City of Murfreesboro, TN to Roan Mountain, TN is 308.5 miles and takes about 5h 54m via I 40, I 81, and Tennessee National Guard Parkway, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, traversing the Southeast region. It's a straightforward drive that mostly sticks to major interstates, making it a practical choice for a single-day transit. You'll find it to be a reliable way to get from your starting point to your destination with minimal fuss.
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
154.2 miles from City of Murfreesboro, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
185.8 mi
3h 23m
I 81
56.6 mi
1h
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
20.9 mi
22m
James H. Quillen Parkway
15.1 mi
18m
State Line Road
10.4 mi
14m
Laurels Road
3.9 mi
6m
Northwest Broad Street
3.4 mi
5m
Dry Creek Road
2.6 mi
4m
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 Roan Mountain, 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 76AToward I 40 East: Knoxville, LebanonUse 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
57 mi·1 hr·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·40 sec
Exit 57AToward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
14
Merge onto I 26; US 23
15 mi·18 min·James H. Quillen Parkway
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 24Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn slight right
342 ft·8 sec
17
Merge onto US 321; SR 67
0.2 mi·23 sec·University Parkway
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward Milligan Highway
19
Turn right onto Milligan Highway
2.2 mi·3 min·Milligan Highway
20
Turn right onto SR 359
0.8 mi·1 min·Okolona Road
21
Turn left onto SR 361
3.9 mi·6 min·Laurels Road
22
Continue on SR 361
2.6 mi·4 min·Dry Creek Road
23
At end of road, turn right onto SR 361
2.4 mi·4 min·Gap Creek Road
24
Turn right onto US 19E
10 mi·14 min·State Line Road
25
Turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi·47 sec·Main Street
26
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 54m estimated duration, departing in the morning is your best bet to ensure you arrive with ample daylight. With only one recommended stop for this 308.5-mile drive, you can choose to make it a quick pit stop or a more extended break. The fuel cost is estimated at $48, so plan accordingly. Be mindful that the longest stretch on I 40 is over 185 miles, so ensure you have enough fuel before embarking on that segment, as services can be more spread out.
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 154.2 miles from City of Murfreesboro, TN, or about 2h 53m 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 68 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.2 miles or 2h 53m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Roan Mountain, 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 308.5 miles and 5h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 26.9 and 285.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
270 mi into trip|~4h 58m in
Take the exit toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 57A
Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, As...
6
285.5 mi into trip|~5h 17m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 24
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.56 one way
$91.12 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$50.30
$100.59
premium
$4.72
$57.28
$114.56
diesel
$4.80
$58.25
$116.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.6
1
$32.39
$14.81
Efficient EV
77.1
0
$26.99
$12.34
EV Truck/SUV
123.4
1
$43.19
$19.74
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 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.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
City of Murfreesboro, TN
Morning
in City of Murfreesboro on Sunday
Local time
9:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
WNW 5 mph62% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:09PM CDT until July 17 at 5:15PM CDT by NWS Nashville TN
Destination
Roan Mountain, TN
Morning
in Roan Mountain on Sunday
Local time
10:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph30% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:09PM CDT until July 17 at 5:15PM CDT by NWS Nashville TN
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 54m 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...
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 202.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on the highway for about 90% of this 308.5-mile route. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 185.8 miles, primarily on I 40. The remaining portion of the drive will transition to surface roads as you approach your destination. Expect a steady cruising experience for the majority of the trip, with a relatively low number of exit interruptions until the final leg.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 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?
9/10
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 26.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 308.5 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 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; at 213.4 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,576 ft579 ft
Total Climb
3,143 ft
Total Descent
1,146 ft
Highest Point
2,576 ft
~308.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,997 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between City of Murfreesboro, TN and Roan Mountain, TN, road signs point toward Lebanon, Asheville and Milligan Highway.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 54m. Total distance: 308.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). 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.
Yes — we found about 32 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Roan Mountain, 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. There are 32 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 213.4 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Roan Mountain, TN before the return drive.
