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Trip from Nashville, TN to Loretto, TN

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

1h 53m

Distance

97.1 mi

156 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 45m ★
6 AM
1h 53m
8 AM
2h 10m
10 AM
1h 59m
12 PM
1h 57m
3 PM
2h 0m
5 PM
2h 9m
8 PM
1h 48m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

capital and largest city of Tennessee, United States

Nashville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Loretto, TN, TN

Loretto, TN

Kelly

Trip Overview

The drive from Nashville, TN to Loretto, TN covers 97.1 miles and takes about 1h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Dr, 14th Avenue North, Knoxville for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.18 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

48.5 miles from Nashville, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 53m drive with frequent turns across 97.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 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 Loretto, TN is easy. At 1h 53m 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 Loretto, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Dr
14th Avenue North
Knoxville
Downtown Loop
I 65 South
412
Bear Creek Pike
Andrew Jackson Highway

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Dr — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on the route

0.4 mi · 2 min · the route
2

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

0.5 mi · 1 min · Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
3

Turn left onto 14th Avenue North

0.2 mi · 24 sec · 14th Avenue North
4

Take the ramp slight left toward Knoxville, Huntsville

0.3 mi · 37 sec · Knoxville, Huntsville
5

Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop

0.6 mi · 52 sec · Downtown Loop
6

Take the exit slight right toward I 65 South: Huntsville

36 mi · 39 min · I 65 South: Huntsville
7

Take the exit slight right toward 412, 99: Columbia, Chapel Hill

0.2 mi · 23 sec · 412, 99: Columbia, Chapel Hill
8

Keep slight right to continue on 412: Columbia

161 ft · 5 sec · 412: Columbia
9

Turn right onto Bear Creek Pike

30 mi · 34 min · Bear Creek Pike
10

Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

11 mi · 12 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
11

Continue on North Locust Avenue

5.5 mi · 6 min · North Locust Avenue
12

Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

8.2 mi · 9 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
13

Continue on North Military Street

3.4 mi · 3 min · North Military Street
14

Turn right onto Church Street

505 ft · 24 sec · Church Street
15

Turn right onto South Main Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · South Main Street
16

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.5 miles from Nashville, TN, or about 56m 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 21 miles or 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 48.5 miles or 56m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 32m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Loretto, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Nashville, TN

This is one driving day of about 97.1 miles and 1h 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Nashville, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 48.5 mi from Nashville, TN · 56m into the drive

city in and county seat of Maury County, Tennessee, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Columbia, TN

49 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

Franklin, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Columbia, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 48.5 miles from Nashville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Loretto, TN

The final approach into Loretto, TN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.18 one way

$30.36 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $16.67 $33.34
premium $4.89 $18.69 $37.37
diesel $5.61 $21.44 $42.88

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 34 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29.1 0 $10.20 $4.66
Efficient EV 24.3 0 $8.50 $3.88
EV Truck/SUV 38.8 0 $13.59 $6.21

Gas CO2

34 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (68% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Nashville, TN

Evening in Nashville on Wednesday

Local time

6:01 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Loretto, TN

Evening in Loretto on Wednesday

Local time

6:01 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

77°F

Columbia, TN

49 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

8 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

1h 53m 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 Loretto, TN covers 97.1 miles and takes about 1h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dr, 14th Avenue North, Knoxville. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.5 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 $15.18 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Nashville, TN to Loretto, TN is easy. At 1h 53m 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 Loretto, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Nashville, TN to Loretto, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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