<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001209191-09-037417
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20090514
<FILING-DATE>20090722
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20090722
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CORRECTIONS CORP OF AMERICA
<CIK>0001070985
<ASSIGNED-SIC>8744
<IRS-NUMBER>621763875
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>MD
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10 BURTON HILLS BLVD
<STREET2>N/A
<CITY>NASHVILLE
<STATE>TN
<ZIP>37215
<PHONE>6152633000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10 BURTON HILLS BOULEVARD
<STREET2>N/A
<CITY>NASHVILLE
<STATE>TN
<ZIP>37215
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>PRISON REALTY TRUST INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19990517
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>PRISON REALTY CORP
<DATE-CHANGED>19980924
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ALVARADO DONNA M
<CIK>0001012804
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-16109
<FILM-NUMBER>09957550
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>BIRMINGHAM STEEL CORP
<CITY>BIRMINGHAM
<STATE>AL
<ZIP>35201
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-05-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001070985</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CORRECTIONS CORP OF AMERICA</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CXW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001012804</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ALVARADO DONNA M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10 BURTON HILLS BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NASHVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>37215</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option(Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.46</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13459</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-05-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-05-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>CXW Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>13459</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13459</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Granted under the Company's 2008 Stock Incentive Plan upon the reelection of the reporting person to the Company's Board of Directors on May 14, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Option will vest in full on the first anniversary date of the grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Scott L. Craddock, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-07-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
