Origin
Hendersonville, TN
Afternoon in Hendersonville on Sunday
Local time
3:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
25m
Distance
17.9 mi
29 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nashville, TN
MINEIA MARTINS
If you are looking to get from Hendersonville to Nashville, this quick 17.9-mile jaunt is the perfect day trip. You can easily complete the drive in about 25 minutes, making it a highly efficient commute or excursion within Tennessee. Budgeting around $3 for fuel will comfortably cover your trip, keeping costs minimal. Since this is a short journey entirely within the Southeast region, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. It is a straightforward, practical route that serves as a seamless connection between these two cities.
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
8.9 miles from Hendersonville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition from local roads to major thoroughfares. You will navigate a combination of West Main Street, Vietnam Veterans Boulevard, and I-65, with highways accounting for 60% of your total travel time. The longest uninterrupted stretch is an 8.7-mile run on I-65, which allows for a steady pace before you shift into local traffic. Because the route balances high-speed interstate travel with surface streets, it offers a varied rhythm behind the wheel rather than a monotonous grind.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 17.9 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 2.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto US 31E / West Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward TN 386 South: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward James Robertson Parkway, State Capitol
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Between Hendersonville, TN and Nashville, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville and State Capitol.
Knoxville
State Capitol
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 8.7 mi | 10m |
| Vietnam Veterans Boulevard | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| West Main Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| I 24 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| James Robertson Parkway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 7th Avenue North | 0.2 mi | 1m |
| Interstate Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hendersonville, TN and Nashville, TN.
Start on Walton Ferry Road
Turn left onto US 31E
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto TN 386
Merge onto I 65
Continue on I 24
Take the exit
Continue on Interstate Drive
Turn right onto US 31; US 41; US 431
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North
Turn right onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Turn right onto 7th Avenue North
Arrive at destination
Because this is a short 25-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to plan for any stops, so you can head out whenever your schedule permits. Keep in mind that traffic patterns on I-65 can fluctuate, so checking road conditions before you pull out of your driveway is a smart move. Since the trip is so brief, you can easily incorporate this into a larger morning or afternoon itinerary without needing to build in rest breaks. Focus on navigating the transition between Vietnam Veterans Boulevard and the interstate to ensure the smoothest possible transition into Nashville.
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.
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 17.9 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.9 miles or 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nashville, TN than in the middle of the route.
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 17.9 miles and 25m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.9 mi from Hendersonville, TN · 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
9 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.
A short stop after about 17.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 8.9 miles from Hendersonville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Nashville, 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 Nashville, TN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$2.72 one way
$5.44 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $3.00 | $5.99 |
| premium | $4.80 | $3.38 | $6.76 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.98 | $7.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.88 | $0.86 |
| Efficient EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.57 | $0.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.51 | $1.15 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Hendersonville on Sunday
Local time
3:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Nashville on Sunday
Local time
3:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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