Traveling from Bells to Franklin covers 139.2 miles of Tennessee landscape, typically taking about 2 hours and 20 minutes to complete. Because the duration is quite manageable, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. You can expect to spend approximately $21 on fuel for the journey, making it a cost-effective excursion across the Southeast. Your path will take you along a mix of US 412 East, I-40 East, and SR 96. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick getaway, the trip is straightforward enough to navigate without complex planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.6 miles from Bells, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 412
115.1 mi
2h 5m
State Highway 96
11.8 mi
14m
Fairview Boulevard
5.2 mi
5m
Highway 96
4.8 mi
6m
High Street
1.6 mi
2m
Bridge Street
0.2 mi
<1m
3rd Avenue North
0.1 mi
<1m
Public Square
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 412
— 115.1 mi, about 2h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bells, TN and Franklin, TN.
1
Start on US 70A; US 79; SR 88
1.6 mi·2 min·High Street
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward US 412 East: Jackson
3
Merge onto US 412
12 mi·14 min·US 412
4
Turn left onto US 412
103 mi·1 hr 50 min·US 412
Toward I-40 East, US 412 East: NashvilleUse the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward Primary SR 96: Fairview, FranklinUse the right lane.
6
Turn left onto TN 96
4.8 mi·6 min·Highway 96
7
Merge onto SR 96; SR 100
5.2 mi·5 min·Fairview Boulevard
8
Take the exit
292 ft·8 sec
9
Turn right onto TN 96
12 mi·14 min·State Highway 96
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on Bridge Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Bridge Street
11
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue North
0.1 mi·12 sec·3rd Avenue North
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Enter roundabout onto US 31 Business; TN 96
174 ft·2 sec·Public Square
13
Arrive at destination
US 31 Business; TN 96
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the local sections means you should stay alert, especially when navigating the transition onto SR 96. Even though the fuel cost is modest at $21, it is always a good practice to fill your tank before leaving Bells to avoid unnecessary stops along the way. Because there are no designated stops required for this 139.2-mile trek, feel free to build in your own breaks if you prefer a more relaxed pace. Prioritize checking local traffic patterns before heading out, as the local road segments can be sensitive to congestion.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.6 miles from Bells, TN, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 31 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.6 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Franklin, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bells, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bells, TN
This is one driving day of about 139.2 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Bells, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 412 for about 115.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
4.7 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 19.9
Jackson, Tennessee
Hours: 10 am–10 pm
+19012203010
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 14 and 139.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
14 mi into trip|~17m in|US 412
Turn left onto US 412 toward I-40 East, US 412 East: Nashville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I-40 East, US 412 East: Nashville
7
116.9 mi into trip|~2h 8m in
Take the exit toward Primary SR 96: Fairview, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Primary SR 96: Fairview, Franklin
5
127.1 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|TN 96 / State Highway 96
Turn right onto TN 96 / State Highway 96
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
139.1 mi into trip|~2h 36m in|3rd Avenue North
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
139.2 mi into trip|~2h 36m in|US 31 Business; TN 96 / Public Square
Enter roundabout onto US 31 Business; TN 96 / Public Square
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.76 one way
$43.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.89
$47.79
premium
$4.89
$26.79
$53.58
diesel
$5.61
$30.73
$61.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.8
0
$14.62
$6.68
Efficient EV
34.8
0
$12.18
$5.57
EV Truck/SUV
55.7
0
$19.49
$8.91
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bells, TN
Night
in Bells on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Franklin, TN
Night
in Franklin on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
7 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
2h 36m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Stones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 139.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than settling into a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will utilize major thoroughfares like I-40 East, the route relies heavily on local roads like SR 96 to bridge the gap between Bells and Franklin. This transition from highway speeds to local driving means the road's personality shifts frequently. You won't find one long, uninterrupted stretch here; instead, anticipate a more technical experience that demands your attention. It is a practical drive that favors local connectivity over high-speed highway transit.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 115.1 mi on US 412.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 412 and State Highway 96. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 14 miles in near US 412.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 36m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 14 miles (US 412): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.1 miles (TN 96 / State Highway 96): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
825 ft326 ft
Total Climb
902 ft
Total Descent
584 ft
Highest Point
825 ft
~109.4 mi in
Elevation Range
498 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bells, TN to Franklin, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Primary Sr 96: Fairview along the way.
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.
The longest stretch is about 115.1 miles on US 412. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 14 miles (US 412): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.1 miles (TN 96 / State Highway 96): 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.
