Connecting Murfreesboro to Jackson, this 155.7-mile journey across Tennessee is a straightforward trek that typically takes about 2 hours and 54 minutes. Because the route is compact and efficient, it works perfectly as a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $24 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast hubs. While the drive is largely focused on major thoroughfares, it provides a reliable connection across the state. If you are looking for a practical way to move between these cities without navigating complex backroads, this highway-reliant path is your best option.
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
77.9 miles from City of Murfreesboro, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
88.8 mi
1h 35m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
53.7 mi
58m
US 70
6 mi
8m
I 24
3.3 mi
3m
Old Fort Parkway
1.4 mi
2m
East Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Golf Lane
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 88.8 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Murfreesboro, TN and Jackson, 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 74AToward I 840 West: Memphis, FranklinUse 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
89 mi·1 hr 35 min·I 40
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward US 70, US 412 East
9
Turn left onto US 70
4.2 mi·6 min·US 70
10
Turn left onto US 70
1.8 mi·2 min·US 70
11
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
12
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, aim to depart during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on I-40. Since you only have one planned stop along the 155.7-mile route, take advantage of the flexibility to pull over whenever you need a quick stretch or a refill. Given that nearly the entire trip is on highways, stay alert for shifting speed limits and merging traffic patterns. A helpful tip for this specific route is to monitor your fuel levels before hitting the longest 88.8-mile stretch, ensuring you have enough to maintain your momentum. Because the total duration is under three hours, you have plenty of freedom to adjust your schedule to fit your personal travel style.
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 77.9 miles from City of Murfreesboro, TN, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.8 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 34 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.9 miles or 1h 27m 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 Jackson, 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 155.7 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 88.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 148.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|SR 96 / Old Fort Parkway
Turn right onto SR 96 / Old Fort Parkway
Navigation decision point
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
148.9 mi into trip|~2h 43m in
Take the exit toward US 70, US 412 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 70, US 412 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.34 one way
$48.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.73
$53.45
premium
$4.89
$29.96
$59.93
diesel
$5.61
$34.38
$68.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.7
0
$16.35
$7.47
Efficient EV
38.9
0
$13.62
$6.23
EV Truck/SUV
62.3
0
$21.80
$9.96
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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 16, 2026
Origin
City of Murfreesboro, TN
Morning
in City of Murfreesboro on Sunday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, TN
Morning
in Jackson on Sunday
Local time
7:02 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
2h 54m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed, highway-focused experience, as 98% of this trip is spent on major roads. Your journey relies heavily on I-40, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 88.8 miles. The transition between the Tennessee National Guard Parkway, US 70, and the interstate keeps the drive moving quickly. You will find that the road maintains a consistent, efficient pace rather than a winding, technical feel. Being behind the wheel here is largely about managing interstate traffic, making it a functional rather than scenic-heavy excursion.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near SR 96 / Old Fort Parkway.
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 54m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (SR 96 / Old Fort Parkway): Navigation decision point; 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 155.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 88.8 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 0.4 miles (SR 96 / Old Fort Parkway): Navigation decision point; 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.
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 Jackson, TN before heading back.
