Drive Time
4h 54m
Distance
261.3 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
The drive from Columbia, TN to Morristown, TN covers 261.3 miles and takes about 4h 54m 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 $38.79 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
130.7 miles from Columbia, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 27m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 54m drive with frequent turns across 261.3 miles of local and secondary 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 |
| US 11E | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, TN and Morristown, TN.
Start on West 7th Street
Turn right onto North Garden Street
Continue on Nashville Highway
Turn right onto Bear Creek Pike
Take the exit left
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I 840: Memphis, Knoxville
Keep slight right to continue on 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro
Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
Merge slight left
Keep slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 11E, US 25W, US 70
Turn left onto Asheville Highway
Turn straight onto Andrew Johnson Highway
Continue on West Broadway Boulevard
Continue on Andrew Johnson Highway
Continue on West 1st North Street
Turn left onto North Henry Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.7 miles or 2h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Morristown, TN than in the middle of the route.
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 261.3 miles and 4h 54m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 130.7 mi from Columbia, TN · 2h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
131 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 130.7 miles from Columbia, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Morristown, 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 Morristown, TN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$38.79 one way
$77.59 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $43.75 | $87.50 |
| premium | $4.65 | $47.88 | $95.76 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $54.56 | $109.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.4 | 0 | $27.44 | $12.54 |
| Efficient EV | 65.3 | 0 | $22.86 | $10.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 104.5 | 1 | $36.58 | $16.72 |
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
5:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Morristown on Saturday
Local time
6:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
61°F
Johnson, TN
131 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.
Time zone
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Explore more options from Columbia, TN or browse trips ending in Morristown, TN.
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