |
| East Main Street | 9.5 mi | 14m |
| Center Avenue | 9.1 mi | 16m |
| State Highway 13 | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| Edith-Nankipoo Road | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| Cleveland Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 97.3 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clarksville, TN and Central, TN.
1
Start on North 2nd Street
353 ft
·
11 sec
·
North 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
58 sec
·
Main Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 41A Bypass; SR 48
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Riverside Drive
4
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn straight onto TN 13; TN 48
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Cumberland Drive
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on TN 13; TN 48
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 13
7
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 48
23 mi
·
34 min
·
State Highway 48
8
Turn left onto US 70 Business
332 ft
·
8 sec
·
West College Street
9
Turn right onto SR 48 Alternate
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Church Street
10
Continue on SR 48 Alternate
9.1 mi
·
16 min
·
Center Avenue
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 163
Toward SR 48: Centerville
12
Merge onto I 40
97 mi
·
1 hr 44 min
·
I 40
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 70: Brownsville, Ripley
14
Turn right onto US 70
9.5 mi
·
14 min
·
East Main Street
15
Enter roundabout onto TN 54
401 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Main Street
16
Continue on TN 54
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
17
Turn right onto Haralson Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Haralson Street
18
Turn right onto TN 19
16 mi
·
23 min
·
TN 19
Use the right lane.
19
Turn right onto Eastland Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Eastland Avenue
20
Turn right onto Highland Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Highland Avenue
21
Turn right onto South Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
South Jefferson Street
22
Turn left onto South Washington Street
267 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Washington Street
23
Turn right onto TN 209
461 ft
·
12 sec
·
Monroe Street
24
Turn left onto Lake Drive
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Lake Drive
25
Turn straight onto TN 208
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Cleveland Street
26
Continue on Edith-Nankipoo Road
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Edith-Nankipoo Road
27
Arrive at destination
Edith-Nankipoo Road
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 86.8 miles from Clarksville, TN, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.3 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 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.8 miles or 1h 54m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Central, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clarksville, 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 Clarksville, TN
This is one driving day of about 173.6 miles and 3h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Clarksville, 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 97.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.8 mi from Clarksville, TN · 1h 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 86.8 miles from Clarksville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.3 miles.
Arriving in Central, TN
The final approach into Central, 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 Central, 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
$27.14 one way
$54.28 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.80 | $59.60 |
| premium | $4.89 | $33.41 | $66.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.33 | $76.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.1 | 0 | $18.23 | $8.33 |
| Efficient EV | 43.4 | 0 | $15.19 | $6.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.4 | 0 | $24.30 | $11.11 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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
Central, TN
Night in Central on Tuesday
Local time
9:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
1 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 45m 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 Clarksville, TN to Central, TN covers 173.6 miles and takes about 3h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, State Highway 48, TN 19. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.8 miles from Clarksville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.14 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 173.6 miles you will encounter 20 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 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.3 miles (SR 48 Alternate / Church Street): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Clarksville, TN to Central, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Ripley along the way.
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