The drive from Collierville, TN to Elizabethton, TN covers 494.9 miles and takes about 9h 10m behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 40, I 81, James H. Quillen Parkway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 392.3 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $77.37 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
247.5 miles from Collierville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 33m into the drive
.
Drive Character
This is a 9h 10m highway drive covering 494.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 392.3 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 24 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 392.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 494.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 200.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
9
200.5 mi into trip|~3h 41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsv...
9
203.6 mi into trip|~3h 45m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 211A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattan...
6
377.4 mi into trip|~6h 55m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
414.2 mi into trip|~7h 36m in|I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 North: Bristol
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Collierville, TN and Elizabethton, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Huntsville
200.5 mi in|~3h 41m
Louisville
203.1 mi in|~3h 45m|via I 40
Knoxville
203.1 mi in|~3h 45m|via I 40
Chattanooga
203.1 mi in|~3h 45m|via I 40
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
392.3 mi
7h 6m
I 81
56.6 mi
1h
James H. Quillen Parkway
15.1 mi
18m
Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway
15.1 mi
17m
University Parkway
8.4 mi
14m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
4m
East Poplar Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
North Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 392.3 mi, about 7h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Collierville, TN and Elizabethton, TN.
1
Start on North Rowlett Street
321 ft·19 sec·North Rowlett Street
2
Turn right onto North Center Street
246 ft·12 sec·North Center Street
3
Turn right onto East Mulberry Street
382 ft·21 sec·East Mulberry Street
4
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North Main Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto TN 57
1.3 mi·2 min·East Poplar Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on TN 57
0.2 mi·19 sec·TN 57
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
8
Merge onto I 269
15 mi·17 min·Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 East: Nashville
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 East: Nashville
11
Merge onto I 40
182 mi·3 hr 15 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 208AToward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, HuntsvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 40
0.5 mi·42 sec·Downtown Loop
Exit 211B; 211AToward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksville, Louisville, Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
174 mi·3 hr 9 min·I 40
Exit 211AToward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·40 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
57 mi·1 hr·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·40 sec
Exit 57AToward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
19
Merge onto I 26; US 23
15 mi·18 min·James H. Quillen Parkway
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 24Use the slight right lane.
21
Turn slight right
342 ft·8 sec
22
Merge onto US 321; SR 67
8.4 mi·14 min·University Parkway
Use the straight lane.
23
Enter roundabout
236 ft·5 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 247.5 miles from Collierville, TN, or about 4h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 392.3 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 109 miles or 2h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 247.5 miles or 4h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 247.5 miles or 4h 33m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elizabethton, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Collierville, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Collierville, TN
Aim for roughly 247 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Elizabethton, TN
Aim for roughly 247 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 109 miles from Collierville, TN.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 392.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 247.5 mi from Collierville, TN
· 4h 33m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 221.9
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
30 mi from route
~75 min detour
Free
near mile 409.6
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
148.5
1
$51.96
$23.76
Efficient EV
123.7
1
$43.30
$19.80
EV Truck/SUV
198
2
$69.29
$31.67
Gas CO2
173 kg
EV CO2
58 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Collierville, TN
Afternoon
in Collierville on Friday
Local time
1:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Elizabethton, TN
Afternoon
in Elizabethton on Friday
Local time
2:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Sparta, TN
247 mi in
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
17 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
9h 10m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Collierville, TN to Elizabethton, TN covers 494.9 miles and takes about 9h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 81, James H. Quillen Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 247 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 247.5 miles from Collierville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $77.37 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 494.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 200.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Collierville, TN and Elizabethton, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
