Origin
Ashland City, TN
Late night in Ashland City on Sunday
Local time
4:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ashland City, TN to Franklin, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
40.6 mi
65 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ashland City, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Franklin, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 40.6-mile journey from Ashland City, TN to Franklin, TN is a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in under an hour, making it perfect for a single-day excursion. You'll primarily navigate on I 65, Ashland City Highway, and Murfreesboro Road, with a substantial 42% of the drive on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $6, which is quite budget-friendly. Given its short distance and manageable duration, this route is ideal for a quick trip without the need for an overnight stay. The overall feel is practical, connecting two points within the Southeast region of Tennessee.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 16.9 mi | 18m |
| Ashland City Highway | 14.2 mi | 21m |
| Murfreesboro Road | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Boulevard | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Clarksville Pike | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Downtown Loop | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Charlotte Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 16.9 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ashland City, TN and Franklin, TN.
1
Start on TN 12; TN 49; TN 249
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
2
Continue on TN 12
14 mi
·
21 min
·
Ashland City Highway
3
Turn right onto US 41A
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Clarksville Pike
4
Continue on Clarksville Pike
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Clarksville Pike
5
Continue on Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Boulevard
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Dr. D.B. Todd Jr. Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto US 70
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Charlotte Avenue
7
Turn right onto US 70
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
14th Avenue North
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward Knoxville, Huntsville
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 40; I 65
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
Downtown Loop
10
Take the exit onto I 65
17 mi
·
18 min
·
I 65
Exit 210
Toward I 65 South: Huntsville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 65
Toward TN 96: Franklin, Murfreesboro
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto TN 96
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Murfreesboro Road
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on TN 96
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
3rd Avenue South
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Enter roundabout onto US 31 Business; TN 96
397 ft
·
6 sec
·
Public Square
15
Arrive at destination
US 31 Business; TN 96
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 40.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.3 miles from Ashland City, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 19.6 and 37.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
19.6 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
US 70 / 14th Avenue North
Turn right onto US 70 / 14th Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
19.8 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the ramp toward Knoxville, Huntsville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Knoxville, Huntsville
7
20.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 65
Take the exit onto I 65 toward I 65 South: Huntsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 210
Toward I 65 South: Huntsville
8
37.6 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward TN 96: Franklin, Murfreesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 65
Toward TN 96: Franklin, Murfreesboro
5
37.9 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
TN 96 / Murfreesboro Road
Turn right onto TN 96 / Murfreesboro Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.35 one way
$12.69 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.97 | $13.94 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.81 | $15.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.96 | $17.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.26 | $1.95 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.55 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.68 | $2.60 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Franklin, TN
Late night in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
4:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
9 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
56m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, featuring a blend of interstate cruising and local road navigation. While 42% of your travel will be on higher-speed roads like I 65, you'll also encounter sections on Ashland City Highway and Murfreesboro Road that offer a different pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 16.9 miles on I 65, providing a solid period of consistent travel. This combination means the road's personality shifts, offering both efficiency and a touch of local flavor as you progress from Ashland City to Franklin.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.9 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 19.6 miles in near US 70 / 14th Avenue North.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 40.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.6 miles (US 70 / 14th Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.7 miles (I 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ashland City, TN and Franklin, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville, Huntsville and Murfreesboro.
Knoxville
19.8 mi in
|
~31m
Huntsville
19.8 mi in
|
~31m
Murfreesboro
37.6 mi in
|
~51m
About the Cities
Arriving in Franklin, TN
Full guide →Franklin is a city of 81,000 people (2018) in Tennessee, just a few miles south of Nashville. There are two main areas of interest. One is the Cool Springs area, which is identified by its corporate and retail growth surrounding one of the largest malls in the Southeast, the CoolSprings Galleria. The other is historic downtown Franklin which retains much of its small town charm. It is a walkable, friendly historic downtown district, recognized as a Great American Main Street.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 40.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.9 miles on I 65. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.6 miles (US 70 / 14th Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.7 miles (I 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Franklin, TN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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