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Trip from Dayton, TN to Jackson, TN

Data updated 5 hours ago

Drive Time

5h 13m

Distance

265.9 mi

428 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 0m ★
6 AM
5h 13m
8 AM
5h 40m
10 AM
5h 22m
12 PM
5h 20m
3 PM
5h 24m
5 PM
5h 39m
8 PM
5h 5m

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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city ​​and county seat of Montgomery County, Ohio, United States

Dayton, TN

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Madison County, Tennessee, United States

Jackson, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Dayton, TN to Jackson, TN covers 265.9 miles and takes about 5h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 40, Tennessee National Guard Parkway, US 27 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 88.8 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.57 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

132.9 miles from Dayton, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 5h 13m highway drive covering 265.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 88.8 miles on I 40.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 31 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 88.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near SR 30 / 3rd Avenue.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 265.9 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (SR 30 / 3rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 108.6 miles (US 231 / South Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 108.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

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

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | SR 30 / 3rd Avenue

Turn right onto SR 30 / 3rd Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
108.6 mi into trip | ~2h 19m in | US 231 / South Church Street

Turn left onto US 231 / South Church Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
108.9 mi into trip | ~2h 20m in

Take the exit toward I 24 West: Nashville

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

Use the right lane. Toward I 24 West: Nashville
5
109.3 mi into trip | ~2h 20m in | I 24

Merge onto I 24

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
115.7 mi into trip | ~2h 27m in

Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin

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

Use the right lane. Exit 74A Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Dayton, TN to Jackson, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Franklin along the way.

Franklin

115.7 mi in | ~2h 27m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 88.8 mi 1h 35m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway 53.7 mi 58m
US 27 15.8 mi 18m
John Bragg Highway 15.6 mi 18m
TN 8 12.6 mi 17m
Harrison Ferry Road 12.3 mi 17m
SR 111 11.5 mi 13m
Nashville Highway 10.2 mi 11m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 88.8 mi, about 1h 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dayton, TN and Jackson, TN.

1

Start on 2nd Avenue

156 ft · 10 sec · 2nd Avenue
2

Turn right onto SR 378

343 ft · 13 sec · Market Street
3

Turn right onto SR 30

0.2 mi · 21 sec · 3rd Avenue
4

Turn right onto US 27

16 mi · 18 min · US 27
5

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
6

Merge onto TN 111

5.4 mi · 6 min · TN 111
7

Continue on SR 111

11 mi · 13 min · SR 111
8

Continue on TN 8; TN 111

13 mi · 17 min · TN 8; TN 111
9

Turn left onto TN 8

7.3 mi · 9 min · State Highway 8
10

Continue on TN 8

12 mi · 17 min · Harrison Ferry Road
11

Turn slight right onto SR 56

1.3 mi · 1 min · Beersheba Highway
12

Continue on SR 56

0.5 mi · 45 sec · East Colville Street
13

Turn right onto SR 56

0.1 mi · 20 sec · South Chancery Street
14

Turn left onto SR 380

0.3 mi · 26 sec · West Morford Street
15

Continue on SR 380

2.1 mi · 3 min · West Main Street
16

Continue on US 70S

10 mi · 11 min · Nashville Highway
17

Continue on US 70S

8.1 mi · 10 min · McMinnville Highway
18

Continue on US 70S; SR 53

1.0 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
19

Continue on US 70S

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 US 231

0.3 mi · 22 sec · South Church Street
Use the left lane.
22

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 46 sec
Toward I 24 West: Nashville Use the right lane.
23

Merge onto I 24

6.5 mi · 6 min · I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 74A Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin Use the right lane.
25

Merge onto I 840

54 mi · 58 min · Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Merge onto I 40

89 mi · 1 hr 35 min · I 40
27

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Toward US 70, US 412 East
28

Turn left onto US 70

4.2 mi · 6 min · US 70
29

Turn left onto US 70

1.8 mi · 2 min · US 70
30

Turn right onto East Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Main Street
31

Arrive at destination

East Main Street

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 132.9 miles from Dayton, TN, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.8 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 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 132.9 miles or 2h 47m 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 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jackson, 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 265.9 miles and 5h 13m.

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.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 88.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 132.9 mi from Dayton, TN · 2h 47m into the drive

city and county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Franklin, TN

133 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.

Franklin, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 132.9 miles from Dayton, 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 88.8 miles.

Arriving in Jackson, TN

The final approach into Jackson, 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 Jackson, TN.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield

National Battlefield

The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...

4 mi from route ~9 min detour Free near mile 110
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$41.57 one way

$83.14 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 93 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $45.64 $91.29
premium $4.89 $51.17 $102.34
diesel $5.61 $58.71 $117.41

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$42

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 93 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 79.8 0 $27.92 $12.76
Efficient EV 66.5 0 $23.27 $10.64
EV Truck/SUV 106.4 1 $37.23 $17.02

Gas CO2

93 kg

EV CO2

31 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Dayton, TN

Night in Dayton on Tuesday

Local time

9:26 PM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Jackson, TN

Evening in Jackson on Tuesday

Local time

8:26 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

14 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

5h 13m 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 Dayton, TN to Jackson, TN covers 265.9 miles and takes about 5h 13m 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, US 27. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 132.9 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 $41.57 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 265.9 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (SR 30 / 3rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 108.6 miles (US 231 / South Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 108.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Dayton, TN to Jackson, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Franklin along the way.

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