How far is Columbia, TN from Cookeville, TN?

The driving distance from Columbia, TN to Cookeville, TN is about 121 miles (194.8 km), with a travel time of about 02h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 93.8 miles (151 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 31m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
121.06 mi
02h 15m
Flight
93.82 mi
150.99 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Columbia.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
93.82 mi
Kilometers
150.99 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
121.06 mi
Kilometers
194.83 km
Drive Time
02h 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 02h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cookeville
Sun, Apr 19, 9:03 AM CDT
Return by in Columbia
Sun, Apr 19, 11:19 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbia
2026-04-19T06:48
Arrive Cookeville
Sun, Apr 19, 9:03 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:16 AM to 12:16 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:58 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Columbia
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Rural Hill
TN

Census-designated place in Wilson County, Tennessee

From Columbia
60.5 mi
01h 07m
To Cookeville
60.6 mi
01h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph N
Destination
62°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    50 mi · 54 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward TN 135: Cookeville

    1068 ft · 34 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto South Willow Avenue

    2.1 mi · 4 min · South Willow Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right onto West Spring Street

    1 km · 1 min · West Spring Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto South Dixie Avenue

    82 m · 12 sec · South Dixie Avenue

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Dixie Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
16 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
50.7 mi · 42%
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
45 mi · 37%
Bear Creek Pike
19.7 mi · 16%
South Willow Avenue
2.13 mi · 2%
Nashville Highway
1.36 mi · 1%
West Spring Street
0.64 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

Merge slight left

50 mi · 00h 54m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 15m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.2 mi
93.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rural Hill
01h 07m from Columbia
Leave By
1:58 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny leaving Columbia and Rain Showers Likely near Cookeville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 121 miles (194.8 km) and usually takes 02h 15m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Rural Hill is a useful midpoint, sitting about 60.5 miles from Columbia and 60.6 miles from Cookeville.

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

The direct path is about 93.8 miles (151 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:58 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.10 one way or $32.20 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 37.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny around Columbia and Rain Showers Likely near Cookeville.

Stop Ideas Near Rural Hill

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Rural Hill, 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 Rural Hill.

BUS

Nashville, TN

27 mi away
705 5th Avenue South
BUS

Clarksville, TN

92 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Columbia and Cookeville. Straight-line distance: 93.82 mi (150.99 km).

Columbia

#1 Columbia

The county seat of Maury County, Tennessee.

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

#2 Cookeville

City in Tennessee, United States

Population35,060
Coordinates36.1628400, -85.5016400
Altitude334
CountryUnited States
Start: Columbia (-87.03528, 35.61507)
End: Cookeville (-85.50164, 36.16284)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 195 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 43m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.27 gal
16.17 L · about $16.10
Round trip
$32.20
8.54 gal · 32.34 L
Estimated CO2
37.9 kg one way
Round trip: 75.9 kg / 167 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $16.10 $32.20
Mid-grade $4.25 $18.16 $36.32
Premium $4.65 $19.87 $39.75
Diesel $5.30 $22.65 $45.30

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Columbia and Cookeville. The current time is 06:48:09.

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.