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Create accountDrive Time
2h 28m
Distance
128 mi
206 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
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.
Medina, TN
Yasir Gürbüz
Nashville, TN
MINEIA MARTINS
The drive from Medina, TN to Nashville, TN covers 128 miles and takes about 2h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, Spring Creek Highway, Spring Creek Law Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 113.9 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.44 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
64 miles from Medina, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
This is a 2h 28m highway drive covering 128 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Spring Creek Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 113.9 miles on I 40.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,206 ft
Total Descent
1,148 ft
Highest Point
833 ft
~90.6 mi in
Elevation Range
478 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Spring Creek Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 152 / North Main Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 128 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 (SR 152 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 12 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 126.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 right onto SR 152 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 70: Charlotte Avenue, Demonbreun Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto US 70 / Charlotte Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 113.9 mi | 2h 2m |
| Spring Creek Highway | 6.3 mi | 11m |
| Spring Creek Law Road | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Law Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Downtown Loop | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Foster Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 7th Avenue North | 0.2 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Medina, TN and Nashville, TN.
Start on Central Street
Turn left onto West Avenue
Turn right onto SR 152
Turn right onto SR 152
Continue on SR 152
At end of road, turn left onto US 70
Turn right onto SR 152
At end of road, turn right onto SR 152
Take the exit
Merge onto I 40
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 40; I 65
Take the exit
Continue on 12th Avenue North
Turn left onto US 70
Continue on Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Turn left onto 7th Avenue North
Arrive at destination
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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nashville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Medina, 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 Medina, TN
This is one driving day of about 128 miles and 2h 28m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64 mi from Medina, TN · 1h 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 64 miles from Medina, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 113.9 miles.
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.
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.
Regular Gas
$19.44 one way
$38.88 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $21.43 | $42.86 |
| premium | $4.80 | $24.16 | $48.33 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $28.44 | $56.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.4 | 0 | $13.44 | $6.14 |
| Efficient EV | 32 | 0 | $11.20 | $5.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.2 | 0 | $17.92 | $8.19 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Evening in Medina on Sunday
Local time
6:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Evening in Nashville on Sunday
Local time
6:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Slight Chance Light Rain then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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