Origin
Oak Ridge, TN
Afternoon in Oak Ridge on Wednesday
Local time
2:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oak Ridge, TN to Columbia, TN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 43m
Distance
203.8 mi
328 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 31m
★
6 AM
3h 44m
8 AM
4h 9m
10 AM
3h 53m
12 PM
3h 50m
3 PM
3h 54m
5 PM
4h 8m
8 PM
3h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oak Ridge, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Columbia, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Oak Ridge, TN to Columbia, TN covers 203.8 miles and takes about 3h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, Tennessee National Guard Parkway, I 65 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 112.3 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.86 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
101.9 miles from Oak Ridge, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 3h 43m highway drive covering 203.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 112.3 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 21 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 112.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 135.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 203.8 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 135.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
135.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 235
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
8
181.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 65: Nashville, Huntsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31
Toward I 65: Nashville, Huntsville
8
181.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 South: Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 31A
Toward I 65 South: Huntsville
6
194.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 31m in
Take the exit toward 412, 99: Columbia, Chapel Hill
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 46
Toward 412, 99: Columbia, Chapel Hill
7
194.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 412: Columbia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 46
Toward 412: Columbia
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Oak Ridge, TN and Columbia, TN, road signs point toward Murfreesboro and Huntsville.
Murfreesboro
135.4 mi in
|
~2h 27m
Huntsville
181.1 mi in
|
~3h 16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 112.3 mi | 2h |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | 44.6 mi | 47m |
| I 65 | 11.5 mi | 12m |
| Harriman Highway | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| Bear Creek Pike | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| East Tri County Boulevard | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| North Roane Street | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Hannah Highway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 112.3 mi, about 2h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oak Ridge, TN and Columbia, TN.
1
Start on TN 62
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Illinois Avenue
2
Continue on SR 62
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
East Tri County Boulevard
3
Continue on SR 61
9.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Harriman Highway
4
Merge onto US 27
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
·
Bitter Creek Highway
5
Continue on US 27
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Harriman Highway
6
Continue on US 27
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Hannah Highway
7
Continue on US 27
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
North Roane Street
8
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
9
Merge onto I 40
112 mi
·
2 hr
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Exit 235
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 840
45 mi
·
47 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 31
Toward I 65: Nashville, Huntsville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
1.6 mi
·
2 min
Exit 31A
Toward I 65 South: Huntsville
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 65
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 46
Toward 412, 99: Columbia, Chapel Hill
16
Keep slight right at fork
162 ft
·
4 sec
Exit 46
Toward 412: Columbia
17
Turn right onto US 412
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Bear Creek Pike
18
Turn left onto US 31; US 412 Business
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Nashville Highway
19
Continue on US 31; US 412 Business
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
North Garden Street
20
Turn left onto West 7th Street
79 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 7th Street
21
Arrive at destination
West 7th Street
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 101.9 miles from Oak Ridge, TN, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.3 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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.9 miles or 1h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Oak Ridge, 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 Oak Ridge, TN
This is one driving day of about 203.8 miles and 3h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Oak Ridge, 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 112.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 101.9 mi from Oak Ridge, TN · 1h 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
102 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 101.9 miles from Oak Ridge, 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 112.3 miles.
Arriving in Columbia, TN
The final approach into Columbia, 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 Columbia, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.86 one way
$63.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
71 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $34.98 | $69.97 |
| premium | $4.89 | $39.22 | $78.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.00 | $89.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.1 | 0 | $21.40 | $9.78 |
| Efficient EV | 51 | 0 | $17.83 | $8.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 81.5 | 1 | $28.53 | $13.04 |
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Columbia, TN
Afternoon in Columbia on Wednesday
Local time
1:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
28 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
3h 43m 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 Oak Ridge, TN to Columbia, TN covers 203.8 miles and takes about 3h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Tennessee National Guard Parkway, I 65. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 101.9 miles from Oak Ridge, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.86 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 203.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 135.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Oak Ridge, TN and Columbia, TN, road signs point toward Murfreesboro and Huntsville.
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