How far is Nashville, TN from Louisville, TN?

The driving distance from Nashville, TN to Louisville, TN is about 181.5 miles (292.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 154.8 miles (249.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 51m 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
181.52 mi
03h 25m
Flight
154.81 mi
249.14 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
154.81 mi
Kilometers
249.14 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
181.52 mi
Kilometers
292.13 km
Drive Time
03h 25m

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 03h 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Louisville
Thu, Apr 23, 7:06 AM EDT
Return by in Nashville
Thu, Apr 23, 9:32 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Nashville
2026-04-23T02:40
Arrive Louisville
Thu, Apr 23, 6:06 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:26 AM to 12:26 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
10:08 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
Monterey
TN

Town in Tennessee, United States

From Nashville
90.7 mi
01h 42m
To Louisville
90.9 mi
01h 42m

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
82°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    84.3 mi · 1 hr 32 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 140 East, Primary SR 162 North: Oak Ridge, Maryville

    1372 ft · 34 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 140 East: Maryville

    1129 ft · 27 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Pellissippi Parkway

    9.2 mi · 11 min · Pellissippi Parkway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 333

    1759 ft · 50 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Topside Road

    2.9 mi · 5 min · Topside Road

  14. 14

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Louisville Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Louisville Road

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Honey Rock Way

    22 m · 3 sec · Honey Rock Way

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Honey Rock Way

Car Route Details

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

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
16 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
165 mi · 91%
Pellissippi Parkway
9.25 mi · 5%
Topside Road
2.9 mi · 2%
Louisville Road
1.15 mi · 1%
Downtown Loop
0.84 mi
James Robertson Parkway
0.7 mi
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

Continue straight

84.3 mi · 01h 32m

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
03h 25m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.7 mi
154.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Monterey
01h 42m from Nashville
Leave By
10:08 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Nashville and Sunny near Louisville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 181.5 miles (292.1 km) and usually takes 03h 25m 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?

Monterey is a useful midpoint, sitting about 90.7 miles from Nashville and 90.9 miles from Louisville.

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

The direct path is about 154.8 miles (249.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.7 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:08 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.17 one way or $48.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 57 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Nashville and Louisville, 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 Louisville.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Nashville and Louisville. Straight-line distance: 154.81 mi (249.14 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
Louisville

#2 Louisville

Human settlement in Blount County, Tennessee, United States of America

Population4,139
Coordinates35.8217500, -84.0479600
Altitude257
CountryUnited States
Start: Nashville (-86.78444, 36.16589)
End: Louisville (-84.04796, 35.82175)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 292 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 37m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 15m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.41 gal
24.25 L · about $24.17
Round trip
$48.34
12.82 gal · 48.5 L
Estimated CO2
57 kg one way
Round trip: 113.9 kg / 251 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $24.17 $48.34
Mid-grade $4.25 $27.26 $54.52
Premium $4.65 $29.83 $59.66
Diesel $5.30 $34.00 $68.00

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 Louisville, TN. The current time in Nashville is 02:40:43, although it is 03:40:43 in Louisville.

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.