How far is Cincinnati, OH from Nashville, TN?
The driving distance from Cincinnati, OH to Nashville, TN is about 274.6 miles (441.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 10m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 239.3 miles (385.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 20m 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 05h 10m.
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 Bullitt County, Kentucky, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Cloudy
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Cincinnati and Nashville.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cincinnati and Nashville.
-
1
Start on Ohio Avenue
30 m · 6 sec · Ohio Avenue
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2
Turn right onto West McMillan Avenue
876 ft · 27 sec · West McMillan Avenue
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3
Continue on East McMillan Street
1997 ft · 1 min · East McMillan Street
-
4
Turn right onto Maplewood Avenue
559 ft · 24 sec · Maplewood Avenue
-
5
Turn left onto Kinsey Avenue
845 ft · 31 sec · Kinsey Avenue
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6
Turn right onto Reading Road
2385 ft · 1 min · Reading Road
-
7
Turn left onto I 71 South: Eden Park Drive
71 m · 11 sec
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8
Take the ramp straight toward I 71 South
1684 ft · 41 sec
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9
Merge slight right onto Northeast Expressway
1021 ft · 16 sec · Northeast Expressway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Northeast Expressway
3197 ft · 51 sec · Northeast Expressway
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11
Continue on Lytle Tunnel
20.4 mi · 25 min · Lytle Tunnel
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12
Take the exit slight right toward I 71 South: Louisville
71.5 mi · 1 hr 18 min
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13
Take the exit slight left toward I 264 West: Watterson Expressway
2346 ft · 45 sec
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14
Continue on Henry Watterson Expressway
10 mi · 14 min · Henry Watterson Expressway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward I 65, KY 61: Nashville, Indianapolis
936 ft · 15 sec
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16
Keep slight left to continue on I 65: Nashville, Downtown Louisville, Indianapolis
963 ft · 15 sec
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17
Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Nashville
1 mi · 2 min
-
18
Merge slight left
165.5 mi · 2 hr 59 min
-
19
Continue on I 24 East: Chattanooga, Knoxville
1.4 mi · 2 min
-
20
Take the exit slight right toward James Robertson Parkway, State Capitol
872 ft · 23 sec
-
21
Continue on Interstate Drive
114 m · 6 sec · Interstate Drive
-
22
Turn right onto James Robertson Parkway
1.1 km · 2 min · James Robertson Parkway
-
23
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North
39 m · 7 sec · 3rd Avenue North
-
24
Turn right onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
1652 ft · 43 sec · Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
-
25
Turn right onto 7th Avenue North
1260 ft · 1 min · 7th Avenue North
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Cincinnati and Nashville.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 65 South
Merge slight left
166 mi · 02h 59m
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.
Mostly Cloudy leaving Cincinnati and Sunny near Nashville.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Cincinnati to Nashville?
The road trip is about 274.6 miles (441.9 km) and usually takes 05h 10m 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?
Lebanon Junction is a useful midpoint, sitting about 137.2 miles from Cincinnati and 137.4 miles from Nashville.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 239.3 miles (385.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.3 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 6:40 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.60 one way or $79.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 86.1 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Cincinnati and Nashville, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Cincinnati and Sunny near Nashville.
Stop Ideas Near Lebanon Junction
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 Lebanon Junction.
Louisville, Kentucky
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Cincinnati and Nashville. Straight-line distance: 239.32 mi (385.15 km).
#1 Cincinnati
The third most populous city in Ohio and the center of the Cincinnati metropolitan area.
| Population | 304,548 |
| Coordinates | 39.1271100, -84.5143900 |
| Altitude | 191 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Nashville
The twenty-second most populous city in the United States and the center of the Nashville metropolitan area.
| Population | 684,410 |
| Coordinates | 36.1658900, -86.7844400 |
| Altitude | 170 |
| Country | United States |
End: Nashville (-86.78444, 36.16589)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 442 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 08m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 51m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 29m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 34m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 55m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 25m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.09 | $39.60 | $79.21 |
| Mid-grade | $4.63 | $44.90 | $89.81 |
| Premium | $5.17 | $50.14 | $100.27 |
| Diesel | $6.22 | $60.23 | $120.47 |
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 Ohio · Oct 17, 2026