Trip from Nashville, TN to Decatur, TN

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

3h 16m

Distance

156.7 mi

252 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min

4 AM

3h 5m ★

6 AM

3h 16m

8 AM

3h 40m

10 AM

3h 25m

12 PM

3h 22m

3 PM

3h 26m

5 PM

3h 39m

8 PM

3h 9m

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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capital and largest city of Tennessee, United States

Nashville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Decatur, TN

Kelly

Trip Overview

The drive from Nashville, TN to Decatur, TN covers 156.7 miles and takes about 3h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Dr, James Robertson Parkway, Interstate Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.50 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

78.4 miles from Nashville, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 3h 16m drive with frequent turns across 156.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Dr is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Nashville, TN to Decatur, TN is easy. At 3h 16m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Nashville, TN to Decatur, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Dr	Unavailable	Refreshing
James Robertson Parkway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Interstate Drive	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 24 East	Unavailable	Refreshing
Downtown Loop	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 40 East	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 127	Unavailable	Refreshing
North Main Street	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Dr — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on the route

0.4 mi · 2 min · the route

At the end of the road, turn left onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard

0.3 mi · 44 sec · Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard

Turn left onto James Robertson Parkway

0.7 mi · 1 min · James Robertson Parkway

Turn right onto Interstate Drive

453 ft · 10 sec · Interstate Drive

Take the ramp slight left toward I 24 East

0.2 mi · 22 sec · I 24 East

Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop

0.8 mi · 1 min · Downtown Loop

Keep slight left to continue on I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga

81 mi · 1 hr 27 min · I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga

Continue straight

26 mi · 28 min

Take the exit slight right toward US 127, TN 28: Crossville, Jamestown

0.3 mi · 34 sec · US 127, TN 28: Crossville, Jamestown

Turn straight onto North Main Street

7.6 mi · 11 min · North Main Street

Continue straight

20 mi · 30 min

Continue on Herb M Wassom Mem Highway

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Herb M Wassom Mem Highway

Continue on Piccadilly Avenue

0.5 mi · 55 sec · Piccadilly Avenue

Continue on New Lake Road

3.4 mi · 6 min · New Lake Road

At the end of the road, turn left onto Watts Bar Highway

6.7 mi · 9 min · Watts Bar Highway

Turn right onto River Road

8.7 mi · 15 min · River Road

At the end of the road, turn right onto Highway 58

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Highway 58

Arrive at your 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 78.4 miles from Nashville, TN, or about 1h 38m into the drive.

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 40m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 78.4 miles or 1h 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 2h 41m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Nashville, 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 Nashville, TN

This is one driving day of about 156.7 miles and 3h 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Nashville, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 78.4 mi from Nashville, TN · 1h 38m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Johnson, TN

78 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.

Johnson, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 78.4 miles from Nashville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Decatur, TN

The final approach into Decatur, 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 Decatur, 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

$24.50 one way

$49.00 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 55 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$26.90	$53.80
premium	$4.89	$30.16	$60.31
diesel	$5.61	$34.60	$69.19

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 54.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	47	$16.45	$7.52
Efficient EV	39.2	$13.71	$6.27
EV Truck/SUV	62.7	$21.94	$10.03

Gas CO2

55 kg

EV CO2

18 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Nashville, TN

Late night in Nashville on Wednesday

Local time

5:30 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Decatur, TN

Morning in Decatur on Wednesday

Local time

6:30 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

76°F

Johnson, TN

78 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 later

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

Temperature spread

5 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

3h 16m 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 Nashville, TN to Decatur, TN covers 156.7 miles and takes about 3h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Dr, James Robertson Parkway, Interstate Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 78.4 miles from Nashville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.50 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The drive from Nashville, TN to Decatur, TN is easy. At 3h 16m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Nashville, TN to Decatur, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Nashville, TN to Decatur, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.