How far is Nashville, TN from Gatlinburg, TN?

The driving distance from Nashville, TN to Gatlinburg, TN is about 217.9 miles (350.7 km), with a travel time of about 04h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 185.7 miles (298.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 29m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
217.93 mi
04h 14m
Flight
185.7 mi
298.85 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Nashville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
185.7 mi
Kilometers
298.85 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
217.93 mi
Kilometers
350.72 km
Drive Time
04h 14m

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 04h 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gatlinburg
Thu, Apr 23, 8:27 AM EDT
Return by in Nashville
Thu, Apr 23, 11:41 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Nashville
2026-04-23T03:12
Arrive Gatlinburg
Thu, Apr 23, 7:27 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:15 AM to 1:15 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:30 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Nashville
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Crossville
TN

City in and county seat of Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States

From Nashville
108.8 mi
02h 07m
To Gatlinburg
109.1 mi
02h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph S
Destination
65°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    80.6 mi · 1 hr 27 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    93.2 mi · 1 hr 42 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    2.9 mi · 4 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art

    2116 ft · 28 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art

    2403 ft · 56 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on Henley Street

    1 km · 1 min · Henley Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Chapman Highway

    22.1 mi · 26 min · Chapman Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on West Main Street

    1.8 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Forks of the River Parkway

    3212 ft · 46 sec · Forks of the River Parkway

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Parkway

    7.1 mi · 12 min · Parkway

  17. 17

    Continue on Gatlinburg Spur Road

    4.4 mi · 7 min · Gatlinburg Spur Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Parkway

    1.2 mi · 4 min · Parkway

  19. 19

    Turn right

    124 m · 30 sec

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
177 mi · 81%
Chapman Highway
22.2 mi · 10%
Parkway
8.25 mi · 4%
Gatlinburg Spur Road
4.42 mi · 2%
West Main Street
1.77 mi · 1%
Convention Center
0.86 mi
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

Continue straight

93.2 mi · 01h 42m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 14m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.2 mi
185.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Crossville
02h 07m from Nashville
Leave By
8:30 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Nashville and Sunny near Gatlinburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 217.9 miles (350.7 km) and usually takes 04h 14m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Crossville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 108.8 miles from Nashville and 109.1 miles from Gatlinburg.

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

The direct path is about 185.7 miles (298.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.2 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:30 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.00 one way or $58.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 68.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Nashville and Sunny near Gatlinburg.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Nashville and Gatlinburg. Straight-line distance: 185.7 mi (298.85 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
Gatlinburg

#2 Gatlinburg

Resort city in Sevier County, Tennessee

Population3,779
Coordinates35.7145300, -83.5118900
Altitude394
CountryUnited States
Start: Nashville (-86.78444, 36.16589)
End: Gatlinburg (-83.51189, 35.71453)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 351 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 21m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.69 gal
29.11 L · about $29.00
Round trip
$58.00
15.38 gal · 58.22 L
Estimated CO2
68.3 kg one way
Round trip: 136.7 kg / 301 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $29.00 $58.00
Mid-grade $4.25 $32.71 $65.41
Premium $4.65 $35.79 $71.58
Diesel $5.30 $40.79 $81.58

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 23, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Nashville, TN and Gatlinburg, TN. The current time in Nashville is 03:12:09, although it is 04:12:09 in Gatlinburg.

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.