The drive from Watertown, TN to Jackson, TN covers 322 miles and takes about 6h 6m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, East Lamar Alexander Parkway, US 70 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 273.8 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.34 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
161 miles from Watertown, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 7m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 6m. Total distance: 322 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 6m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 6m highway drive covering 322 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and East Lamar Alexander Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 273.8 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 17 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 273.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and East Lamar Alexander Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near Old Walland Highway.
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 13 significant decision points across 322 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 1.9 miles (Old Walland Highway): Navigation decision point; at 38.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 188.8 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|Old Walland Highway
At end of road, turn right onto Old Walland Highway
Navigation decision point
7
38.2 mi into trip|~55m in
Take the exit toward I 40 West: Nashville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 40 West: Nashville
9
188.8 mi into trip|~3h 37m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
8
190.9 mi into trip|~3h 40m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
7
194.3 mi into trip|~3h 45m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 West: Memphis
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Watertown, TN and Jackson, TN, road signs point toward Memphis and Louisville.
Memphis
190.9 mi in|~3h 40m|via I 40
Louisville
192 mi in|~3h 42m|via I 40
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
273.8 mi
4h 56m
East Lamar Alexander Parkway
36 mi
49m
US 70
6 mi
8m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
3m
East Millers Cove Road
1.9 mi
4m
East Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Old Walland Highway
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 273.8 mi, about 4h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Watertown, TN and Jackson, TN.
1
Start on this road
33 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto East Millers Cove Road
1.9 mi·4 min·East Millers Cove Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto Old Walland Highway
0.3 mi·38 sec·Old Walland Highway
4
Turn right onto US 321
9.0 mi·13 min·East Lamar Alexander Parkway
5
Continue on US 321
27 mi·36 min·East Lamar Alexander Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 40 West: NashvilleUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 40
150 mi·2 hr 41 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·3 min·I 40
Exit 213BToward I 24 West, I 40 West: NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
0.4 mi·42 sec·I 40
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, MemphisUse the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 40
0.6 mi·52 sec·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 40
2.3 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Exit 210AToward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, LouisvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
121 mi·2 hr 10 min·I 40
Toward I 40 West: MemphisUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 70, US 412 East
14
Turn left onto US 70
4.2 mi·6 min·US 70
15
Turn left onto US 70
1.8 mi·2 min·US 70
16
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 161 miles from Watertown, TN, or about 3h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 273.8 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 71 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161 miles or 3h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jackson, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Watertown, 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 Watertown, TN
This is one driving day of about 322 miles and 6h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Watertown, 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 273.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 161 mi from Watertown, TN
· 3h 7m 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.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 177.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.34 one way
$100.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$55.27
$110.54
premium
$4.89
$61.97
$123.93
diesel
$5.61
$71.09
$142.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.6
1
$33.81
$15.46
Efficient EV
80.5
0
$28.17
$12.88
EV Truck/SUV
128.8
1
$45.08
$20.61
Gas CO2
113 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Watertown, TN
Night
in Watertown on Thursday
Local time
11:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, TN
Night
in Jackson on Thursday
Local time
10:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 5 to 10 mph51% chanceLive forecast
74°F
Sparta, TN
161 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
11 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
6h 6m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Watertown, TN to Jackson, TN covers 322 miles and takes about 6h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, East Lamar Alexander Parkway, US 70. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 161 miles from Watertown, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $50.34 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 322 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 1.9 miles (Old Walland Highway): Navigation decision point; at 38.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 188.8 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Watertown, TN and Jackson, TN, road signs point toward Memphis and Louisville.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Stones River National Battlefield.
