Murfreesboro, TN to Surgoinsville, TN is 255.5 miles and takes about 4h 52m via I 40 and Rutledge Pike, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, traversing Tennessee for its entirety. Expect a primarily highway experience with a good portion on I 40. With only one recommended stop and a total drive time under five hours, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip, making it a straightforward option for getting between these two points.
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
127.7 miles from City of Murfreesboro, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
156.7 mi
2h 51m
Rutledge Pike
28.5 mi
32m
Lee Highway
27.1 mi
31m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
20.9 mi
22m
Rogersville Bypass
11.7 mi
13m
Northwest Broad Street
3.4 mi
5m
Appalachian Highway
1.7 mi
1m
Main Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 156.7 mi, about 2h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Murfreesboro, TN and Surgoinsville, 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
7.6 mi·9 min·I 40
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 11W: Knoxville Zoo
13
Keep slight right at fork
391 ft·9 sec
Toward US 11W: Mascot, Blaine, Rutledge, Bean Station
14
Continue on US 11W
29 mi·32 min·Rutledge Pike
15
Continue on US 11W; SR 1
12 mi·13 min·Lee Highway
16
Merge onto US 11W; US 25E; SR 1; SR 32; ADHS S
1.7 mi·1 min·Appalachian Highway
17
Turn left onto Old US 11W
1.2 mi·2 min·Main Street
18
Turn left onto US 11W; SR 1
16 mi·18 min·Lee Highway
19
Continue on US 11W; SR 1
3.4 mi·3 min·Rogersville Bypass
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 11W; SR 1
8.3 mi·9 min·Rogersville Bypass
21
Turn right onto Nelhms Street
127 ft·5 sec·Nelhms Street
22
Continue on Surgoinsville Creek Road
0.1 mi·30 sec·Surgoinsville Creek Road
23
Continue on Surgoinsville Creek Road
0.1 mi·24 sec·Surgoinsville Creek Road
24
Continue on Surgoinsville Creek Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Surgoinsville Creek Road
25
Turn right onto SR 346
208 ft·4 sec·Main Street
26
Arrive at destination
SR 346
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 52m estimated drive time, leaving Murfreesboro in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. With only one stop recommended for the 255.5 miles, you can be flexible with your timing, but consider a break around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before heading onto the longer 156.7-mile stretch on I 40, as services can be spread out. The estimated fuel cost is around $40, so plan accordingly. This is a manageable one-day drive, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays.
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 127.7 miles from City of Murfreesboro, TN, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.7 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 56 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.7 miles or 2h 24m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Surgoinsville, 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 255.5 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 156.7 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 184.4 — 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
5
6 mi into trip|~11m 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.
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
5
27.6 mi into trip|~35m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
184.4 mi into trip|~3h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 11W: Mascot, Blaine, Rutledge, Bean Station
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 11W: Mascot, Blaine, Rutledge, Bean S...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.62 one way
$85.24 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$46.50
$93.01
premium
$5.25
$52.84
$105.68
diesel
$6.28
$63.13
$126.26
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: 89.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.7
0
$26.83
$12.26
Efficient EV
63.9
0
$22.36
$10.22
EV Truck/SUV
102.2
1
$35.77
$16.35
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
City of Murfreesboro, TN
Morning
in City of Murfreesboro on Thursday
Local time
6:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
S 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Surgoinsville, TN
Morning
in Surgoinsville on Thursday
Local time
7:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Areas Of Frost then Sunny
NE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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 52m 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...
Cumberland Gap was the first great gateway to the west. Come follow the path of bison, Native Americans, longhunters, and pioneers. Walk where 300,000 people crossed the Appalachians to settle America...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 220.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is mostly highway, with 70% of the 255.5 miles on major roads like I 40. You'll encounter the longest stretch of continuous highway at 156.7 miles on I 40. After I 40, you'll transition to Rutledge Pike and then Lee Highway, which will feel like a more traditional surface road drive with potentially more local traffic and varied exit patterns.
70% 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: 156.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Rutledge Pike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 255.5 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 1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,793 ft541 ft
Total Climb
1,663 ft
Total Descent
1,106 ft
Highest Point
1,793 ft
~91.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,252 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 Surgoinsville, TN, road signs point toward Lebanon, Blaine, Rutledge and Bean Station.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 52m. Total distance: 255.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 156.7 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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 Surgoinsville, 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 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Surgoinsville, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
