How far is Nashville, TN from Tusculum, TN?

The driving distance from Nashville, TN to Tusculum, TN is about 253.4 miles (407.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 224.5 miles (361.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 27m 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
253.39 mi
04h 43m
Flight
224.53 mi
361.34 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
224.53 mi
Kilometers
361.34 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
253.39 mi
Kilometers
407.79 km
Drive Time
04h 43m

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 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Tusculum
Thu, Apr 23, 7:03 PM EDT
Return by in Nashville
Thu, Apr 23, 10:47 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Nashville
2026-04-23T13:19
Arrive Tusculum
Thu, Apr 23, 6:03 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:44 AM to 1:44 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
7:32 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
Crab Orchard
TN

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

From Nashville
126.5 mi
02h 21m
To Tusculum
126.9 mi
02h 21m

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
78°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 Tusculum.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    36.7 mi · 41 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol

    22.7 mi · 24 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 11E: Mosheim, Greeneville, Bulls Gap

    2149 ft · 46 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto West Andrew Johnson Highway

    16.2 mi · 20 min · West Andrew Johnson Highway

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Erwin Highway

    1 mi · 2 min · Erwin Highway

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Sam Doak Drive

    34 m · 10 sec · Sam Doak Drive

  15. 15

    Continue on Sam Doak Drive

    51 m · 9 sec · Sam Doak Drive

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Sam Doak Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
210 mi · 83%
I 81 North
22.7 mi · 9%
West Andrew Johnson Highway
16.2 mi · 6%
Erwin Highway
1.04 mi
Downtown Loop
0.84 mi
James Robertson Parkway
0.7 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 43m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.9 mi
224.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Crab Orchard
02h 21m from Nashville
Leave By
7:32 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Nashville and Sunny near Tusculum.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 253.4 miles (407.8 km) and usually takes 04h 43m 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?

Crab Orchard is a useful midpoint, sitting about 126.5 miles from Nashville and 126.9 miles from Tusculum.

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

The direct path is about 224.5 miles (361.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.9 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 7:32 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.71 one way or $67.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 79.4 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Nashville and Tusculum. Straight-line distance: 224.53 mi (361.34 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
Photo coming soon

#2 Tusculum

City in Tennessee, United States

Population2,669
Coordinates36.1751000, -82.7587600
Altitude455
CountryUnited States
Start: Nashville (-86.78444, 36.16589)
End: Tusculum (-82.75876, 36.1751)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 408 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 26m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.94 gal
33.85 L · about $33.71
Round trip
$67.43
17.88 gal · 67.7 L
Estimated CO2
79.4 kg one way
Round trip: 158.9 kg / 350 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $33.71 $67.43
Mid-grade $4.25 $38.02 $76.04
Premium $4.65 $41.61 $83.21
Diesel $5.30 $47.42 $94.84

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 Tusculum, TN. The current time in Nashville is 13:19:46, although it is 14:19:46 in Tusculum.

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.