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Trip from Oakland, TN to Clarksville, TN

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 41m

Distance

175.8 mi

283 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 29m ★
6 AM
3h 41m
8 AM
4h 6m
10 AM
3h 50m
12 PM
3h 47m
3 PM
3h 51m
5 PM
4h 5m
8 PM
3h 34m

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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human settlement in Fayette County, Tennessee, United States of America

Oakland, TN

Wikimedia Commons

city in Tennessee, United States

Clarksville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Oakland, TN to Clarksville, TN covers 175.8 miles and takes about 3h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 40, Austin Peay Memorial Highway, Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 44.8 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.48 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

87.9 miles from Oakland, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 44.8 mi 48m
Austin Peay Memorial Highway 36.5 mi 41m
Main Street 29.8 mi 36m
East Main Street 16.4 mi 24m
US 45E 13.5 mi 19m
Paris Bypass 7.6 mi 8m
Church Street 6.7 mi 11m
US 45 Bypass 6.6 mi 9m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 44.8 mi, about 48m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Oakland, TN and Clarksville, TN.

1

Start on SR 194

6.7 mi · 11 min · Church Street
2

Continue on TN 194

1.6 mi · 2 min · TN 194
3

At end of road, turn left onto TN 59

2.2 mi · 3 min · TN 59
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec
5

Merge onto I 40

45 mi · 48 min · I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Toward Trenton Use the right lane.
7

Merge onto US 45 Bypass

6.6 mi · 9 min · US 45 Bypass
Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Take the exit onto US 45E

13 mi · 19 min · US 45E
9

Turn right onto US 70A; US 79

2.0 mi · 2 min · East Van Hook Street
Use the right lane.
10

Continue on US 70A; US 79

2.1 mi · 3 min · Atwood Highway
11

Turn left onto US 70A; US 79

0.7 mi · 1 min · Atwood Highway
12

Continue on US 70A; US 79

1.7 mi · 2 min · Main Street
13

Keep slight left at fork onto US 79

16 mi · 24 min · East Main Street
14

Continue on US 79

12 mi · 13 min · Austin Peay Memorial Highway
15

Turn right onto SR 218

7.6 mi · 8 min · Paris Bypass
16

Turn right onto US 79; SR 218

24 mi · 27 min · Austin Peay Memorial Highway
17

Continue on US 79

0.2 mi · 11 sec · Fort Donelson Parkway
18

Continue on US 79

0.6 mi · 37 sec · Austin Peay Memorial Highway
19

Continue on US 79

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Lake Highway
20

Continue on US 79

1.7 mi · 1 min · Donelson Parkway
21

Continue on US 79

28 mi · 34 min · Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
22

Merge onto US 41A; US 79

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Fort Campbell Boulevard
23

Continue on US 41A; US 79

1.6 mi · 2 min · Providence Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
24

Continue on US 41A; US 79

0.9 mi · 1 min · North 2nd Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
25

Arrive at destination

North 2nd 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 87.9 miles from Oakland, TN, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.8 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 39 miles or 48m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 87.9 miles or 1h 53m 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 Clarksville, TN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Oakland, 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 Oakland, TN

This is one driving day of about 175.8 miles and 3h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Oakland, 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 44.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

human settlement in Tennessee, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

McKenzie, TN

88 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

McKenzie, TN to Clarksville, TN

80.4 mi · 1h 36m

Pacing Suggestions

Brownsville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

McKenzie, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 87.9 miles from Oakland, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Sweet Jordan's

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Paris, Tennessee

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour Inexpensiv mile 113

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+17316420161

Visit website

Southside Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Paris, Tennessee

1.4 mi

Uncle Billy's Downtown Eatery

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Paris, Tennessee

2.9 mi

Sweet Jordan's

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour Inexpensiv mile 113

Paris, Tennessee

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+17316420161

Visit website

Southside Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 113

Paris, Tennessee

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+17314074694

Visit website

Uncle Billy's Downtown Eatery

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 113

Paris, Tennessee

Hours: 10:30 am–2:30 pm

+17314079277

Jack's Java Urban Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 113

Paris, Tennessee

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+17314074410

The Happy Book Stack McKenzie

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 100.5

McKenzie, Tennessee

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+17313583641

Visit website

MOM's Cafe

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 100.5

McKenzie, Tennessee

Hours: 11 am–4 pm

+17314158469

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 8.3 and 75.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
8.3 mi into trip | ~14m in | TN 59

At end of road, turn left onto TN 59

Navigation decision point

5
10.7 mi into trip | ~18m in | I 40

Merge onto I 40

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
55.4 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in

Take the exit toward Trenton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward Trenton
5
55.6 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | US 45 Bypass

Merge onto US 45 Bypass

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
75.7 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in | US 70A; US 79 / East Van Hook Street

Turn right onto US 70A; US 79 / East Van Hook Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$27.48 one way

$54.97 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $30.18 $60.35
premium $4.89 $33.83 $67.66
diesel $5.61 $38.81 $77.63

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 61.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 52.7 0 $18.46 $8.44
Efficient EV 44 0 $15.38 $7.03
EV Truck/SUV 70.3 0 $24.61 $11.25

Gas CO2

62 kg

EV CO2

21 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Oakland, TN

Afternoon in Oakland on Saturday

Local time

2:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clarksville, TN

Afternoon in Clarksville on Saturday

Local time

2:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°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

Same local time

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

Temperature spread

24 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 41m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Fort Donelson National Battlefield

Fort Donelson National Battlefield

National Battlefield

Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donels...

1 mi from route ~2 min detour Free near mile 139.4
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

175.8 mi in 3h 41m — 40% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: I 40.

40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.8 mi on I 40.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 8.3 miles in near TN 59.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 175.8 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 8.3 miles (TN 59): Navigation decision point; at 10.7 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Oakland, TN to Clarksville, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Trenton along the way.

Trenton

55.4 mi in | ~1h 6m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 41m. Total distance: 175.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 44.8 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Clarksville, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 8.3 miles (TN 59): Navigation decision point; at 10.7 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Fort Donelson National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Clarksville, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Return Trip

Clarksville, TN to Oakland, TN

Plan the drive back the other way.

181.2 mi 3h 42m

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