Origin
Hendersonville, TN
Afternoon in Hendersonville on Sunday
Local time
3:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hendersonville, TN to Cookeville, TN
Drive Time
1h 40m
Distance
82.9 mi
133 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 33m
★
6 AM
1h 40m
8 AM
1h 55m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 44m
3 PM
1h 46m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cookeville, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Connecting Hendersonville to Cookeville, this 82.9-mile journey is an efficient southeastern Tennessee transit that typically takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance and duration, you can easily tackle this route as a simple day trip without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize a combination of Vietnam Veterans Boulevard, SR 109, and I-40 to navigate between these two points. Budgeting roughly $13 for fuel should cover your transit comfortably. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, this highway-focused drive offers a straightforward path between the two cities. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection that gets you where you need to go without requiring extensive logistical planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
41.5 miles from Hendersonville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a drive that is heavily focused on highway travel, with 80% of your time spent cruising at higher speeds. The experience is defined by a significant, uninterrupted 53.2-mile stretch along I-40, which accounts for the bulk of the trip. While the initial segments involve navigating through SR 109 and Vietnam Veterans Boulevard, the character of the road quickly shifts toward a steady interstate rhythm. You will find that the transitions between these arterial roads are fairly intuitive, keeping the drive consistent from start to finish. It is an ideal route if you prefer predictable, high-speed travel over the complexities of winding local backroads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 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 53.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and SR 109. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 31E / West Main Street.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 82.9 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: near the start (US 31E / West Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 31E / West Main Street
Turn right onto US 31E / West Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
4.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
Merge onto TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
10.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward SR 109 South: Gallatin, Lebanon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SR 109 South: Gallatin, Lebanon
5
10.8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
SR 109
Merge onto SR 109
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
13.5 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
SR 109 / South Water Avenue
Merge onto SR 109 / South Water Avenue
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Hendersonville, TN to Cookeville, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Lebanon along the way.
Lebanon
10.6 mi in
|
~14m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 53.2 mi | 57m |
| SR 109 | 13.3 mi | 18m |
| Vietnam Veterans Boulevard | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| South Willow Avenue | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| South Water Avenue | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| West Main Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Gallatin Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Long Hollow Pike | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 53.2 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hendersonville, TN and Cookeville, TN.
1
Start on Walton Ferry Road
53 ft
·
4 sec
·
Walton Ferry Road
2
Turn right onto US 31E
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
Use the none lane.
3
Continue on US 31E
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Gallatin Road
Use the none lane.
4
Continue on US 31E
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward SR 386 North
6
Merge onto TN 386
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
Use the none lane.
7
Continue on SR 665
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Long Hollow Pike
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Toward SR 109 South: Gallatin, Lebanon
9
Merge onto SR 109
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
SR 109
Use the none lane.
10
Take the exit
291 ft
·
8 sec
11
Merge onto SR 109
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Water Avenue
Use the none lane.
12
Continue on SR 109
7.1 mi
·
11 min
·
SR 109
Use the none lane.
13
Continue on SR 109
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
SR 109
Use the none lane.
14
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville
15
Merge onto I 40
53 mi
·
57 min
·
I 40
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward TN 135: Cookeville
17
Turn left onto SR 135
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
South Willow Avenue
18
Turn right onto US 70N
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Spring Street
19
Turn left onto South Dixie Avenue
270 ft
·
11 sec
·
South Dixie Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
South Dixie Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always wise for a smoother experience. You will not need to plan for formal stops given the 1 hour and 40-minute duration, but keeping your fuel tank in mind before jumping onto I-40 ensures you avoid any mid-highway stress. Because the longest stretch of the drive is 53.2 miles on the interstate, stay alert for changing traffic patterns as you merge onto the main highway. A concrete tip for this route: check local traffic reports for the SR 109 and I-40 interchange before you leave Hendersonville to ensure you have a clear run toward Cookeville.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.5 miles from Hendersonville, TN, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.2 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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.5 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cookeville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hendersonville, 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 Hendersonville, TN
This is one driving day of about 82.9 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hendersonville, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 53.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.5 mi from Hendersonville, TN · 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 41.5 miles from Hendersonville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cookeville, TN
The final approach into Cookeville, 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 Cookeville, 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
$12.59 one way
$25.18 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $13.88 | $27.76 |
| premium | $4.80 | $15.65 | $31.30 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $18.42 | $36.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.70 | $3.98 |
| Efficient EV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.25 | $3.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.2 | 0 | $11.61 | $5.31 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Cookeville, TN
Afternoon in Cookeville on Sunday
Local time
3:45 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 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
1h 40m 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 Hendersonville, TN to Cookeville, TN covers 82.9 miles and takes about 1h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, SR 109, Vietnam Veterans Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.5 miles from Hendersonville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.59 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 82.9 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: near the start (US 31E / West Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Hendersonville, TN to Cookeville, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Lebanon along the way.
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