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Trip from Greeneville, TN to Clarksville, TN

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 29m

Distance

294.2 mi

474 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 16m ★
6 AM
5h 29m
8 AM
5h 56m
10 AM
5h 39m
12 PM
5h 36m
3 PM
5h 40m
5 PM
5h 55m
8 PM
5h 21m

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

town in and county seat of Greene County, Tennessee, United States

Greeneville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

city in Tennessee, United States

Clarksville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Greeneville, TN to Clarksville, TN covers 294.2 miles and takes about 5h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 40, I 24, I 81 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 209.8 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.99 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

147.1 miles from Greeneville, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 43m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 29m. Total distance: 294.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 5h 29m highway drive covering 294.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 24. The longest continuous stretch is about 209.8 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 21 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 209.8 miles.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,993 ft 474 ft

Total Climb

1,866 ft

Total Descent

2,918 ft

Highest Point

1,993 ft

~147.1 mi in

Elevation Range

1,519 ft

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 89.4 miles in near I 40.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 294.2 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 89.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 244.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 246.4 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

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

7
89.4 mi into trip | ~1h 41m 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
244.2 mi into trip | ~4h 27m 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
9
246.4 mi into trip | ~4h 31m 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
251.2 mi into trip | ~4h 37m 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
288.8 mi into trip | ~5h 19m in | US 41A / Madison Street

Turn right onto US 41A / Madison Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Greeneville, TN and Clarksville, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Louisville.

Nashville

89.4 mi in | ~1h 41m | via I 40

Louisville

246.4 mi in | ~4h 31m | via I 24

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 209.8 mi 3h 49m
I 24 36.4 mi 40m
I 81 22.7 mi 24m
West Andrew Johnson Highway 12.5 mi 14m
Madison Street 4.7 mi 8m
TN 76 3.4 mi 3m
Downtown Loop 2.3 mi 3m
West Church Street 1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 209.8 mi, about 3h 49m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 11E Business; US 321 Business

415 ft · 20 sec · South Main Street
2

Turn left onto West Church Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Church Street
3

At end of road, turn left onto US 11E; US 321

12 mi · 14 min · West Andrew Johnson Highway
4

Turn left

0.3 mi · 39 sec
5

Merge onto I 81

22 mi · 23 min · I 81
6

Continue on I 81

0.7 mi · 45 sec · I 81
Exit 1B Toward I 40 West: Knoxville
7

Merge onto I 40

53 mi · 59 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

155 mi · 2 hr 46 min · I 40
Toward Nashville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

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 straight / slight right lanes.
10

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.
11

Merge onto I 24

2.3 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

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 lanes.
13

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.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward TN 76
15

Keep slight left at fork

283 ft · 9 sec
16

Continue on TN 76

3.4 mi · 3 min · TN 76
17

Turn right onto US 41A

4.7 mi · 8 min · Madison Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18

Turn right onto US 41A

0.4 mi · 44 sec · University Avenue
19

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

0.3 mi · 45 sec · College Street
20

Turn left onto North 2nd Street

134 ft · 2 sec · North 2nd Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
21

Arrive at destination

North 2nd 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 147.1 miles from Greeneville, TN, or about 2h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 209.8 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 65 miles or 1h 14m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 147.1 miles or 2h 43m 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 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 Greeneville, 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 Greeneville, TN

This is one driving day of about 294.2 miles and 5h 29m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Greeneville, 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 209.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 147.1 mi from Greeneville, TN · 2h 43m into the drive

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sparta, TN

147 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

Knoxville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Johnson, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 147.1 miles from Greeneville, 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 209.8 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

$45.99 one way

$91.99 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 103 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $50.50 $101.00
premium $4.89 $56.62 $113.23
diesel $5.61 $64.96 $129.91

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$46

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$71–$96

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 102.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 88.3 1 $30.89 $14.12
Efficient EV 73.6 0 $25.74 $11.77
EV Truck/SUV 117.7 1 $41.19 $18.83

Gas CO2

103 kg

EV CO2

34 kg (67% 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

Greeneville, TN

Evening in Greeneville on Friday

Local time

6:14 PM

EDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clarksville, TN

Evening in Clarksville on Friday

Local time

5:14 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

74°F

Sparta, TN

147 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

16 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 29m 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 Greeneville, TN to Clarksville, TN covers 294.2 miles and takes about 5h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 40, I 24, I 81. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 147.1 miles from Greeneville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.99 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 is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 294.2 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 89.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 244.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 246.4 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Between Greeneville, TN and Clarksville, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Louisville.

Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 474 ft to 1,993 ft elevation with about 1,866 ft of total climbing.

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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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