Origin
Chapel Hill, TN
Night in Chapel Hill on Saturday
Local time
11:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chapel Hill, TN to Murfreesboro, 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 53m
Distance
147.3 mi
237 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 43m
★
6 AM
2h 54m
8 AM
3h 16m
10 AM
3h 2m
12 PM
2h 59m
3 PM
3h 3m
5 PM
3h 15m
8 PM
2h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chapel Hill, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Murfreesboro, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 147.3-mile drive from Chapel Hill, TN, to Murfreesboro, TN, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 53 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via I-40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway, with a portion on South Broad Street, meaning about 85% of your journey will be on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $23. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, this route offers a straightforward connection between two points within the Southeast region.
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
73.6 miles from Chapel Hill, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 68 mi | 1h 12m |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | 52.2 mi | 55m |
| South Broad Street | 11.9 mi | 17m |
| Life Road | 5.8 mi | 10m |
| I 24 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Old Fort Parkway | 2 mi | 3m |
| Lexington Bypass | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Northwest Broad Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 68 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chapel Hill, TN and Murfreesboro, 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
68 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
I 40
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
10
Merge onto I 840
52 mi
·
55 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
2 min
Exit 53A
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 24
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 78B
Toward SR 96 East: Murfreesboro
Use the right lane.
14
Turn straight onto SR 96
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Fort Parkway
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
16
Keep slight right at fork
181 ft
·
6 sec
17
Turn right onto US 41; US 70S; US 231
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Northwest Broad Street
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
West Main Street
19
Turn right onto South Maple Street
138 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Maple Street
20
Turn slight left onto South Public Square
467 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Public Square
21
Turn slight right onto East Main Street
47 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Main Street
22
Continue on East Main Street
347 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Main Street
23
Turn right onto South Spring Street
84 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Spring Street
24
Arrive at destination
South Spring Street
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under three hours, this trip offers a lot of flexibility for when you depart. Aiming to leave Chapel Hill in the morning will allow you to reach Murfreesboro with plenty of daylight. You'll have one main stretch of 68 miles on I-40, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you hit that segment. Given the manageable length, you don't need to worry about splitting the drive, making it a simple, direct journey.
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 73.6 miles from Chapel Hill, TN, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68 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 32 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.6 miles or 1h 29m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Murfreesboro, 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 147.3 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Chapel Hill, 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 I 40 for about 68 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 73.6 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 68 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 146.6 — 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
7
140.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 53A
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
7
144.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 47m in
Take the exit toward SR 96 East: Murfreesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 78B
Toward SR 96 East: Murfreesboro
6
146.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 52m in
|
US 41; US 70S; US 231 / Northwest Broad Street
Turn right onto US 41; US 70S; US 231 / Northwest Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.03 one way
$46.06 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $25.28 | $50.57 |
| premium | $4.89 | $28.35 | $56.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.52 | $65.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.5 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 | 44.2 | 0 | $15.47 | $7.07 |
| Efficient EV | 36.8 | 0 | $12.89 | $5.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58.9 | 0 | $20.62 | $9.43 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Destination
Murfreesboro, TN
Night in Murfreesboro on Saturday
Local time
11:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 mph
1% chance
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
13 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 53m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 142.2
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 predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 85% of the drive utilizing major roadways like I-40. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 68 miles on I-40, so be prepared for sustained highway driving. While largely on interstates, the inclusion of Tennessee National Guard Parkway and South Broad Street might offer slight variations in the driving environment as you approach your destination.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Joe Horton Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 147.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 140.5 miles: 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 Chapel Hill, TN and Murfreesboro, TN, road signs point toward Primary Sr 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington, Huntingdon and Franklin.
Primary Sr 22: Parkers Crossroad
19.4 mi in
|
~31m
Lexington
19.4 mi in
|
~31m
Huntingdon
19.4 mi in
|
~31m
Franklin
87.6 mi in
|
~1h 44m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 147.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 68 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Murfreesboro, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 140.5 miles: 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 Murfreesboro, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Murfreesboro, TN
More trips to Murfreesboro, TN
Explore more options from Chapel Hill, TN or browse trips ending in Murfreesboro, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.