Origin
Red Bank, TN
Morning in Red Bank on Monday
Local time
11:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Red Bank, TN to Smyrna, TN
Drive Time
5h 4m
Distance
321.1 mi
517 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 51m
★
6 AM
5h 4m
8 AM
5h 31m
10 AM
5h 14m
12 PM
5h 11m
3 PM
5h 15m
5 PM
5h 30m
8 PM
4h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Red Bank, TN
Chris Flaten
Smyrna, TN
Josef Traxler
Trip Overview
The drive from Red Bank, TN to Smyrna, TN covers 321.1 miles and takes about 5h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Schoolhouse Gap Road, Cavern Road, Dry Valley Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
160.5 miles from Red Bank, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 4m drive with frequent turns across 321.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Schoolhouse Gap Road 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 4m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Red Bank, TN to Smyrna, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Schoolhouse Gap Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cavern Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dry Valley Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Old Cades Cove Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Old Tuckaleechee Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Lamar Alexander Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 24 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Schoolhouse Gap Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Red Bank, TN and Smyrna, TN.
1
Start on Pam Lane
121 ft
·
6 sec
·
Pam Lane
2
Turn left onto Schoolhouse Gap Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Schoolhouse Gap Road
3
Turn slight right onto Cavern Road
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Cavern Road
4
Turn straight onto Dry Valley Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Dry Valley Road
5
Turn straight onto Old Cades Cove Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Cades Cove Road
6
Turn straight onto Old Tuckaleechee Road
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Tuckaleechee Road
7
Turn left onto East Lamar Alexander Parkway
14 mi
·
21 min
·
East Lamar Alexander Parkway
8
Continue on East Lamar Alexander Parkway
27 mi
·
36 min
·
East Lamar Alexander Parkway
9
Take the exit left toward I 40 West: Nashville
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 40 West: Nashville
10
Merge slight left
150 mi
·
2 hr 41 min
11
Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
12
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
13
Merge slight right onto Downtown Loop
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
Downtown Loop
14
Continue on Downtown Loop
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Downtown Loop
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Memphis
82 mi
·
1 hr 28 min
·
I 40 West: Memphis
16
Take the exit slight right toward US 641: Camden, Paris, Parsons
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 641: Camden, Paris, Parsons
17
Keep slight right
194 ft
·
5 sec
18
Merge slight left
14 mi
·
15 min
19
Turn left
1.6 mi
·
2 min
20
At the end of the road, turn left
7.8 mi
·
11 min
21
Turn left
4.1 mi
·
7 min
22
Turn right onto Buena Vista Road
2.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Buena Vista Road
23
Turn left onto Smyrna Road
2.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Smyrna Road
24
Turn right onto Buck Ditch Road
59 ft
·
3 sec
·
Buck Ditch Road
25
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 160.5 miles from Red Bank, TN, or about 2h 32m 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 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.5 miles or 2h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Smyrna, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Red Bank, 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 Red Bank, TN
This is one driving day of about 321.1 miles and 5h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Red Bank, 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 160.5 mi from Red Bank, TN · 2h 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
161 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 160.5 miles from Red Bank, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Smyrna, TN
The final approach into Smyrna, 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 Smyrna, 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
$48.77 one way
$97.54 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
112 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $53.77 | $107.53 |
| premium | $4.80 | $60.62 | $121.23 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $71.34 | $142.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 96.3 | 1 | $33.72 | $15.41 |
| Efficient EV | 80.3 | 0 | $28.10 | $12.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 128.4 | 1 | $44.95 | $20.55 |
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Smyrna, TN
Morning in Smyrna on Monday
Local time
10:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
2 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
5h 4m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Red Bank, TN to Smyrna, TN covers 321.1 miles and takes about 5h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Schoolhouse Gap Road, Cavern Road, Dry Valley Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 160.5 miles from Red Bank, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.77 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 4m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Red Bank, TN to Smyrna, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Red Bank, TN to Smyrna, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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