How far is Columbia, TN from Elizabethton, TN?
The driving distance from Columbia, TN to Elizabethton, TN is about 334.6 miles (538.5 km), with a travel time of about 06h 13m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 274.5 miles (441.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 26m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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 06h 13m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Human settlement in Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Columbia and Elizabethton.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia and Elizabethton.
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1
Start on West 7th Street
24 m · 6 sec · West 7th Street
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2
Turn right onto North Garden Street
2506 ft · 50 sec · North Garden Street
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3
Continue on Nashville Highway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Nashville Highway
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4
Turn right onto Bear Creek Pike
7.2 mi · 8 min · Bear Creek Pike
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5
Take the exit left
1845 ft · 45 sec
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6
Merge slight left
12.1 mi · 13 min
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7
Take the exit slight right toward I 840: Memphis, Knoxville
1120 ft · 17 sec
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8
Keep slight right to continue on 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro
2889 ft · 42 sec
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9
Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway
45 mi · 48 min · Tennessee National Guard Parkway
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10
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
1.2 km · 2 min
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11
Merge slight left
149.1 mi · 2 hr 42 min
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12
Keep slight left
36.7 mi · 41 min
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13
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol
56.6 mi · 1 hr 1 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
2112 ft · 40 sec
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15
Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway
15.1 mi · 18 min · James H. Quillen Parkway
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16
Take the exit slight right
683 ft · 17 sec
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17
Turn slight right
104 m · 8 sec
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18
Merge slight left onto University Parkway
8.4 mi · 14 min · University Parkway
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19
Enter the roundabout toward the route
72 m · 5 sec
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20
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Columbia and Elizabethton.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 40 East
Merge slight left
149 mi · 02h 42m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Columbia and Chance Rain Showers near Elizabethton.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Columbia to Elizabethton?
The road trip is about 334.6 miles (538.5 km) and usually takes 06h 13m 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 167.1 miles from Columbia and 167.5 miles from Elizabethton.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 274.5 miles (441.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 60.1 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 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 $44.54 one way or $89.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 105 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Columbia and Elizabethton, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Columbia and Chance Rain Showers near Elizabethton.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Columbia and Elizabethton. Straight-line distance: 274.43 mi (441.66 km).
#1 Columbia
The county seat of Maury County, Tennessee.
| Population | 41,826 |
| Coordinates | 35.6150700, -87.0352800 |
| Altitude | 196 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Elizabethton
City in Tennessee
| Population | 13,479 |
| Coordinates | 36.3487200, -82.2106900 |
| Altitude | 465 |
| Country | United States |
End: Elizabethton (-82.21069, 36.34872)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 539 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 08m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 21m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 41m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 34m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 46m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 10m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $44.54 | $89.07 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $50.23 | $100.46 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $54.96 | $109.93 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $62.64 | $125.28 |
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 17, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.