How far is Clarksville, TN from Athens, TN?

The driving distance from Clarksville, TN to Athens, TN is about 211.8 miles (340.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 171.9 miles (276.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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
211.76 mi
04h 22m
Flight
171.92 mi
276.68 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Clarksville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
171.92 mi
Kilometers
276.68 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
211.76 mi
Kilometers
340.8 km
Drive Time
04h 22m

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 04h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Athens
Sat, Apr 11, 6:43 AM EDT
Return by in Clarksville
Sat, Apr 11, 10:05 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clarksville
2026-04-11T01:20
Arrive Athens
Sat, Apr 11, 5:43 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:23 AM to 1:23 PM EDT

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

Leave by
8:14 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Clarksville
9:00 PM CDT
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
Baxter
TN

Town of the United States

From Clarksville
105.8 mi
02h 11m
To Athens
105.9 mi
02h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph S
Destination
81°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North 2nd Street

    816 ft · 28 sec · North 2nd Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Franklin Street

    1762 ft · 52 sec · Franklin Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto University Avenue

    931 ft · 29 sec · University Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Madison Street

    4.7 mi · 8 min · Madison Street

  5. 5

    Turn left

    3.1 mi · 4 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right

    2202 ft · 54 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    33.3 mi · 36 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 24 East, I 65 South: Nashville

    2.3 mi · 3 min

  9. 9

    Continue on I 24 East: Chattanooga, Knoxville

    2.8 mi · 4 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga

    80.6 mi · 1 hr 27 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    26 mi · 28 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 127, TN 28: Crossville, Jamestown

    1387 ft · 34 sec

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto North Main Street

    7.6 mi · 12 min · North Main Street

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    20.1 mi · 30 min

  15. 15

    Continue on Herb M Wassom Mem Highway

    635 ft · 13 sec · Herb M Wassom Mem Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on Piccadilly Avenue

    2655 ft · 55 sec · Piccadilly Avenue

  17. 17

    Continue on New Lake Road

    3.4 mi · 6 min · New Lake Road

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Watts Bar Highway

    10 mi · 14 min · Watts Bar Highway

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    39 m · 2 sec

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout

    12 m · 1 sec

  21. 21

    Turn slight right

    2 mi · 3 min

  22. 22

    Turn right onto St Hwy 305

    6.9 mi · 12 min · St Hwy 305

  23. 23

    Continue on Highway 305

    4 mi · 6 min · Highway 305

  24. 24

    Continue on Ingleside Avenue

    2.9 mi · 5 min · Ingleside Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Washington Avenue

    766 ft · 15 sec · Washington Avenue

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Washington Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
26 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
107 mi · 50%
Madison Street
38.4 mi · 18%
North Main Street
27.7 mi · 13%
Watts Bar Highway
10 mi · 5%
St Hwy 305
6.86 mi · 3%
I 24 East
5.09 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

Keep slight left to continue on I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga

80.6 mi · 01h 27m

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
04h 22m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+39.9 mi
171.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Baxter
02h 11m from Clarksville
Leave By
8:14 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Clarksville and Sunny near Athens.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 211.8 miles (340.8 km) and usually takes 04h 22m 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?

Baxter is a useful midpoint, sitting about 105.8 miles from Clarksville and 105.9 miles from Athens.

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

The direct path is about 171.9 miles (276.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 39.9 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:14 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.17 one way or $56.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 66.4 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Clarksville and Sunny near Athens.

Stop Ideas Near Baxter

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Baxter, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Baxter.

BUS

Nashville, TN

101 mi away
705 5th Avenue South

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Clarksville and Athens. Straight-line distance: 171.92 mi (276.68 km).

Clarksville

#1 Clarksville

The second most populous city in Tennessee.

Population161,247
Coordinates36.5297700, -87.3594500
Altitude145
CountryUnited States
Athens

#2 Athens

Town in Tennessee, United States

Population14,120
Coordinates35.4428500, -84.5929900
Altitude262
CountryUnited States
Start: Clarksville (-87.35945, 36.52977)
End: Athens (-84.59299, 35.44285)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 341 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 17m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 01m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.47 gal
28.29 L · about $28.17
Round trip
$56.34
14.94 gal · 56.58 L
Estimated CO2
66.4 kg one way
Round trip: 132.8 kg / 293 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $28.17 $56.34
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.77 $63.54
Premium $4.65 $34.77 $69.53
Diesel $5.30 $39.62 $79.24

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 11, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Clarksville, TN and Athens, TN. The current time in Clarksville is 01:20:43, although it is 02:20:43 in Athens.

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.