Origin
City of Murfreesboro, TN
Late night in City of Murfreesboro on Sunday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from City of Murfreesboro, TN to Brighton, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 8m
Distance
209.6 mi
337 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 55m
★
6 AM
4h 8m
8 AM
4h 34m
10 AM
4h 17m
12 PM
4h 15m
3 PM
4h 19m
5 PM
4h 33m
8 PM
4h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
City of Murfreesboro, TN
Kelly
Brighton, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Murfreesboro, TN to Brighton, TN is 209.6 miles and takes about 4h 8m via I-40, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This direct drive stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward trip focused on efficient travel, making it a solid choice if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss. Expect a consistent pace for most of the journey, with a single recommended stop for a break.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
104.8 miles from City of Murfreesboro, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 109.8 mi | 1h 57m |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | 53.7 mi | 58m |
| West Main Street | 21.8 mi | 32m |
| East Main Street | 9.5 mi | 14m |
| US 51 | 6.6 mi | 10m |
| I 24 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| Old Fort Parkway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Old Highway 51 South | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 109.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Murfreesboro, TN and Brighton, TN.
1
Start on Golf Lane
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Golf Lane
2
Turn right onto SR 96
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Fort Parkway
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 24 West: Nashville
4
Merge onto I 24
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 74A
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 840
54 mi
·
58 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 40
110 mi
·
1 hr 57 min
·
I 40
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 70: Brownsville, Ripley
9
Turn right onto US 70
9.5 mi
·
14 min
·
East Main Street
10
Enter roundabout onto TN 54
401 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Main Street
11
Continue on TN 54
22 mi
·
32 min
·
West Main Street
12
Continue on TN 54
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Liberty Avenue
13
Turn left onto US 51; TN 59
6.6 mi
·
10 min
·
US 51; TN 59
Use the left lane.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
15
Continue on Old Highway 51 South
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Highway 51 South
16
Turn sharp left onto East Kenwood Avenue
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
East Kenwood Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
East Kenwood Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, leaving in the morning from Murfreesboro will allow you to reach Brighton with plenty of daylight to spare. The single recommended stop is well-placed to break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest 109.8-mile stretch on I-40, as services can sometimes be spaced out on interstates. Since this is a manageable one-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your morning's activities.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 104.8 miles from City of Murfreesboro, TN, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.8 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 46 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.8 miles or 1h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brighton, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving City of Murfreesboro, 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 City of Murfreesboro, TN
This is one driving day of about 209.6 miles and 4h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from City of Murfreesboro, 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 109.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 104.8 miles from City of Murfreesboro, 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 109.8 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 202 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 24
Merge onto I 24
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
5.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 74A
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
5
6.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge onto I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
169.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 70: Brownsville, Ripley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 70: Brownsville, Ripley
5
202 mi into trip
|
~3h 54m in
|
US 51; TN 59
Turn left onto US 51; TN 59
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.77 one way
$65.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $35.98 | $71.96 |
| premium | $4.89 | $40.34 | $80.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $46.28 | $92.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.9 | 0 | $22.01 | $10.06 |
| Efficient EV | 52.4 | 0 | $18.34 | $8.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.8 | 1 | $29.34 | $13.41 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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
Brighton, TN
Late night in Brighton on Sunday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 8m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 84% of the route utilizing major roads like I-40. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 109.8 miles on I-40, so be prepared for sustained highway speeds. The Tennessee National Guard Parkway and West Main Street offer brief transitions off the interstate, but the overall character remains that of a fast-paced road trip. It's the kind of drive where you can settle in and cover ground efficiently.
84% 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: 109.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near I 24.
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 209.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 2.3 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.4 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
On the drive from City of Murfreesboro, TN to Brighton, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Ripley along the way.
Ripley
169.9 mi in
|
~3h 6m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 8m. Total distance: 209.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109.8 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 2.3 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.4 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Brighton, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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