Origin
Dayton, TN
Afternoon in Dayton on Sunday
Local time
4:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dayton, TN to Clarksville, TN
Drive Time
3h 22m
Distance
204.6 mi
329 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 10m
★
6 AM
3h 22m
8 AM
3h 46m
10 AM
3h 30m
12 PM
3h 28m
3 PM
3h 32m
5 PM
3h 45m
8 PM
3h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dayton, TN
Kelly
Clarksville, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Dayton to Clarksville, expect a 204.6-mile journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 22 minutes behind the wheel. Because the total duration is quite manageable, this route works perfectly as a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can anticipate spending approximately $30 on fuel for the trek across Tennessee. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, you will remain in familiar territory as you transition from the Dayton area toward Clarksville. This drive is best suited for those who prefer local roads over high-speed interstates, offering a straightforward path for travelers looking to move between these two Tennessee hubs.
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
102.3 miles from Dayton, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .
Drive Character
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged throughout the 3-hour and 22-minute duration. Unlike an interstate commute, this route relies on surface streets like Market Street, 3rd Avenue, and Highway 8 rather than high-speed motorways. In fact, this path features a 0% highway share, meaning you won't be dealing with the monotony of long, straight stretches of pavement. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on Market Street, highlighting the technical nature of the navigation required. You should expect a more hands-on driving experience where the road changes frequently, requiring your full attention as you navigate the local infrastructure connecting these two points.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Market 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 3h 22m 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 Dayton, TN to Clarksville, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Market Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 3rd Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 8 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Harrison Ferry Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Beersheba Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Colville Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Chancery Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Morford Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Market Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dayton, TN and Clarksville, TN.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue
157 ft
·
11 sec
·
2nd Avenue
2
Turn right onto Market Street
344 ft
·
14 sec
·
Market Street
3
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
3rd Avenue
4
Turn right
16 mi
·
18 min
5
Take the exit slight right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
6
Merge slight left
5.4 mi
·
6 min
7
Continue straight
11 mi
·
13 min
8
Continue straight
13 mi
·
17 min
9
Turn left onto State Highway 8
7.3 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 8
10
Continue on Harrison Ferry Road
12 mi
·
17 min
·
Harrison Ferry Road
11
Turn slight right onto Beersheba Highway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Beersheba Highway
12
Continue on East Colville Street
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
East Colville Street
13
Turn right onto South Chancery Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
South Chancery Street
14
Turn left onto West Morford Street
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
West Morford Street
15
Continue on West Main Street
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
16
Continue on Nashville Highway
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Nashville Highway
17
Continue on McMinnville Highway
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
McMinnville Highway
18
Continue on East Main Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
19
Continue on John Bragg Highway
16 mi
·
18 min
·
John Bragg Highway
20
Turn left onto South Rutherford Boulevard
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
South Rutherford Boulevard
21
Turn left onto South Church Street
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
South Church Street
22
Take the exit right toward I 24 West: Nashville
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 24 West: Nashville
23
Merge slight left
29 mi
·
32 min
24
Keep slight left to continue on I 24West, I 40 West: Nashville
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 24West, I 40 West: Nashville
25
Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
26
Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Downtown Loop
27
Continue on I 24 West, I 65 North: Clarksville, Louisville
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 24 West, I 65 North: Clarksville, Louisville
28
Take the exit slight left toward I 24 West: Clarksville
34 mi
·
36 min
·
I 24 West: Clarksville
29
Take the exit slight right toward TN 76
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
TN 76
30
Keep slight left
282 ft
·
10 sec
31
Continue straight
3.4 mi
·
3 min
32
Turn right onto Madison Street
4.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Madison Street
33
Turn right onto University Avenue
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
University Avenue
34
At the end of the road, turn left onto College Street
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
College Street
35
Turn left onto North 2nd Street
135 ft
·
3 sec
·
North 2nd Street
36
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy local drive, it pays to leave early in the day to ensure you can navigate the local roads during daylight hours. You only need to plan for one major stop over the course of the 204.6-mile trip, which gives you plenty of flexibility to stretch your legs whenever you feel the need. Keep your $30 fuel budget handy, as the constant turns and lower-speed driving on local roads like Highway 8 can sometimes affect your fuel efficiency compared to highway cruising. My biggest tip for this specific route is to double-check your GPS navigation before departing, as the reliance on local roads and street-level turns makes it easy to miss a transition if you aren't paying close attention to the signage.
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 102.3 miles from Dayton, TN, or about 1h 41m 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 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.3 miles or 1h 41m 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 45m
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 Dayton, 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 Dayton, TN
This is one driving day of about 204.6 miles and 3h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Dayton, 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 102.3 mi from Dayton, TN · 1h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
102 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 102.3 miles from Dayton, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.08 one way
$62.15 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
72 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $34.26 | $68.52 |
| premium | $4.80 | $38.62 | $77.25 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $45.46 | $90.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.4 | 0 | $21.48 | $9.82 |
| Efficient EV | 51.2 | 0 | $17.90 | $8.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 81.8 | 1 | $28.64 | $13.09 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Clarksville, TN
Afternoon in Clarksville on Sunday
Local time
3:43 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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 22m 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 Dayton, TN to Clarksville, TN covers 204.6 miles and takes about 3h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Market Street, 3rd Avenue, Highway 8. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 102.3 miles from Dayton, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.08 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 straightforward 3h 22m 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 Dayton, TN to Clarksville, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Dayton, TN to Clarksville, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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