How far is Oak Ridge, TN from Nashville, TN?

The driving distance from Oak Ridge, TN to Nashville, TN is about 162.9 miles (262.2 km), with a travel time of about 02h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 140.8 miles (226.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 56m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
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
162.9 mi
02h 28m
Flight
140.82 mi
226.63 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Oak Ridge.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
140.82 mi
Kilometers
226.63 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
162.9 mi
Kilometers
262.16 km
Drive Time
02h 28m

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 02h 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Nashville
Wed, Apr 15, 2:31 PM CDT
Return by in Oak Ridge
Wed, Apr 15, 5:59 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Oak Ridge
2026-04-15T13:03
Arrive Nashville
Wed, Apr 15, 3:31 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:28 AM to 11:28 AM CDT

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

Leave by
1:34 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Oak Ridge
9:30 PM EDT
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
Cookeville
TN

City in Tennessee, United States

From Oak Ridge
81.2 mi
01h 14m
To Nashville
81.7 mi
01h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 PM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SW
Destination
86°F
Today

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 8:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Oak Ridge and Nashville.

  1. 1

    Start on North Illinois Avenue

    1 mi · 1 min · North Illinois Avenue

  2. 2

    Continue on East Tri County Boulevard

    5.7 mi · 7 min · East Tri County Boulevard

  3. 3

    Continue on Harriman Highway

    9.6 mi · 11 min · Harriman Highway

  4. 4

    Merge slight right onto Bitter Creek Highway

    835 ft · 11 sec · Bitter Creek Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Harriman Highway

    1233 ft · 16 sec · Harriman Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Hannah Highway

    2.1 mi · 2 min · Hannah Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on North Roane Street

    4.1 mi · 5 min · North Roane Street

  8. 8

    Turn left

    969 ft · 26 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    134.5 mi · 2 hr 25 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville

    1725 ft · 28 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Downtown Loop

  13. 13

    Take the exit straight toward James Robertson Parkway, State Capitol

    1033 ft · 35 sec

  14. 14

    Turn straight onto James Robertson Parkway

    1.2 km · 2 min · James Robertson Parkway

  15. 15

    Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North

    39 m · 7 sec · 3rd Avenue North

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard

    1652 ft · 43 sec · Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard

  17. 17

    Turn right onto 7th Avenue North

    1260 ft · 1 min · 7th Avenue North

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
18 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
3 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Roane Street
139 mi · 85%
Harriman Highway
9.84 mi · 6%
East Tri County Boulevard
5.66 mi · 3%
I 24 West
2.47 mi · 2%
Hannah Highway
2.06 mi · 1%
Downtown Loop
1.12 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

North Roane Street

Merge slight left

134 mi · 02h 25m

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
02h 28m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.1 mi
140.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cookeville
01h 14m from Oak Ridge
Leave By
1:34 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Oak Ridge and Mostly Sunny near Nashville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Oak Ridge to Nashville?

The road trip is about 162.9 miles (262.2 km) and usually takes 02h 28m 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?

Cookeville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 81.2 miles from Oak Ridge and 81.7 miles from Nashville.

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

The direct path is about 140.8 miles (226.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.1 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:34 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.68 one way or $43.37 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 51.1 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Oak Ridge and Mostly Sunny near Nashville.

Stop Ideas Near Cookeville

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Cookeville, 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 Cookeville.

BUS

Nashville, TN

114 mi away
705 5th Avenue South

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Oak Ridge and Nashville. Straight-line distance: 140.82 mi (226.63 km).

Oak Ridge

#1 Oak Ridge

City in Tennessee, United States

Population29,340
Coordinates36.0103600, -84.2696400
Altitude259
CountryUnited States
Nashville

#2 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
Start: TN 62 (-84.269627, 36.010373)
End: (-86.784719, 36.165773)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 262 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 25m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 15m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 19m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.75 gal
21.76 L · about $21.68
Round trip
$43.37
11.5 gal · 43.52 L
Estimated CO2
51.1 kg one way
Round trip: 102.2 kg / 225 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $21.68 $43.37
Mid-grade $4.25 $24.45 $48.91
Premium $4.65 $26.76 $53.52
Diesel $5.30 $30.50 $61.00

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 15, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Oak Ridge, TN and Nashville, TN. The current time in Oak Ridge is 13:03:02, although it is 12:03:02 in Nashville.

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.