The drive from Elizabethton, TN to Collierville, TN covers 495.4 miles and takes about 9h 11m behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 40, I 81, Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 392.4 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $77.45 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
247.7 miles from Elizabethton, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 37m into the drive
.
Drive Character
This is a 9h 11m highway drive covering 495.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 392.4 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 392.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 133.9 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 495.4 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 133.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 288.8 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 290.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 25 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
133.9 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Nashville
9
288.8 mi into trip|~5h 21m 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 straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
8
290.9 mi into trip|~5h 24m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
9
477.7 mi into trip|~8h 48m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 269 South: Collierville, Jackson, Mississippi
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 24A
Toward I 269 South: Collierville, Jackson, Miss...
8
493.7 mi into trip|~9h 7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward TN 57 West: Collierville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward TN 57 West: Collierville
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elizabethton, TN and Collierville, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Memphis and Louisville.
Nashville
133.9 mi in|~2h 34m|via I 40
Memphis
290.9 mi in|~5h 24m|via I 40
Louisville
292 mi in|~5h 26m|via I 40
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
392.4 mi
7h 6m
I 81
57.1 mi
1h 1m
Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway
15.4 mi
17m
James H. Quillen Parkway
15.1 mi
18m
West Elk Avenue
7.4 mi
12m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
3m
TN 57
1.4 mi
3m
Broad Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 392.4 mi, about 7h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabethton, TN and Collierville, TN.
1
Start on this road
32 ft·1 sec·this road
2
Continue on East Elk Avenue
0.1 mi·13 sec·East Elk Avenue
3
Turn right onto North Riverside Drive
286 ft·12 sec·North Riverside Drive
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on East E Street
445 ft·23 sec·East E Street
5
Turn right onto North Sycamore Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·North Sycamore Street
6
Turn left onto US 321; SR 67
0.6 mi·1 min·Broad Street
7
Continue on US 321; SR 67
7.4 mi·12 min·West Elk Avenue
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
9
Merge onto I 26; US 19W; US 23
15 mi·18 min·James H. Quillen Parkway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Exit 8AToward I 81 South: Knoxville
11
Merge onto I 81
56 mi·1 hr·I 81
12
Continue on I 81
0.7 mi·45 sec·I 81
Exit 1BToward I 40 West: Knoxville
13
Merge onto I 40
53 mi·59 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
155 mi·2 hr 46 min·I 40
Toward NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·3 min·I 40
Exit 213BToward I 24 West, I 40 West: NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
0.4 mi·42 sec·I 40
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, MemphisUse the slight left lane.
17
Merge onto I 40
0.6 mi·52 sec·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 40
2.3 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Exit 210AToward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, LouisvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
182 mi·3 hr 16 min·I 40
Toward I 40 West: MemphisUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 24-25Toward I 269, TN 385: Jackson Mississippi, Collierville, Millington
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 269, TN 385
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 269 East, TN 385 East: Collierville
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·1 min
Exit 24AToward I 269 South: Collierville, Jackson, MississippiUse the right lane.
24
Merge onto I 269
401 ft·5 sec·Paul W Barret Parkway
25
Continue on I 269
15 mi·17 min·Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward TN 57: Collierville, Piperton
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward TN 57 West: ColliervilleUse the slight right lane.
28
Turn straight onto TN 57
1.4 mi·3 min·TN 57
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
29
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·North Main Street
30
Turn right onto North Rowlett Street
71 ft·3 sec·North Rowlett Street
31
Arrive at destination
North Rowlett Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 247.7 miles from Elizabethton, TN, or about 4h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 392.4 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 109 miles or 2h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 247.7 miles or 4h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 247.7 miles or 4h 37m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Collierville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elizabethton, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Elizabethton, TN
Aim for roughly 248 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Collierville, TN
Aim for roughly 248 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 109 miles from Elizabethton, TN.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 392.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 247.7 mi from Elizabethton, TN
· 4h 37m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 273.3
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
30 mi from route
~75 min detour
Free
near mile 85.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$77.45 one way
$154.90 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg173 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$85.04
$170.07
premium
$4.89
$95.34
$190.67
diesel
$5.61
$109.38
$218.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$77
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$207–$317
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 173.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
148.6
1
$52.02
$23.78
Efficient EV
123.9
1
$43.35
$19.82
EV Truck/SUV
198.2
2
$69.36
$31.71
Gas CO2
173 kg
EV CO2
58 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Elizabethton, TN
Afternoon
in Elizabethton on Friday
Local time
3:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Collierville, TN
Afternoon
in Collierville on Friday
Local time
2:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Sparta, TN
248 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
17 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
9h 11m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Elizabethton, TN to Collierville, TN covers 495.4 miles and takes about 9h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 81, Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 248 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 247.7 miles from Elizabethton, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $77.45 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 495.4 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 133.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 288.8 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 290.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Elizabethton, TN and Collierville, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Memphis and Louisville.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Stones River National Battlefield and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
