Clarksville, TN to Oakland, TN is 181.2 miles and takes about 3h 42m via I 40 and State Highway 48, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, taking you from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on major highways, making it a good option when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. Expect a high percentage of highway driving, so pack some podcasts or audiobooks. With a duration under four hours, it's easily manageable as a single-day journey.
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
90.6 miles from Clarksville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
127.6 mi
2h 17m
State Highway 48
23.4 mi
34m
Center Avenue
9.1 mi
16m
TN 194
8.3 mi
14m
State Highway 13
7.6 mi
11m
TN 59
2.3 mi
3m
South Riverside Drive
1.3 mi
2m
Cumberland Drive
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 127.6 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clarksville, TN and Oakland, 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 163Toward SR 48: Centerville
12
Merge onto I 40
128 mi·2 hr 17 min·I 40
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 35Toward Primary SR 59: Covington, Somerville
14
Turn sharp left onto TN 59
2.3 mi·3 min·TN 59
15
Turn right onto TN 194
8.3 mi·14 min·TN 194
16
Arrive at destination
SR 194
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of around 3 hours and 42 minutes, this trip is best suited for a single-day excursion. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive at your destination well before evening. While the longest stretch on I 40 is over 127 miles, you'll encounter opportunities for fuel and rest along the way, so plan your stops accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer highway segments, to avoid any unnecessary delays. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility in your timing.
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 90.6 miles from Clarksville, TN, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 127.6 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 40 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.6 miles or 1h 58m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakland, 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 181.2 miles and 3h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 127.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 170.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
6
170.4 mi into trip|~3h 24m in
Take the exit toward Primary SR 59: Covington, Somerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 35
Toward Primary SR 59: Covington, Somerville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.33 one way
$56.66 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.10
$62.21
premium
$4.89
$34.87
$69.74
diesel
$5.61
$40.01
$80.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.4
0
$19.03
$8.70
Efficient EV
45.3
0
$15.85
$7.25
EV Truck/SUV
72.5
0
$25.37
$11.60
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Clarksville, TN
Afternoon
in Clarksville on Saturday
Local time
2:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Oakland, TN
Afternoon
in Oakland on Saturday
Local time
2:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
24 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 42m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 93% of the drive on major roads like I 40 and State Highway 48. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including a significant 127.6-mile segment on I 40. The character of the drive is primarily about covering distance efficiently rather than a winding, scenic exploration. While Center Avenue is mentioned, the dominant feel will be that of a high-speed transit between cities, with the landscape likely passing by quickly.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 127.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and State Highway 48. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Main Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 42m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clarksville, TN and Oakland, TN, road signs point toward Primary Sr 59: Covington and Somerville.
Primary Sr 59: Covington
170.4 mi in|~3h 24m
Somerville
170.4 mi in|~3h 24m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 42m. Total distance: 181.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The drive from Clarksville, TN to Oakland, TN covers 181.2 miles and takes about 3h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, State Highway 48, Center Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 90.6 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 $28.33 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 42m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
Between Clarksville, TN and Oakland, TN, road signs point toward Primary Sr 59: Covington and Somerville.
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.
