Origin
Columbia, TN
Morning in Columbia on Wednesday
Local time
7:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, TN to Alcoa, TN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 9m
Distance
223.2 mi
359 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 57m
★
6 AM
4h 10m
8 AM
4h 36m
10 AM
4h 19m
12 PM
4h 16m
3 PM
4h 20m
5 PM
4h 35m
8 PM
4h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Alcoa, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Columbia, TN to Alcoa, TN covers 223.2 miles and takes about 4h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Garden Street, Nashville Highway, Bear Creek Pike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.89 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
111.6 miles from Columbia, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 4m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 9m drive with frequent turns across 223.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Garden Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 9m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbia, TN to Alcoa, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Garden Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nashville Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bear Creek Pike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 840 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 840 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 140 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Garden Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, TN and Alcoa, TN.
1
Start on West 7th Street
79 ft
·
6 sec
·
West 7th Street
2
Turn right onto North Garden Street
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Garden Street
3
Continue on Nashville Highway
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Nashville Highway
4
Turn right onto Bear Creek Pike
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Bear Creek Pike
5
Take the exit left
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
6
Merge slight left
12 mi
·
12 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 840: Memphis, Knoxville
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 840: Memphis, Knoxville
8
Keep slight right to continue on 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro
9
Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway
45 mi
·
48 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
10
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
11
Merge slight left
140 mi
·
2 hr 32 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 140 East, Primary SR 162 North: Oak Ridge, Maryville
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
I 140 East, Primary SR 162 North: Oak Ridge, Maryville
13
Keep slight right to continue on I 140 East: Maryville
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 140 East: Maryville
14
Merge slight left onto Pellissippi Parkway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Pellissippi Parkway
15
Take the exit slight right toward US 129 South: Alcoa, Maryville
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
US 129 South: Alcoa, Maryville
16
Merge slight left onto Alcoa Highway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Alcoa Highway
17
Take the exit slight left
331 ft
·
10 sec
18
Turn left onto North Wright Road
2.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North Wright Road
19
At the end of the road, turn right onto East Edison Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
East Edison Street
20
At the end of the road, turn left onto Springbrook Road
95 ft
·
3 sec
·
Springbrook Road
21
Turn left onto Springbrook Road
115 ft
·
5 sec
·
Springbrook Road
22
Continue on Springbrook Road
39 ft
·
1 sec
·
Springbrook Road
23
Arrive at your destination
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 111.6 miles from Columbia, TN, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.6 miles or 2h 4m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alcoa, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Columbia, 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 Columbia, TN
This is one driving day of about 223.2 miles and 4h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Columbia, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 111.6 mi from Columbia, TN · 2h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
112 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 111.6 miles from Columbia, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Alcoa, TN
The final approach into Alcoa, 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 Alcoa, 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
$34.89 one way
$69.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $38.31 | $76.63 |
| premium | $4.89 | $42.95 | $85.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $49.28 | $98.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67 | 0 | $23.44 | $10.71 |
| Efficient EV | 55.8 | 0 | $19.53 | $8.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89.3 | 1 | $31.25 | $14.28 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Alcoa, TN
Morning in Alcoa on Wednesday
Local time
8:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
15 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
4h 9m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Columbia, TN to Alcoa, TN covers 223.2 miles and takes about 4h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Garden Street, Nashville Highway, Bear Creek Pike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 111.6 miles from Columbia, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.89 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 9m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbia, TN to Alcoa, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Columbia, TN to Alcoa, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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