Origin
Nashville, TN
Evening in Nashville on Sunday
Local time
6:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
26m
Distance
17.3 mi
28 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 planning a quick getaway from Nashville to Hendersonville, you will cover a short 17.3-mile distance. Expect a travel time of approximately 26 minutes, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You will navigate via I-65, Ellington Parkway, and West Main Street as you move through the Southeast region. With fuel costs estimated at just $3, this is an incredibly affordable excursion. Because the drive is so brief, you do not need to worry about overnight accommodations or multiple stops along the way. It is a straightforward, practical connection between these two Tennessee cities that fits easily into any schedule.
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
8.6 miles from Nashville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .
This mixed drive offers a blend of urban highway speeds and local road transitions. Roughly 54% of your journey will be spent on highways, providing a balanced experience behind the wheel. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 4.3 miles while traveling on I-65. As you move away from the heart of Nashville, the route shifts from high-speed interstate lanes to the more localized flow of Ellington Parkway and West Main Street. The transition keeps the drive engaging without being overly technical or taxing for the driver.
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 around 0.4 miles in near Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 17.3 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 0.4 miles (Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.7 miles (TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard): 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.
At end of road, turn left onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 65 North: Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard toward SR 386: Hendersonville, Gallatin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Center Point Road, Hendersonville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center, Hendersonville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Between Nashville, TN and Hendersonville, TN, road signs point toward Gallatin and Monthaven Arts And Cultural Center.
Gallatin
Monthaven Arts And Cultural Center
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| Ellington Parkway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| West Main Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Vietnam Veterans Boulevard | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| James Robertson Parkway | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Center Point Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Spring Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Nashville, TN and Hendersonville, TN.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn left onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Turn left onto James Robertson Parkway
Turn left onto US 31W; US 41; US 431
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 31E
Take the exit
Merge onto I 65
Continue on I 65
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 386
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto Center Point Road
Turn left onto US 31E
Turn right onto Walton Ferry Road
Arrive at destination
Since this route only takes about 26 minutes to complete, you have significant flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily head out whenever your schedule allows, as there are no forced stops required for this short 17.3-mile trip. Keep in mind that while the drive is brief, monitoring your fuel levels before leaving ensures you stay within your $3 estimate. A smart tip for this specific route is to familiarize yourself with the transition from I-65 to the Ellington Parkway early on, as this shift is where the majority of your navigation occurs. Enjoy the ease of this quick Tennessee transit without the stress of long-haul planning.
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 17.3 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.6 miles or 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hendersonville, TN than in the middle of the route.
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 17.3 miles and 26m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.6 mi from Nashville, TN · 14m 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 17.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 8.6 miles from Nashville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Hendersonville, 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 Hendersonville, TN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$2.63 one way
$5.26 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $2.90 | $5.79 |
| premium | $4.80 | $3.27 | $6.53 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.84 | $7.69 |
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: 6.1 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 | 5.2 | 0 | $1.82 | $0.83 |
| Efficient EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.51 | $0.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.42 | $1.11 |
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
Evening in Nashville on Sunday
Local time
6:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Hendersonville on Sunday
Local time
6:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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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