How far is Cookeville, TN from Nashville, TN?

The driving distance from Cookeville, TN to Nashville, TN is about 80.2 miles (129.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 71.6 miles (115.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 42m 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
80.19 mi
01h 21m
Flight
71.56 mi
115.16 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cookeville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
71.56 mi
Kilometers
115.16 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
80.19 mi
Kilometers
129.05 km
Drive Time
01h 21m

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 01h 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Nashville
Tue, May 26, 12:13 AM CDT
Return by in Cookeville
Tue, May 26, 1:34 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cookeville
2026-05-25T22:51
Arrive Nashville
Tue, May 26, 12:13 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:21 AM to 11:21 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:48 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cookeville
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
Watertown
TN

City in Wilson County, Tennessee, United States

From Cookeville
40 mi
00h 40m
To Nashville
40.1 mi
00h 40m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Memorial Day

Patchy Fog

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 mph
Destination
79°F
Memorial Day

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South Dixie Avenue

    82 m · 16 sec · South Dixie Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Spring Street

    1 km · 1 min · East Spring Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South Willow Avenue

    2 mi · 4 min · South Willow Avenue

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right

    1315 ft · 32 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    72.2 mi · 1 hr 17 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville

    1725 ft · 28 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Downtown Loop

  9. 9

    Take the exit straight toward James Robertson Parkway, State Capitol

    1033 ft · 35 sec

  10. 10

    Turn straight onto James Robertson Parkway

    1.2 km · 2 min · James Robertson Parkway

  11. 11

    Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North

    39 m · 7 sec · 3rd Avenue North

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard

    1652 ft · 43 sec · Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard

  13. 13

    Turn right onto 7th Avenue North

    1260 ft · 1 min · 7th Avenue North

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
14 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
South Willow Avenue
74.4 mi · 93%
I 24 West
2.47 mi · 3%
Downtown Loop
1.12 mi · 1%
James Robertson Parkway
0.92 mi · 1%
East Spring Street
0.64 mi · 1%
7th Avenue North
0.24 mi
Longest Stretch

South Willow Avenue

Merge slight left

72.2 mi · 01h 17m

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
01h 21m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.6 mi
71.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Watertown
00h 40m from Cookeville
Leave By
3:48 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog leaving Cookeville and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Nashville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 80.2 miles (129.1 km) and usually takes 01h 21m 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?

Watertown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 40 miles from Cookeville and 40.1 miles from Nashville.

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

The direct path is about 71.6 miles (115.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.6 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 3:48 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $10.67 one way or $21.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 25.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog around Cookeville and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Nashville.

Stop Ideas Near Watertown

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

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

BUS

Nashville, TN

58 mi away
705 5th Avenue South

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cookeville and Nashville. Straight-line distance: 71.56 mi (115.16 km).

Cookeville

#1 Cookeville

City in Tennessee, United States

Population35,060
Coordinates36.1628400, -85.5016400
Altitude334
CountryUnited States
Nashville

#2 Nashville

The twenty-second most populous city in the United States and the center of the Nashville metropolitan area.

Population684,410
Coordinates36.1658900, -86.7844400
Altitude170
CountryUnited States
Start: South Dixie Avenue (-85.501603, 36.162868)
End: (-86.784719, 36.165773)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 129 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 40m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 08m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.83 gal
10.71 L · about $10.67
Round trip
$21.34
5.66 gal · 21.42 L
Estimated CO2
25.2 kg one way
Round trip: 50.3 kg / 111 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $10.67 $21.34
Mid-grade $4.25 $12.04 $24.07
Premium $4.65 $13.17 $26.34
Diesel $5.30 $15.01 $30.02

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 · May 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Cookeville and Nashville. The current time is 22:51:46.

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.