The drive from Union City, TN to Gallatin, TN covers 173.3 miles and takes about 3h 36m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 24, Main Street, Austin Peay Memorial Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.3 miles on I 24.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.09 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
86.6 miles from Union City, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 36m. Total distance: 173.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Union City, TN to Gallatin, TN covers 173.3 miles and takes about 3h 36m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 24 is the longest continuous segment at about 29.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 early in the drive near TN 5; TN 21 / South 1st Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 173.3 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: near the start (TN 5; TN 21 / South 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 18.3 miles (TN 22): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|TN 5; TN 21 / South 1st Street
Turn right onto TN 5; TN 21 / South 1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.8 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward TN 22 South
Navigation decision point
Toward TN 22 South
5
18.3 mi into trip|~22m in|TN 22
Keep slight left at fork onto TN 22 toward TN 22 South: Dresden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward TN 22 South: Dresden
7
148.3 mi into trip|~3h 5m in
Take the exit toward TN 45: Old Hickory Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 40
Toward TN 45: Old Hickory Boulevard
9
155.7 mi into trip|~3h 15m in|TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 95
Toward SR 386: Hendersonville, Gallatin
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
29.3 mi
31m
Main Street
28.1 mi
34m
Austin Peay Memorial Highway
25.1 mi
28m
Paris Highway
23.3 mi
34m
TN 22
19.9 mi
22m
Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
15 mi
17m
Ashland City Road
5.6 mi
6m
Old Hickory Boulevard
3.9 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 29.3 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, TN and Gallatin, TN.
1
Start on East Church Street
74 ft·7 sec·East Church Street
2
Turn right onto TN 5; TN 21
0.1 mi·20 sec·South 1st Street
3
Continue on SR 21
0.8 mi·1 min·East Main Street
4
Turn straight onto SR 214
1.9 mi·3 min·Nailling Drive
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward TN 22 South
6
Merge onto TN 22
15 mi·16 min·TN 22
7
Keep slight left at fork onto TN 22
4.7 mi·6 min·TN 22
Toward TN 22 South: Dresden
8
Turn left onto SR 239
1.3 mi·2 min·Pikeview Street
9
At end of road, turn left onto TN 54; TN 89
0.4 mi·35 sec·Pikeview Street
10
Turn right onto TN 54; TN 89
2.2 mi·3 min·West Main Street
11
Continue on TN 54; TN 217
23 mi·34 min·Paris Highway
12
Continue on US 79
25 mi·27 min·Austin Peay Memorial Highway
13
Continue on US 79
0.2 mi·11 sec·Fort Donelson Parkway
14
Continue on US 79
0.6 mi·37 sec·Austin Peay Memorial Highway
15
Continue on US 79
0.5 mi·36 sec·Lake Highway
16
Continue on US 79
1.7 mi·1 min·Donelson Parkway
17
Continue on US 79
28 mi·34 min·Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Merge onto US 41A; US 79
0.1 mi·13 sec·Fort Campbell Boulevard
19
Continue on US 41A; US 79
1.6 mi·2 min·Providence Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 41A; US 79
340 ft·7 sec·North 2nd Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
21
Turn right onto US 41A Bypass
2.4 mi·4 min·North Riverside Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on US 41A Bypass
5.6 mi·6 min·Ashland City Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Continue on TN 76
3.1 mi·3 min·TN 76
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
25
Merge onto I 24
29 mi·31 min·I 24
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 40Toward TN 45: Old Hickory BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Turn left onto TN 45
3.9 mi·6 min·Old Hickory Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 65 North: LouisvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Merge onto I 65
2.8 mi·3 min·I 65
30
Continue on I 65
0.2 mi·14 sec·I 65
31
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 386
15 mi·17 min·Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
Exit 95Toward SR 386: Hendersonville, GallatinUse the slight right lane.
32
Continue on SR 665
2.0 mi·2 min·Long Hollow Pike
33
Continue on TN 25
0.4 mi·36 sec·Red River Road
34
Continue on TN 25
0.3 mi·31 sec·West Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
35
Arrive at destination
TN 25
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 86.6 miles from Union City, TN, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.3 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 38 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.6 miles or 1h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gallatin, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Union City, 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 Union City, TN
This is one driving day of about 173.3 miles and 3h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Union City, 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 24 for about 29.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.6 mi from Union City, TN
· 1h 52m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.09 one way
$54.19 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.75
$59.50
premium
$4.89
$33.35
$66.70
diesel
$5.61
$38.26
$76.52
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: 60.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52
0
$18.20
$8.32
Efficient EV
43.3
0
$15.16
$6.93
EV Truck/SUV
69.3
0
$24.26
$11.09
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Union City, TN
Evening
in Union City on Friday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Gallatin, TN
Evening
in Gallatin on Friday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
25 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 36m 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 Union City, TN to Gallatin, TN covers 173.3 miles and takes about 3h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 24, Main Street, Austin Peay Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.6 miles from Union City, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.09 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 16 significant decision points across 173.3 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (TN 5; TN 21 / South 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 18.3 miles (TN 22): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Union City, TN to Gallatin, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
