How far is Clarksville, TN from Central, TN?

The driving distance from Clarksville, TN to Central, TN is about 332.7 miles (535.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 282.2 miles (454.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 28m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
332.71 mi
06h 14m
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 Clarksville.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
332.71 mi
Kilometers
535.44 km
Drive Time
06h 14m

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 06h 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Central
Mon, Apr 13, 7:30 PM EDT
Return by in Clarksville
Tue, Apr 14, 12:44 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Clarksville
2026-04-13T12:16
Arrive Central
Mon, Apr 13, 6:30 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:14 PM to 2:44 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:32 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Clarksville
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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 Clarksville
166.2 mi
03h 07m
To Central
166.6 mi
03h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Monday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, Apr 13 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SSW
Destination
79°F
Monday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Mon, Apr 13 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    93.2 mi · 1 hr 42 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    36.7 mi · 41 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol

    56.6 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville

    2112 ft · 40 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway

    14 mi · 17 min · James H. Quillen Parkway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward TN 91

    959 ft · 27 sec

  17. 17

    Turn slight left onto East Main Street

    1133 ft · 39 sec · East Main Street

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Legion Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Legion Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto King Springs Road

    1.7 mi · 4 min · King Springs Road

  20. 20

    Turn slight right onto Elizabethton Highway

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Elizabethton Highway

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Elizabethton Highway

Car Route Details

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

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
21 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
210 mi · 63%
I 81 North
56.6 mi · 17%
Madison Street
38.4 mi · 12%
James H. Quillen Parkway
14 mi · 4%
I 24 East
5.09 mi · 2%
King Springs Road
1.71 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

Continue straight

93.2 mi · 01h 42m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 14m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+50.5 mi
282.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Crab Orchard
03h 07m from Clarksville
Leave By
11:32 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 332.7 miles (535.4 km) and usually takes 06h 14m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Crab Orchard is a useful midpoint, sitting about 166.2 miles from Clarksville and 166.6 miles from Central.

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 50.5 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.27 one way or $88.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 104.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

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

Flight Path Map

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

Clarksville

#1 Clarksville

The second most populous city in Tennessee.

Population161,247
Coordinates36.5297700, -87.3594500
Altitude145
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Central

Central is a place in Tennessee, United States.

Population0
Coordinates36.3262200, -82.2895800
Altitude505
CountryUnited States
Start: Clarksville (-87.35945, 36.52977)
End: Central (-82.28958, 36.32622)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 535 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 05m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.74 gal
44.44 L · about $44.27
Round trip
$88.54
23.48 gal · 88.88 L
Estimated CO2
104.3 kg one way
Round trip: 208.7 kg / 460 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $44.27 $88.54
Mid-grade $4.25 $49.93 $99.86
Premium $4.65 $54.64 $109.28
Diesel $5.30 $62.27 $124.54

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 Clarksville, TN and Central, TN. The current time in Clarksville is 12:16:18, although it is 13:16:18 in Central.

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.