How far is Central, TN from Clarksville, TN?

The driving distance from Central, TN to Clarksville, TN is about 335.7 miles (540.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 282.2 miles (454.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
335.68 mi
05h 15m
Flight
282.16 mi
454.1 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Central.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
282.16 mi
Kilometers
454.1 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
335.68 mi
Kilometers
540.22 km
Drive Time
05h 15m

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 05h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clarksville
Mon, Apr 13, 3:53 PM CDT
Return by in Central
Mon, Apr 13, 10:08 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Central
2026-04-13T11:38
Arrive Clarksville
Mon, Apr 13, 4:53 PM EDT
Route Timing
05h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:15 AM to 12:15 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:30 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Central
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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.

Mid-route stop
Crab Orchard
TN

Human settlement in Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States of America

From Central
166.2 mi
02h 37m
To Clarksville
169.5 mi
02h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Monday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Mon, Apr 13 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW
Destination
83°F
Monday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, Apr 13 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Central and Clarksville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Central and Clarksville.

  1. 1

    Start on Elizabethton Highway

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Elizabethton Highway

  2. 2

    Continue on East Main Street

    1.8 mi · 5 min · East Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn straight

    71 m · 10 sec

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Legion Street

    722 ft · 15 sec · Legion Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right

    747 ft · 18 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway

    14.3 mi · 17 min · James H. Quillen Parkway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 81 South: Knoxville

    1100 ft · 38 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    56.4 mi · 1 hr

  9. 9

    Continue on I 40 West: Knoxville

    1.1 km · 45 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    52.8 mi · 59 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on Nashville

    154.8 mi · 2 hr 47 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville

    1725 ft · 28 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop

  15. 15

    Continue on I 24 West, I 65 North: Clarksville, Louisville

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight left toward I 24 West: Clarksville

    33.9 mi · 37 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward TN 76

    1680 ft · 41 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    86 m · 10 sec

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    3.4 mi · 4 min

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Madison Street

    4.7 mi · 8 min · Madison Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto University Avenue

    1877 ft · 44 sec · University Avenue

  22. 22

    At the end of the road, turn left onto College Street

    1772 ft · 46 sec · College Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto North 2nd Street

    41 m · 3 sec · North 2nd Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North 2nd Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Central and Clarksville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
24 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Nashville
155 mi · 46%
I 81 South
56.6 mi · 17%
I 40 West
53.5 mi · 16%
I 24 West
38.5 mi · 11%
James H. Quillen Parkway
14.3 mi · 4%
Madison Street
4.68 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Nashville

Keep slight right to continue on Nashville

155 mi · 02h 47m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
05h 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+53.5 mi
282.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Crab Orchard
02h 37m from Central
Leave By
6:30 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Central and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Clarksville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Central to Clarksville?

The road trip is about 335.7 miles (540.2 km) and usually takes 05h 15m 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?

Crab Orchard is a useful midpoint, sitting about 166.2 miles from Central and 169.5 miles from Clarksville.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 282.2 miles (454.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 53.5 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 6:30 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.69 one way or $89.37 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 105.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Central and Clarksville, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Central and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Clarksville.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Central and Clarksville. Straight-line distance: 282.16 mi (454.1 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Central

Central is a place in Tennessee, United States.

Population0
Coordinates36.3262200, -82.2895800
Altitude505
CountryUnited States
Clarksville

#2 Clarksville

The second most populous city in Tennessee.

Population161,247
Coordinates36.5297700, -87.3594500
Altitude145
CountryUnited States
Start: Elizabethton Highway (-82.289574, 36.326169)
End: North 2nd Street (-87.359454, 36.529769)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 540 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 11m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 35m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.85 gal
44.84 L · about $44.69
Round trip
$89.37
23.7 gal · 89.68 L
Estimated CO2
105.3 kg one way
Round trip: 210.6 kg / 464 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $44.69 $89.37
Mid-grade $4.25 $50.40 $100.80
Premium $4.65 $55.15 $110.30
Diesel $5.30 $62.85 $125.70

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 · Apr 13, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Central, TN and Clarksville, TN. The current time in Central is 11:38:21, although it is 10:38:21 in Clarksville.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.