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Trip from Gatlinburg, TN to Hendersonville, TN

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 22m

Distance

219.1 mi

353 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

7 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 10m ★
6 AM
4h 23m
8 AM
4h 50m
10 AM
4h 32m
12 PM
4h 30m
3 PM
4h 34m
5 PM
4h 48m
8 PM
4h 15m

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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Downtown Gatlinburg, TN, TN

Gatlinburg, TN

Kelly

Trip Overview

The drive from Gatlinburg, TN to Hendersonville, TN covers 219.1 miles and takes about 4h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 40, Chapman Highway, SR 109 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 154.4 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.25 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

109.5 miles from Gatlinburg, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 22m. Total distance: 219.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 4h 22m highway drive covering 219.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Chapman Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 154.4 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 26 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 154.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Chapman Highway. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 441 / Parkway.

Driving Effort 6/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 219.1 miles you will encounter 15 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 (US 441 / Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 12.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 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 | US 441 / Parkway

At end of road, turn left onto US 441 / Parkway

Navigation decision point

6
12.5 mi into trip | ~23m in

Take the exit toward US 411 North

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

Use the left lane. Toward US 411 North
7
57.6 mi into trip | ~1h 19m 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
7
193.7 mi into trip | ~3h 45m in

Take the exit toward TN 109: Gallatin

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 232 Toward TN 109: Gallatin
7
208.8 mi into trip | ~4h 7m in

Take the exit toward US 31E: Gallatin, Hendersonville

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

Use the right lane. Toward US 31E: Gallatin, Hendersonville

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 Gatlinburg, TN to Hendersonville, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Nashville along the way.

Nashville

57.6 mi in | ~1h 19m | via I 40

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 154.4 mi 2h 47m
Chapman Highway 22.1 mi 26m
SR 109 14.8 mi 20m
Parkway 8.3 mi 15m
Nashville Pike 5.7 mi 8m
Gatlinburg Spur Road 4.2 mi 7m
East Main Street 3 mi 4m
West Main Street 1.8 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 154.4 mi, about 2h 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gatlinburg, TN and Hendersonville, TN.

1

Start on this road

53 ft · 4 sec · this road
2

Turn slight right

355 ft · 32 sec
3

At end of road, turn left onto US 441

1.2 mi · 3 min · Parkway
4

Continue on US 321; US 441

4.2 mi · 7 min · Gatlinburg Spur Road
Use the straight lane.
5

Continue on US 321; US 441

7.1 mi · 12 min · Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Take the exit

125 ft · 6 sec
Toward US 411 North Use the left lane.
7

Turn left onto US 441

0.6 mi · 49 sec · Forks of the River Parkway
8

Turn left onto US 411; US 441

1.8 mi · 2 min · West Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
9

Continue on US 411; US 441

22 mi · 26 min · Chapman Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
10

Continue on US 441; SR 33

0.7 mi · 1 min · Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
11

Continue on US 441

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Henley Street
12

Turn slight left onto SR 62

0.7 mi · 1 min · Western Avenue
Use the straight lane.
13

Turn left onto Ailor Avenue

0.4 mi · 43 sec · Ailor Avenue
14

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Toward I 40 West, I 75 South
15

Merge onto I 40

18 mi · 21 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

136 mi · 2 hr 26 min · I 40
Toward Nashville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 48 sec
Exit 232 Toward TN 109: Gallatin Use the slight right lane.
18

Turn right onto SR 109

13 mi · 18 min · SR 109
Use the left lane.
19

Turn left onto SR 109

2.1 mi · 2 min · SR 109
Use the left lane.
20

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Toward US 31E: Gallatin, Hendersonville Use the right lane.
21

Turn right onto US 31E

5.7 mi · 8 min · Nashville Pike
22

Continue on US 31E

1.4 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
23

Continue on US 31E

1.4 mi · 2 min · Gallatin Road
Use the left lane.
24

Continue on US 31E

1.7 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
25

Turn left onto Walton Ferry Road

53 ft · 1 sec · Walton Ferry Road
Use the left lane.
26

Arrive at destination

Walton Ferry Road

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 109.5 miles from Gatlinburg, TN, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.4 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 43m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 109.5 miles or 2h 15m 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 30m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Gatlinburg, 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 Gatlinburg, TN

This is one driving day of about 219.1 miles and 4h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Gatlinburg, 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 154.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 109.5 mi from Gatlinburg, TN · 2h 15m into the drive

Downtown Johnson, TN, TN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Johnson, TN

110 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

Johnson, 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 109.5 miles from Gatlinburg, 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 154.4 miles.

Arriving in Hendersonville, TN

The final approach into Hendersonville, 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 Hendersonville, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

National Park

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...

8 mi from route ~20 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
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...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour Free near mile 188.9
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$34.25 one way

$68.51 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 77 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $37.61 $75.22
premium $4.89 $42.16 $84.33
diesel $5.61 $48.37 $96.75

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 76.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

7 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Tesla Supercharger

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Tesla

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Sevierville, Tennessee

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Jus Charging Station

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Other

1 DCFC

EV Connect Charging Station

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

EV Connect

1 DCFC

Blink Charging Station

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Blink

1 DCFC

AmpUp Charging Station

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Other

1 DCFC

Red E Charging Station

Sevierville, Tennessee

Other

1 DCFC

Other: 3 Tesla: 1 ChargePoint: 1 EV Connect: 1 Blink: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 65.7 0 $23.01 $10.52
Efficient EV 54.8 0 $19.17 $8.76
EV Truck/SUV 87.6 1 $30.67 $14.02

Gas CO2

77 kg

EV CO2

26 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Gatlinburg, TN

Afternoon in Gatlinburg on Thursday

Local time

3:42 PM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hendersonville, TN

Afternoon in Hendersonville on Thursday

Local time

2:42 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

76°F

Johnson, TN

110 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 earlier

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

Temperature spread

3 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 22m 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 Gatlinburg, TN to Hendersonville, TN covers 219.1 miles and takes about 4h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Chapman Highway, SR 109. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 109.5 miles from Gatlinburg, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.25 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 219.1 miles you will encounter 15 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 (US 441 / Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 12.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Gatlinburg, TN to Hendersonville, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Nashville along the way.

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