How far is Nashville, TN from Columbia, TN?

The driving distance from Nashville, TN to Columbia, TN is about 47.6 miles (76.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 40.6 miles (65.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 54m 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
47.61 mi
00h 57m
Flight
40.56 mi
65.28 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Nashville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
40.56 mi
Kilometers
65.28 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
47.61 mi
Kilometers
76.62 km
Drive Time
00h 57m

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 00h 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Columbia
Sun, Apr 19, 12:05 PM CDT
Return by in Nashville
Sun, Apr 19, 1:02 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Nashville
2026-04-19T11:07
Arrive Columbia
Sun, Apr 19, 12:05 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:57 AM to 10:57 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:36 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Nashville
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
Thompson's Station
TN

Town in Williamson County, Tennessee, United States

From Nashville
23.9 mi
00h 28m
To Columbia
23.8 mi
00h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph NW
Destination
68°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    2013 ft · 2 min

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard

    2875 ft · 1 min · Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 14th Avenue North

    1295 ft · 24 sec · 14th Avenue North

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight left toward Knoxville, Huntsville

    1506 ft · 37 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop

    1 km · 52 sec · Downtown Loop

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65 South: Huntsville

    36.3 mi · 40 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward 412, 99: Columbia, Chapel Hill

    1053 ft · 23 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on 412: Columbia

    49 m · 5 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Bear Creek Pike

    7.1 mi · 8 min · Bear Creek Pike

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Nashville Highway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Nashville Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on North Garden Street

    2506 ft · 58 sec · North Garden Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto West 7th Street

    24 m · 2 sec · West 7th Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 7th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
13 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
27.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 65 South
36.3 mi · 76%
Bear Creek Pike
7.14 mi · 15%
Nashville Highway
1.38 mi · 3%
Downtown Loop
0.63 mi · 1%
North Garden Street
0.47 mi · 1%
Knoxville
0.29 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 65 South

Take the exit slight right toward I 65 South: Huntsville

36.3 mi · 00h 40m

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
00h 57m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7 mi
40.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thompson's Station
00h 28m from Nashville
Leave By
4:36 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Nashville and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny near Columbia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 47.6 miles (76.6 km) and usually takes 00h 57m 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?

Thompson's Station is a useful midpoint, sitting about 23.9 miles from Nashville and 23.8 miles from Columbia.

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

The direct path is about 40.6 miles (65.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:36 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.34 one way or $12.67 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 14.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Thompson's Station

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Thompson's Station, 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 Thompson's Station.

BUS

Nashville, TN

41 mi away
705 5th Avenue South
BUS

Clarksville, TN

91 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Nashville and Columbia. Straight-line distance: 40.56 mi (65.28 km).

Nashville

#1 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
Columbia

#2 Columbia

The county seat of Maury County, Tennessee.

Population41,826
Coordinates35.6150700, -87.0352800
Altitude196
CountryUnited States
Start: Nashville (-86.78444, 36.16589)
End: Columbia (-87.03528, 35.61507)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 77 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.68 gal
6.36 L · about $6.34
Round trip
$12.67
3.36 gal · 12.72 L
Estimated CO2
14.9 kg one way
Round trip: 29.9 kg / 66 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $6.34 $12.67
Mid-grade $4.25 $7.15 $14.29
Premium $4.65 $7.82 $15.64
Diesel $5.30 $8.91 $17.82

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 Nashville and Columbia. The current time is 11:07:58.

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.