How far is Columbia, TN from Alcoa, TN?

The driving distance from Columbia, TN to Alcoa, TN is about 223.3 miles (359.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 172.2 miles (277.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 19m 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
223.23 mi
04h 09m
Flight
172.19 mi
277.11 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Columbia.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
172.19 mi
Kilometers
277.11 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
223.23 mi
Kilometers
359.26 km
Drive Time
04h 09m

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 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alcoa
Wed, Apr 15, 11:14 AM EDT
Return by in Columbia
Wed, Apr 15, 2:23 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbia
2026-04-15T06:04
Arrive Alcoa
Wed, Apr 15, 10:14 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:10 AM to 1:10 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
8:40 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Columbia
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Baxter
TN

Town of the United States

From Columbia
111.5 mi
02h 04m
To Alcoa
111.7 mi
02h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 2:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph SSW
Destination
87°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Columbia and Alcoa.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbia and Alcoa.

  1. 1

    Start on West 7th Street

    24 m · 6 sec · West 7th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Garden Street

    2506 ft · 50 sec · North Garden Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Nashville Highway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Nashville Highway

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Bear Creek Pike

    7.2 mi · 8 min · Bear Creek Pike

  5. 5

    Take the exit left

    1845 ft · 45 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    12.1 mi · 13 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 840: Memphis, Knoxville

    1120 ft · 17 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro

    2889 ft · 42 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway

    45 mi · 48 min · Tennessee National Guard Parkway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon

    1.2 km · 2 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    140.2 mi · 2 hr 32 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 140 East, Primary SR 162 North: Oak Ridge, Maryville

    1372 ft · 34 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 140 East: Maryville

    1129 ft · 27 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Pellissippi Parkway

    10.7 mi · 13 min · Pellissippi Parkway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 129 South: Alcoa, Maryville

    2223 ft · 54 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Alcoa Highway

    1.4 km · 1 min · Alcoa Highway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight left

    101 m · 10 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left onto North Wright Road

    2.1 mi · 5 min · North Wright Road

  19. 19

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East Edison Street

    1313 ft · 37 sec · East Edison Street

  20. 20

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Springbrook Road

    29 m · 3 sec · Springbrook Road

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Springbrook Road

    35 m · 5 sec · Springbrook Road

  22. 22

    Continue on Springbrook Road

    12 m · 1 sec · Springbrook Road

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Springbrook Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Columbia and Alcoa.

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
23 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
5 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
141 mi · 63%
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
45 mi · 20%
Bear Creek Pike
19.7 mi · 9%
Pellissippi Parkway
10.7 mi · 5%
North Wright Road
2.12 mi · 1%
Nashville Highway
1.36 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

Merge slight left

140 mi · 02h 32m

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 09m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+51.1 mi
172.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Baxter
02h 04m from Columbia
Leave By
8:40 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Columbia and Partly Sunny near Alcoa.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Columbia to Alcoa?

The road trip is about 223.3 miles (359.3 km) and usually takes 04h 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?

Baxter is a useful midpoint, sitting about 111.5 miles from Columbia and 111.7 miles from Alcoa.

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

The direct path is about 172.2 miles (277.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 51.1 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 8:40 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.72 one way or $59.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 70 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Columbia and Partly Sunny near Alcoa.

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 Columbia and Alcoa. Straight-line distance: 172.19 mi (277.11 km).

Columbia

#1 Columbia

The county seat of Maury County, Tennessee.

Population41,826
Coordinates35.6150700, -87.0352800
Altitude196
CountryUnited States
Alcoa

#2 Alcoa

City in Tennessee, United States

Population10,382
Coordinates35.7895300, -83.9737900
Altitude257
CountryUnited States
Start: Columbia (-87.03528, 35.61507)
End: Alcoa (-83.97379, 35.78953)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 359 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 47m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.88 gal
29.82 L · about $29.72
Round trip
$59.43
15.76 gal · 59.64 L
Estimated CO2
70 kg one way
Round trip: 140.1 kg / 309 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $29.72 $59.43
Mid-grade $4.25 $33.51 $67.03
Premium $4.65 $36.67 $73.35
Diesel $5.30 $41.80 $83.59

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 15, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Columbia, TN and Alcoa, TN. The current time in Columbia is 06:04:21, although it is 07:04:21 in Alcoa.

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.