Trip from Columbia, TN to Morristown, TN

Drive Time

4h 54m

Distance

261.3 mi

421 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$40

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 41m ★

6 AM

4h 55m

8 AM

5h 22m

10 AM

5h 4m

12 PM

5h 1m

3 PM

5h 5m

5 PM

5h 20m

8 PM

4h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Columbia, TN

Kelly

Morristown, TN

Kelly

Trip Overview

Traveling from Columbia to Morristown covers 261.3 miles across Tennessee, making for a straightforward journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 54 minutes. Because the drive is manageable within a single day, you likely won't need an overnight stop unless you prefer a slower pace. You will primarily navigate via I-40, the Tennessee National Guard Parkway, and the Andrew Johnson Highway. Budgeting around $40 for fuel should cover your transit across these southeastern regions. This route is designed for efficiency, so it is best suited for drivers who want a direct connection between these two cities without unnecessary detours.

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 24m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive, as roughly 83% of your journey takes place on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-40, which features a long, uninterrupted stretch of 158.3 miles that allows for steady cruising. While the interstate provides a fast, predictable experience, the character of the road shifts as you transition onto the Tennessee National Guard Parkway and the Andrew Johnson Highway. This combination keeps the drive moving quickly while shifting from high-speed transit to more localized highway travel. Prepare for a consistent rhythm behind the wheel, as the route is engineered for practicality rather than technical winding roads.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 20 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 158.3 miles.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,930 ft 553 ft

Total Climb

2,040 ft

Total Descent

1,385 ft

Highest Point

1,930 ft

~141.5 mi in

Elevation Range

1,377 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.1 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 261.3 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 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 21.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

9.1 mi into trip | ~11m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

21.6 mi into trip | ~25m in

Take the exit toward I 840: Memphis, Knoxville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 59A-B Toward I 840: Memphis, Knoxville

21.8 mi into trip | ~25m in

Keep slight right at fork toward 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 59A Toward 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro

67.3 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 76A Toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon

217.1 mi into trip | ~3h 58m in | I 40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Towns Along This Route

Between Columbia, TN and Morristown, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville, 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro and Lebanon.

Knoxville

21.6 mi in | ~25m

840: Knoxville

21.8 mi in | ~25m

Murfreesboro

21.8 mi in | ~25m

Lebanon

67.3 mi in | ~1h 14m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 40	158.3 mi	2h 53m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway	45 mi	48m
Andrew Johnson Highway	26.4 mi	33m
I 65	12.1 mi	12m
Bear Creek Pike	7.2 mi	8m
Asheville Highway	6 mi	7m
West Broadway Boulevard	1.4 mi	1m
Nashville Highway	1.4 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 40 — 158.3 mi, about 2h 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, TN and Morristown, TN.

Start on West 7th Street

79 ft · 6 sec · West 7th Street

Turn right onto US 31; US 412 Business

0.5 mi · 50 sec · North Garden Street

Continue on US 31; US 412 Business

1.4 mi · 2 min · Nashville Highway

Turn right onto US 412

7.2 mi · 8 min · Bear Creek Pike

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec

Merge onto I 65

12 mi · 12 min · I 65

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 17 sec

Exit 59A-B Toward I 840: Memphis, Knoxville Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 41 sec

Exit 59A Toward 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro

Merge onto I 840

45 mi · 48 min · Tennessee National Guard Parkway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min

Exit 76A Toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 40

149 mi · 2 hr 42 min · I 40

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

9.2 mi · 11 min · I 40

Use the none lane.

Take the exit onto US 25W

0.3 mi · 36 sec · US 25W

Toward US 11E, US 25W, US 70

Turn left onto US 11E; US 25W; US 70

6.0 mi · 7 min · Asheville Highway

Turn straight onto US 11E

14 mi · 15 min · Andrew Johnson Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on US 11E; SR 92

1.4 mi · 1 min · West Broadway Boulevard

Continue on US 11E

12 mi · 17 min · Andrew Johnson Highway

Continue on SR 66

0.8 mi · 1 min · West 1st North Street

Turn left onto North Henry Street

125 ft · 5 sec · North Henry Street

Arrive at destination

North Henry Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a one-day trip, plan to depart early to avoid potential traffic congestion on I-40. You only need to build in one primary stop to refresh, which keeps your schedule flexible and efficient. Keep a close watch on your fuel gauge during that 158.3-mile stretch on I-40, as you will want to ensure you have enough range before moving onto the secondary highways. By keeping your pace steady and utilizing the highway infrastructure, you can comfortably reach Morristown by late afternoon. Make sure to check local traffic reports before you leave Columbia, as highway conditions on this corridor can change quickly.

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 130.7 miles from Columbia, TN, or about 2h 24m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 158.3 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 29m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 130.7 miles or 2h 24m 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 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Morristown, 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 261.3 miles and 4h 54m.

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.

The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 158.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 130.7 mi from Columbia, TN · 2h 24m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Johnson, TN

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Hendersonville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Johnson, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 130.7 miles from Columbia, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 158.3 miles.

Arriving in Morristown, TN

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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$39.69 one way

$79.38 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 91 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$43.75	$87.50
premium	$4.80	$49.33	$98.66
diesel	$5.64	$58.05	$116.10

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$40

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$65–$90

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 91.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Columbia, TN

Evening in Columbia on Sunday

Local time

6:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Morristown, TN

Evening in Morristown on Sunday

Local time

7:26 PM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

1 hour later

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

6 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 54m 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 Morristown, TN covers 261.3 miles and takes about 4h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 40, Tennessee National Guard Parkway, Andrew Johnson Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 130.7 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 $39.69 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.

Between Columbia, TN and Morristown, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville, 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro and Lebanon.

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