How far is Nashville, TN from Cookeville, TN?

The driving distance from Nashville, TN to Cookeville, TN is about 80.2 miles (129.1 km), with a travel time of about 01h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 71.6 miles (115.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 07m 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
80.2 mi
01h 33m
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 Nashville.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
80.2 mi
Kilometers
129.07 km
Drive Time
01h 33m

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 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cookeville
Tue, May 26, 1:14 AM CDT
Return by in Nashville
Tue, May 26, 2:48 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Nashville
2026-05-25T23:40
Arrive Cookeville
Tue, May 26, 1:14 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:34 AM to 11:34 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:22 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
Watertown
TN

City in Wilson County, Tennessee, United States

From Nashville
40 mi
00h 46m
To Cookeville
40.1 mi
00h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Memorial Day

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NE
Destination
77°F
Memorial Day

Patchy Fog

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    2013 ft · 3 min

  2. 2

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

    1718 ft · 44 sec · Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn left onto James Robertson Parkway

    1.1 km · 2 min · James Robertson Parkway

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Interstate Drive

    138 m · 10 sec · Interstate Drive

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 24 East

    918 ft · 22 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop

    1.3 km · 1 min · Downtown Loop

  7. 7

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

    74.7 mi · 1 hr 21 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward TN 135: Cookeville

    1068 ft · 34 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left onto South Willow Avenue

    2.1 mi · 4 min · South Willow Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn right onto West Spring Street

    1 km · 1 min · West Spring Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto South Dixie Avenue

    82 m · 12 sec · South Dixie Avenue

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Dixie Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Nashville 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
12 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
74.7 mi · 93%
South Willow Avenue
2.13 mi · 3%
Downtown Loop
0.84 mi · 1%
James Robertson Parkway
0.7 mi · 1%
West Spring Street
0.64 mi · 1%
TN 135
0.2 mi
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

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

74.7 mi · 01h 21m

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 33m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.6 mi
71.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Watertown
00h 46m from Nashville
Leave By
3:22 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 80.2 miles (129.1 km) and usually takes 01h 33m 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 Nashville and 40.1 miles from Cookeville.

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 3:22 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 Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Nashville and Patchy Fog near Cookeville.

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 Nashville and Cookeville. Straight-line distance: 71.56 mi (115.16 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
Cookeville

#2 Cookeville

City in Tennessee, United States

Population35,060
Coordinates36.1628400, -85.5016400
Altitude334
CountryUnited States
Start: Nashville (-86.78444, 36.16589)
End: Cookeville (-85.50164, 36.16284)

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 Nashville and Cookeville. The current time is 23:40:59.

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.