How far is Athens, TN from Hendersonville, TN?
The driving distance from Athens, TN to Hendersonville, TN is about 173.4 miles (279.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 09m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 128.2 miles (206.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 03h 09m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
City in Putnam County, Tennessee, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Showers And Thunderstorms
Patchy Fog
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Athens and Hendersonville.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Athens and Hendersonville.
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1
Start on Washington Avenue
57 m · 9 sec · Washington Avenue
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2
Turn left onto North White Street
75 m · 12 sec · North White Street
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3
Turn left onto East Madison Avenue
943 ft · 26 sec · East Madison Avenue
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4
Turn left onto Green Street
76 m · 6 sec · Green Street
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5
Turn slight right onto Ingleside Avenue
2.8 mi · 5 min · Ingleside Avenue
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6
Continue on John J Duncan Parkway
4 mi · 6 min · John J Duncan Parkway
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7
Continue on Clearwater Road
6.9 mi · 12 min · Clearwater Road
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8
At the end of the road, turn left
2 mi · 3 min
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9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
43 m · 2 sec
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10
Exit the roundabout
12 m · 2 sec
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11
Turn slight right
3.9 mi · 5 min
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12
Continue on Watts Bar Highway
6.1 mi · 8 min · Watts Bar Highway
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13
Turn right onto New Lake Road
3.4 mi · 6 min · New Lake Road
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14
Continue on Piccadilly Avenue
2655 ft · 53 sec · Piccadilly Avenue
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15
Continue on Herb M Wassom Mem Highway
635 ft · 13 sec · Herb M Wassom Mem Highway
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16
At the end of the road, turn right onto Herb M Wassom Mem Highway
1448 ft · 31 sec · Herb M Wassom Mem Highway
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17
Continue on Wassom Memorial Highway
19.8 mi · 30 min · Wassom Memorial Highway
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18
Turn straight
7.7 mi · 12 min
-
19
Take the exit left
983 ft · 24 sec
-
20
Merge slight left
85.3 mi · 1 hr 32 min
-
21
Take the exit slight right toward TN 109: Gallatin
1834 ft · 48 sec
-
22
Turn right
12.7 mi · 18 min
-
23
Turn left
2.1 mi · 2 min
-
24
Take the exit slight right toward US 31E: Gallatin, Hendersonville
1060 ft · 33 sec
-
25
Turn right onto Nashville Pike
5.7 mi · 8 min · Nashville Pike
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26
Continue on East Main Street
1.4 mi · 2 min · East Main Street
-
27
Continue on Gallatin Road
1.4 mi · 2 min · Gallatin Road
-
28
Continue on East Main Street
1.7 mi · 3 min · East Main Street
-
29
Turn left onto Walton Ferry Road
16 m · 1 sec · Walton Ferry Road
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30
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Walton Ferry Road
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Athens and Hendersonville.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Wassom Memorial Highway
Merge slight left
85.3 mi · 01h 32m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Athens and Patchy Fog near Hendersonville.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Athens to Hendersonville?
The road trip is about 173.4 miles (279.1 km) and usually takes 03h 09m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Algood is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.4 miles from Athens and 89 miles from Hendersonville.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 128.2 miles (206.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 45.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:40 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.08 one way or $46.16 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.4 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Athens and Hendersonville, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Athens and Patchy Fog near Hendersonville.
Stop Ideas Near Algood
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Algood.
Nashville, TN
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Athens and Hendersonville. Straight-line distance: 128.16 mi (206.25 km).
#1 Athens
Town in Tennessee, United States
| Population | 14,120 |
| Coordinates | 35.4428500, -84.5929900 |
| Altitude | 262 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Hendersonville
The most populous city in Sumner County, Tennessee.
| Population | 59,323 |
| Coordinates | 36.3047700, -86.6200000 |
| Altitude | 147 |
| Country | United States |
End: Walton Ferry Road (-86.619965, 36.30477)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 279 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 46m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 20m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 28m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 53m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 28m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 09m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $23.08 | $46.16 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $26.03 | $52.06 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $28.48 | $56.96 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $32.46 | $64.92 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Tennessee · May 25, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.