Trip from Crossville, TN to Clarksville, TN

Drive Time

3h

Distance

158.2 mi

255 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 49m ★
6 AM
3h 0m
8 AM
3h 23m
10 AM
3h 8m
12 PM
3h 6m
3 PM
3h 9m
5 PM
3h 22m
8 PM
2h 53m

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

Downtown Crossville, TN, TN

Crossville, TN

Kelly

Downtown Clarksville, TN, TN

Clarksville, TN

Kelly

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Crossville to Clarksville, you are looking at a 158.2-mile journey across Tennessee. Expect to spend about three hours behind the wheel, making this a straightforward, one-day drive that does not require an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize I-40 and I-24 before finishing your trek via Madison Street. With a fuel budget of approximately $24, this trip is quite economical for a solo traveler or a small group. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick getaway, the route is designed for efficiency rather than leisure. Since both cities are located within the Southeast, the drive maintains a consistent regional feel throughout.

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

79.1 miles from Crossville, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .

Drive Character

This 158.2-mile route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 92% of your time spent on major interstates. You should be prepared for a significant, uninterrupted stretch of 106.3 miles while navigating I-40. The drive feels like a classic interstate grind, prioritizing speed and direct access over winding backroads. As you transition from the initial highway segments onto the local approach of Madison Street, the pace shifts from high-speed cruising to city navigation. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that rewards drivers who prefer staying on consistent, well-marked thoroughfares.

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 106.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in near I 40.

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 158.2 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 4.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.4 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.

5
4.1 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 40

Merge onto I 40

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
108.2 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in | I 40

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville

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

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Exit 213B Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
9
110.4 mi into trip | ~2h 2m in | I 24

Keep slight right at fork onto I 24 toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 211 Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
7
115.2 mi into trip | ~2h 8m in | I 24

Take the exit onto I 24 toward I 24 West: Clarksville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 88 Toward I 24 West: Clarksville
6
152.8 mi into trip | ~2h 50m in | US 41A / Madison Street

Turn right onto US 41A / Madison Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Crossville, TN to Clarksville, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Louisville along the way.

Louisville

110.4 mi in | ~2h 2m | via I 24

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 106.3 mi 1h 55m
I 24 36.4 mi 40m
Madison Street 4.7 mi 8m
North Main Street 3.9 mi 6m
TN 76 3.4 mi 3m
Downtown Loop 2.3 mi 3m
University Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
College Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 106.3 mi, about 1h 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Crossville, TN and Clarksville, TN.

1

Start on US 127

3.9 mi · 6 min · North Main Street
2

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
3

Merge onto I 40

104 mi · 1 hr 52 min · I 40
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
4

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

2.1 mi · 3 min · I 40
Exit 213B Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
5

Keep slight right at fork onto I 24

0.3 mi · 28 sec · I 24
Exit 211 Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville Use the slight right lane.
6

Merge onto I 24

2.3 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on I 24

2.1 mi · 2 min · I 24
Exit 46A Toward I 24 West, I 65 North: Clarksville, Louisville Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
8

Take the exit onto I 24

34 mi · 36 min · I 24
Exit 88 Toward I 24 West: Clarksville Use the slight left / straight lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward TN 76
10

Keep slight left at fork

283 ft · 9 sec
11

Continue on TN 76

3.4 mi · 3 min · TN 76
12

Turn right onto US 41A

4.7 mi · 8 min · Madison Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13

Turn right onto US 41A

0.4 mi · 44 sec · University Avenue
14

At end of road, turn left onto US 41A; SR 48

0.3 mi · 45 sec · College Street
15

Turn left onto North 2nd Street

134 ft · 2 sec · North 2nd Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
16

Arrive at destination

North 2nd Street

Trip Plan

Because this is a three-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though hitting the road early helps you avoid peak traffic congestion. Plan for at least one stop during the drive to stretch your legs and refresh, especially since you will be spending the vast majority of your time on the interstate. Keep your $24 fuel budget in mind when planning your refueling stops, as prices can fluctuate near major interchanges. Since your longest stretch covers 106.3 miles, ensure your vehicle is ready for a solid two hours of continuous highway speed before you leave Crossville. Having your final directions for Madison Street ready ahead of time will make your arrival in Clarksville much smoother.

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 79.1 miles from Crossville, TN, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.3 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 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 79.1 miles or 1h 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 2h 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarksville, TN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Crossville, 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 Crossville, TN

This is one driving day of about 158.2 miles and 3h.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Crossville, 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 106.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 79.1 mi from Crossville, TN · 1h 27m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hendersonville, TN

79 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.

Hendersonville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 79.1 miles from Crossville, 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 106.3 miles.

Arriving in Clarksville, TN

The final approach into Clarksville, 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 Clarksville, 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

$24.03 one way

$48.06 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 55 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $26.49 $52.98
premium $4.80 $29.86 $59.73
diesel $5.64 $35.15 $70.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 55.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 47.5 0 $16.61 $7.59
Efficient EV 39.6 0 $13.84 $6.33
EV Truck/SUV 63.3 0 $22.15 $10.12

Gas CO2

55 kg

EV CO2

19 kg (65% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Crossville, TN

Evening in Crossville on Sunday

Local time

6:31 PM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clarksville, TN

Evening in Clarksville on Sunday

Local time

6:31 PM

CDT

Current temp

63°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

3 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 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Crossville, TN to Clarksville, TN covers 158.2 miles and takes about 3h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 24, Madison Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.1 miles from Crossville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.03 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 demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 158.2 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 4.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.4 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Crossville, TN to Clarksville, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Louisville along the way.

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