Trip from Midway, TN to Nashville, TN

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

5h 11m

Distance

275.3 mi

443 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 58m ★

6 AM

5h 11m

8 AM

5h 38m

10 AM

5h 21m

12 PM

5h 18m

3 PM

5h 22m

5 PM

5h 37m

8 PM

5h 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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Midway, TN

Kelly

capital and largest city of Tennessee, United States

Nashville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Midway, TN to Nashville, TN covers 275.3 miles and takes about 5h 11m 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, 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 $43.04 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

137.6 miles from Midway, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 38m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 5h 11m highway drive covering 275.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Andrew Johnson Highway. 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 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 209.8 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 115.4 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 14 significant decision points across 275.3 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 115.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 270.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 272.4 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

115.4 mi into trip | ~2h 14m 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

270.2 mi into trip | ~5h 1m 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

272.4 mi into trip | ~5h 4m 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

273.8 mi into trip | ~5h 6m in

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

Use the right lane. Exit 48 Toward James Robertson Parkway, State Capitol

274.7 mi into trip | ~5h 8m in | 3rd Avenue North

Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 40	209.8 mi	3h 49m
Andrew Johnson Highway	35.2 mi	42m
I 81	22.7 mi	24m
East Main Street	2.3 mi	3m
West Walnut Street	1.1 mi	1m
Downtown Loop	1.1 mi	1m
West Jackson Boulevard	0.7 mi	1m
James Robertson Parkway	0.7 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 40 — 209.8 mi, about 3h 49m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Midway, TN and Nashville, TN.

Start on McKinley Road

67 ft · 4 sec · McKinley Road

Turn right onto West Walnut Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · West Walnut Street

Continue on East Main Street

2.3 mi · 3 min · East Main Street

Turn right onto Washington Drive

0.2 mi · 42 sec · Washington Drive

Turn left onto US 11E; US 321

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Jackson Boulevard

Continue on US 11E; US 321

35 mi · 42 min · Andrew Johnson Highway

Turn left

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Merge onto I 81

22 mi · 23 min · I 81

Continue on I 81

0.7 mi · 45 sec · I 81

Exit 1B Toward I 40 West: Knoxville

Merge onto I 40

53 mi · 59 min · I 40

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

155 mi · 2 hr 46 min · I 40

Toward Nashville Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

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.

Merge onto I 24

1.1 mi · 1 min · Downtown Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 35 sec

Exit 48 Toward James Robertson Parkway, State Capitol Use the right lane.

Turn straight onto US 31; US 41; US 431

0.7 mi · 1 min · James Robertson Parkway

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North

129 ft · 6 sec · 3rd Avenue North

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto 7th Avenue North

0.2 mi · 1 min · 7th Avenue North

Arrive at destination

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 137.6 miles from Midway, TN, or about 2h 38m 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 137.6 miles or 2h 38m 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 13m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Midway, 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 Midway, TN

This is one driving day of about 275.3 miles and 5h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Midway, 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 137.6 mi from Midway, TN · 2h 38m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Johnson, TN

138 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.

Popular next leg

Johnson, TN to Nashville, TN

162.9 mi · 3h 16m

Pacing Suggestions

Knoxville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Johnson, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 137.6 miles from Midway, 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 Nashville, TN

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

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 256.3

View on nps.gov

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

National Park

Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour Free near mile 75.9

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.04 one way

$86.08 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 96 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$47.26	$94.51
premium	$4.89	$52.98	$105.96
diesel	$5.61	$60.78	$121.57

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$43

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 96.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	82.6	1	$28.91	$13.21
Efficient EV	68.8	0	$24.09	$11.01
EV Truck/SUV	110.1	1	$38.54	$17.62

Gas CO2

96 kg

EV CO2

32 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 data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Midway, TN

Night in Midway on Tuesday

Local time

9:28 PM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Nashville, TN

Evening in Nashville on Tuesday

Local time

8:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

61°F

Johnson, TN

138 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

15 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 11m 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 Midway, TN to Nashville, TN covers 275.3 miles and takes about 5h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 40, Andrew Johnson Highway, 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 137.6 miles from Midway, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.04 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.