Origin
Chapel Hill, TN
Late night in Chapel Hill on Sunday
Local time
5:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chapel Hill, 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
2h 19m
Distance
115.7 mi
186 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 10m
★
6 AM
2h 19m
8 AM
2h 39m
10 AM
2h 26m
12 PM
2h 24m
3 PM
2h 27m
5 PM
2h 38m
8 PM
2h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chapel Hill, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Franklin, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 115.7-mile drive from Chapel Hill, TN to Franklin, TN is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 19 minutes. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 78% of the journey on interstates and major roads, making for efficient travel. Your estimated fuel cost for this leg is around $18. Given its relatively short duration and straightforward path through the Southeast region of Tennessee, it's a convenient option for a quick transition between these two points without needing an overnight stop. You'll primarily navigate I-40 and State Highway 96.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.8 miles from Chapel Hill, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 73.7 mi | 1h 19m |
| South Broad Street | 11.9 mi | 17m |
| State Highway 96 | 11.8 mi | 14m |
| Life Road | 5.8 mi | 10m |
| Fairview Boulevard | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| Highway 96 | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| Lexington Bypass | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Bridge Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 73.7 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chapel Hill, TN and Franklin, TN.
1
Start on this road
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Joe Horton Road
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Joe Horton Road
3
Turn right onto SR 200
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Life Road
4
Continue on SR 200
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Life Road
5
At end of road, turn right onto SR 459
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Lexington Bypass
6
At end of road, turn left onto TN 22
12 mi
·
17 min
·
South Broad Street
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington, Huntingdon
8
Merge onto I 40
74 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 40
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward Primary SR 96: Fairview, Franklin
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto TN 96
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Highway 96
11
Merge onto SR 96; SR 100
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Fairview Boulevard
12
Take the exit
292 ft
·
8 sec
13
Turn right onto TN 96
12 mi
·
14 min
·
State Highway 96
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on Bridge Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Bridge Street
15
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue North
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
3rd Avenue North
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
16
Enter roundabout onto US 31 Business; TN 96
174 ft
·
2 sec
·
Public Square
17
Arrive at destination
US 31 Business; TN 96
Trip Plan
Planning a departure time for this 2-hour and 19-minute drive is flexible due to its manageable length. You can easily complete this trip to Franklin, TN within a single day. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your time at your destination. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, keeping your tank topped up before you depart Chapel Hill, TN is a good idea. The longest stretch on I-40 is over 73 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you hit that longer segment.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57.8 miles from Chapel Hill, TN, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.7 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 25 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.8 miles or 1h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 53m
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 Chapel Hill, 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 Chapel Hill, TN
This is one driving day of about 115.7 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Chapel Hill, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 73.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57.8 miles from Chapel Hill, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.7 miles.
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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 115.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Joe Horton Road
At end of road, turn right onto Joe Horton Road
Navigation decision point
5
6.2 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
SR 459 / Lexington Bypass
At end of road, turn right onto SR 459 / Lexington Bypass
Navigation decision point
5
7.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
TN 22 / South Broad Street
At end of road, turn left onto TN 22 / South Broad Street
Navigation decision point
7
93.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m 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
7
115.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m in
|
3rd Avenue North
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.09 one way
$36.18 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.86 | $39.72 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.27 | $44.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.55 | $51.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.7 | 0 | $12.15 | $5.55 |
| Efficient EV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.12 | $4.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.3 | 0 | $16.20 | $7.40 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (65% 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
5:30 AM
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
31 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 19m 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 115.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 115.7-mile trip, with 78% of your time spent on faster roads like I-40. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 73.7 miles on I-40, offering a consistent pace. While much of the drive is on the interstate, the inclusion of South Broad Street and State Highway 96 means you'll experience some transitions to different road types. This mix provides a dynamic driving experience, moving from open highway speeds to potentially more local road conditions as you approach your destination.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and South Broad Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Joe Horton Road.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 19m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Joe Horton Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.2 miles (SR 459 / Lexington Bypass): Navigation decision point; at 7.5 miles (TN 22 / South Broad Street): Navigation decision point.
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 Chapel Hill, TN and Franklin, TN, road signs point toward Primary Sr 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington, Huntingdon and Primary Sr 96: Fairview.
Primary Sr 22: Parkers Crossroad
19.4 mi in
|
~31m
Lexington
19.4 mi in
|
~31m
Huntingdon
19.4 mi in
|
~31m
Primary Sr 96: Fairview
93.3 mi in
|
~1h 50m
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 2h 19m. Total distance: 115.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.7 miles on I 40. 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 0.2 miles (Joe Horton Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.2 miles (SR 459 / Lexington Bypass): Navigation decision point; at 7.5 miles (TN 22 / South Broad Street): Navigation decision point.
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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