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Trip from Jefferson City, TN to Smyrna, TN

Drive Time

6h 10m

Distance

321.5 mi

517 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$49

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

17 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
5h 58m ★
6 AM
6h 10m
8 AM
6h 36m
10 AM
6h 19m
12 PM
6h 17m
3 PM
6h 21m
5 PM
6h 35m
8 PM
6h 3m

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 Jefferson City, TN, TN

Jefferson City, TN

Kelly

Downtown Smyrna, TN, TN

Smyrna, TN

Josef Traxler

Trip Overview

The drive from Jefferson City, TN to Smyrna, TN covers 321.5 miles and takes about 6h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 40, Andrew Johnson Highway, US 641 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 264.7 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.83 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

160.8 miles from Jefferson City, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 57m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 6h 10m highway drive covering 321.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Andrew Johnson Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 264.7 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 22 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 264.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Andrew Johnson Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 47.6 miles in near I 40.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 321.5 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 47.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 202.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

7
47.6 mi into trip | ~56m 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
202.4 mi into trip | ~3h 42m 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
204.6 mi into trip | ~3h 46m 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
7
207.9 mi into trip | ~3h 50m in | I 40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Memphis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 40 West: Memphis
6
289.6 mi into trip | ~5h 19m in

Take the exit toward US 641: Camden, Paris, Parsons

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

Exit 126 Toward US 641: Camden, Paris, Parsons

Towns Along This Route

Between Jefferson City, TN and Smyrna, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Memphis, Louisville, Paris and Parsons.

Nashville

47.6 mi in | ~56m | via I 40

Memphis

204.6 mi in | ~3h 46m | via I 40

Louisville

205.7 mi in | ~3h 47m | via I 40

Paris

289.6 mi in | ~5h 19m

Parsons

289.6 mi in | ~5h 19m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 264.7 mi 4h 49m
Andrew Johnson Highway 13.9 mi 15m
US 641 13.7 mi 15m
US 70 9.4 mi 14m
Asheville Highway 5.9 mi 6m
SR 114 4.1 mi 7m
Downtown Loop 2.9 mi 3m
Buena Vista Road 2.5 mi 6m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 264.7 mi, about 4h 49m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson City, TN and Smyrna, TN.

1

Start on Russell Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Russell Avenue
2

Turn right onto US 11E

1.4 mi · 1 min · West Broadway Boulevard
3

Continue on US 11E

14 mi · 15 min · Andrew Johnson Highway
4

Continue on US 11E; US 25W; US 70

5.9 mi · 6 min · Asheville Highway
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward US 25W North, I 40 West
6

Merge onto I 40; US 25W

26 mi · 30 min · I 40; US 25W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

155 mi · 2 hr 46 min · I 40
Toward Nashville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

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.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

0.4 mi · 42 sec · I 40
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis Use the slight left lane.
10

Merge onto I 40

0.6 mi · 52 sec · Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on I 40

2.3 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop
Exit 210A Toward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, Louisville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

82 mi · 1 hr 28 min · I 40
Toward I 40 West: Memphis Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 126 Toward US 641: Camden, Paris, Parsons
14

Keep slight right at fork

192 ft · 4 sec
15

Merge onto US 641

14 mi · 15 min · US 641
16

Turn left onto US 70

1.6 mi · 2 min · US 70
17

At end of road, turn left onto US 70

7.8 mi · 11 min · US 70
18

Turn left onto SR 114

4.1 mi · 7 min · SR 114
19

Turn right onto Buena Vista Road

2.5 mi · 6 min · Buena Vista Road
20

Turn left onto Smyrna Road

2.0 mi · 7 min · Smyrna Road
21

Turn right onto Buck Ditch Road

58 ft · 2 sec · Buck Ditch Road
22

Arrive at destination

Buck Ditch Road

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 160.8 miles from Jefferson City, TN, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 264.7 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 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 160.8 miles or 2h 57m 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 51m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Jefferson City, 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 Jefferson City, TN

This is one driving day of about 321.5 miles and 6h 10m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Jefferson City, 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 264.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 160.8 mi from Jefferson City, TN · 2h 57m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hendersonville, TN

161 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.

Hendersonville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 160.8 miles from Jefferson City, 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 264.7 miles.

Arriving in Smyrna, TN

The final approach into Smyrna, 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 Smyrna, 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.

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...

21 mi from route ~52 min detour Free near mile 188.5
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$48.83 one way

$97.67 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 113 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $53.83 $107.66
premium $4.80 $60.69 $121.39
diesel $5.64 $71.43 $142.85

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$49

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$74–$99

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 112.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

17 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Knoxville, TN

Tesla

16 DCFC

Food City - Tesla Supercharger

Kingston, TN

Tesla

16 DCFC

Downtown Knoxville

Knoxville, TN

ZEFNET

8 DCFC

Brookview Town Centre - Tesla Supercharger

Knoxville, TN

Tesla

8 DCFC

Pavilion of Turkey Creek - Tesla Supercharger

Knoxville, TN

Tesla

8 DCFC

Pilot Travel Center 219

Knoxville, TN

eVgo Network

4 DCFC

Walmart 2065 (Knoxville, TN)

Knoxville, TN

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Flying J 722

Knoxville, TN

eVgo Network

4 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 6 Tesla: 4 eVgo Network: 2 Blink Network: 2 ZEFNET: 1 Non-Networked: 1 Electrify America: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 96.5 1 $33.76 $15.43
Efficient EV 80.4 0 $28.13 $12.86
EV Truck/SUV 128.6 1 $45.01 $20.58

Gas CO2

112 kg

EV CO2

38 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Jefferson City, TN

Morning in Jefferson City on Monday

Local time

8:29 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Smyrna, TN

Morning in Smyrna on Monday

Local time

7:29 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°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

1 hour earlier

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

Temperature spread

2 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

6h 10m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Jefferson City, TN to Smyrna, TN covers 321.5 miles and takes about 6h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Andrew Johnson Highway, US 641. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 160.8 miles from Jefferson City, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.83 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 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 18 significant decision points across 321.5 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 47.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 202.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 204.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Jefferson City, TN and Smyrna, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Memphis, Louisville, Paris and Parsons.

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