Origin
City of Murfreesboro, TN
Morning in City of Murfreesboro on Sunday
Local time
8:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from City of Murfreesboro, TN to Colonial Heights, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 3m
Distance
273.7 mi
441 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 50m
★
6 AM
5h 4m
8 AM
5h 31m
10 AM
5h 13m
12 PM
5h 11m
3 PM
5h 15m
5 PM
5h 29m
8 PM
4h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
City of Murfreesboro, TN
Kelly
Colonial Heights, TN
Andy Staver
Trip Overview
Murfreesboro, TN to Colonial Heights, TN is 273.7 miles and takes about 5h 3m via I 40, I 81, and Tennessee National Guard Parkway, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region, specifically within Tennessee, making it a straightforward trip. It's primarily a highway-focused journey, ideal if you want to cover ground efficiently. With a recommended single day of travel, you can expect a direct route that prioritizes reaching your destination without extensive detours.
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
136.9 miles from City of Murfreesboro, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 34m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 185.8 mi | 3h 23m |
| I 81 | 59 mi | 1h 3m |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | 20.9 mi | 22m |
| Northwest Broad Street | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Fort Henry Drive | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| New Nashville Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Golf Lane | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Old Fort Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 185.8 mi, about 3h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Murfreesboro, TN and Colonial Heights, TN.
1
Start on Golf Lane
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Golf Lane
2
Turn left onto SR 96
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Old Fort Parkway
3
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork
182 ft
·
9 sec
5
Turn left onto US 41; US 70S
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Northwest Broad Street
6
Continue on US 41; US 70S
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
New Nashville Highway
7
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville
8
Merge onto I 840
21 mi
·
22 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 76A
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 40
149 mi
·
2 hr 42 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi
·
40 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
59 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
I 81
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 59
Toward SR 36: Kingsport, Johnson City
14
Turn left onto SR 36
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Fort Henry Drive
15
Turn right onto Colonial Heights Road
82 ft
·
2 sec
·
Colonial Heights Road
16
Arrive at destination
Colonial Heights Road
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour travel time, starting your drive in the morning will allow ample time to reach Colonial Heights well before evening. The 273.7-mile distance is manageable for a single day, so you have flexibility with when you stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 185.8 miles on I 40, as services might be more spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $43 is a helpful budgeting tool for this trip.
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 136.9 miles from City of Murfreesboro, TN, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 185.8 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 60 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.9 miles or 2h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colonial Heights, 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 273.7 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 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 185.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 136.9 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 185.8 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 272.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
9
26.9 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 76A
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
6
176.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 17m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
213.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 58m in
|
I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 North: Bristol
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
6
272.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 1m in
Take the exit toward SR 36: Kingsport, Johnson City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 59
Toward SR 36: Kingsport, Johnson City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.79 one way
$85.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $46.98 | $93.96 |
| premium | $4.89 | $52.67 | $105.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.43 | $120.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.1 | 1 | $28.74 | $13.14 |
| Efficient EV | 68.4 | 0 | $23.95 | $10.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.5 | 1 | $38.32 | $17.52 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Colonial Heights, TN
Morning in Colonial Heights on Sunday
Local time
9:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Spring City, TN
137 mi in
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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
4 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
5h 3m 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.
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
~5 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 198.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the journey utilizing major interstates. You'll spend most of your time on I 40 and I 81, with a brief segment on Tennessee National Guard Parkway. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 185.8 miles on I 40, indicating long periods of consistent speed. Expect a consistent driving experience without many changes in road type, making it predictable for planning your pace and breaks.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 185.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 273.7 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 1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 26.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 176.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Colonial Heights, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Lebanon along the way.
Lebanon
26.9 mi in
|
~33m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 3m. Total distance: 273.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 185.8 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.
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 Colonial Heights, 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 1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 26.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 176.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Colonial Heights, TN before the return drive.
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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