How far is Jackson, TN from Watertown, TN?

The driving distance from Jackson, TN to Watertown, TN is about 321.9 miles (518 km), with a travel time of about 06h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 282.2 miles (454.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 11m 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
321.88 mi
06h 05m
Flight
282.19 mi
454.14 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Jackson.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
282.19 mi
Kilometers
454.14 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
321.88 mi
Kilometers
518.02 km
Drive Time
06h 05m

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 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Watertown
Sun, Apr 19, 8:47 AM EDT
Return by in Jackson
Sun, Apr 19, 1:53 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Jackson
2026-04-19T01:41
Arrive Watertown
Sun, Apr 19, 7:47 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:06 PM to 2:36 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
11:48 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Jackson
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
Lebanon
TN

City in Wilson County, Tennessee, United States

From Jackson
160.7 mi
03h 02m
To Watertown
161.2 mi
03h 02m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NNW
Destination
60°F
Sunday

Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Jackson and Watertown.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jackson and Watertown.

  1. 1

    Start on East Main Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · East Main Street

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left

    1.8 mi · 2 min

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Whitehall Street

    4 mi · 6 min · Whitehall Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right

    1308 ft · 32 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    120.5 mi · 2 hr 10 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville

    1305 ft · 25 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop

  8. 8

    Continue on Downtown Loop

    2764 ft · 43 sec · Downtown Loop

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga

    153 mi · 2 hr 46 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 321, TN 73, TN 95: Lenoir City, Oak Ridge

    1499 ft · 28 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on US 321, TN 73, TN 95: Lenoir City, Oak Ridge

    46 m · 3 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Lamar Alexander Parkway

    26.9 mi · 36 min · Lamar Alexander Parkway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on East Lamar Alexander Parkway

    9 mi · 13 min · East Lamar Alexander Parkway

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Old Walland Highway

    1415 ft · 45 sec · Old Walland Highway

  15. 15

    Turn left onto East Millers Cove Road

    1.9 mi · 5 min · East Millers Cove Road

  16. 16

    Turn right

    10 m · 2 sec

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Jackson and Watertown.

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
17 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
153 mi · 48%
Whitehall Street
125 mi · 39%
Lamar Alexander Parkway
26.9 mi · 8%
East Lamar Alexander Parkway
9.04 mi · 3%
Downtown Loop
2.93 mi · 1%
East Millers Cove Road
1.91 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga

153 mi · 02h 46m

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 05m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+39.7 mi
282.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lebanon
03h 02m from Jackson
Leave By
11:48 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving Jackson and Rain Showers near Watertown.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Jackson to Watertown?

The road trip is about 321.9 miles (518 km) and usually takes 06h 05m 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?

Lebanon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 160.7 miles from Jackson and 161.2 miles from Watertown.

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 39.7 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 $42.84 one way or $85.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 101 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny around Jackson and Rain Showers near Watertown.

Stop Ideas Near Lebanon

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

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

BUS

Nashville, TN

44 mi away
705 5th Avenue South
BUS

Clarksville, TN

103 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Jackson and Watertown. Straight-line distance: 282.19 mi (454.14 km).

Jackson

#1 Jackson

The most populous city in Madison County, Tennessee.

Population67,402
Coordinates35.6145200, -88.8139500
Altitude125
CountryUnited States
Watertown

#2 Watertown

City in Wilson County, Tennessee, United States

Population1,536
Coordinates35.7381400, -83.7879500
Altitude303
CountryUnited States
Start: Jackson (-88.81395, 35.61452)
End: Watertown (-83.78795, 35.73814)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 518 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.36 gal
43 L · about $42.84
Round trip
$85.68
22.72 gal · 86 L
Estimated CO2
101 kg one way
Round trip: 201.9 kg / 445 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $42.84 $85.68
Mid-grade $4.25 $48.31 $96.63
Premium $4.65 $52.87 $105.74
Diesel $5.30 $60.25 $120.51

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

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Jackson, TN and Watertown, TN. The current time in Jackson is 01:41:28, although it is 02:41:28 in Watertown.

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.