Origin
Dayton, TN
Late night in Dayton on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dayton, TN to Murfreesboro, TN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 20m
Distance
107.7 mi
173 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 11m
★
6 AM
2h 20m
8 AM
2h 40m
10 AM
2h 27m
12 PM
2h 25m
3 PM
2h 28m
5 PM
2h 39m
8 PM
2h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dayton, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Murfreesboro, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 107.7-mile drive from Dayton to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, it's an economical option for exploring the Southeast region. The route primarily utilizes US 27 and John Bragg Highway, offering a mixed driving experience. Given its relatively short duration and straightforward path, this trip is ideal for a single day of travel without the need for an overnight stay. You'll find this journey offers a practical way to connect these two Tennessee towns.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.9 miles from Dayton, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 27 | 15.8 mi | 18m |
| John Bragg Highway | 15.6 mi | 18m |
| TN 8 | 12.6 mi | 17m |
| Harrison Ferry Road | 12.3 mi | 17m |
| SR 111 | 11.5 mi | 13m |
| Nashville Highway | 10.2 mi | 11m |
| McMinnville Highway | 8.1 mi | 10m |
| State Highway 8 | 7.3 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
US 27
— 15.8 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dayton, TN and Murfreesboro, TN.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue
156 ft
·
10 sec
·
2nd Avenue
2
Turn right onto SR 378
343 ft
·
13 sec
·
Market Street
3
Turn right onto SR 30
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
3rd Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 27
16 mi
·
18 min
·
US 27
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
6
Merge onto TN 111
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
TN 111
7
Continue on SR 111
11 mi
·
13 min
·
SR 111
8
Continue on TN 8; TN 111
13 mi
·
17 min
·
TN 8; TN 111
9
Turn left onto TN 8
7.3 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 8
10
Continue on TN 8
12 mi
·
17 min
·
Harrison Ferry Road
11
Turn slight right onto SR 56
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Beersheba Highway
12
Continue on SR 56
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Colville Street
13
Turn right onto SR 56
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
South Chancery Street
14
Turn left onto SR 380
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Morford Street
15
Continue on SR 380
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
16
Continue on US 70S
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Nashville Highway
17
Continue on US 70S
8.1 mi
·
10 min
·
McMinnville Highway
18
Continue on US 70S; SR 53
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
19
Continue on US 70S
16 mi
·
18 min
·
John Bragg Highway
20
Continue on US 70S
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
21
Turn right onto US 41; US 70S
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Southeast Broad Street
22
Turn right onto South Church Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
South Church Street
23
Turn right onto East Main Street
47 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Main Street
24
Continue on East Main Street
347 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Main Street
25
Turn right onto South Spring Street
84 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Spring Street
26
Arrive at destination
South Spring Street
Trip Plan
For this 107.7-mile route, departing in the morning will allow you to reach Murfreesboro with ample time for your day's activities. Since the drive is only 2 hours and 20 minutes, you can afford to be flexible with stops, perhaps taking a brief break after the 15.8-mile stretch on US 27. The estimated fuel cost of $17 should be factored into your budget. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially if you plan any detours, as the longest stretch is over 15 miles. This trip is well-suited for a single-day adventure, making planning straightforward.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 53.9 miles from Dayton, TN, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.8 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 24 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.9 miles or 1h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Murfreesboro, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dayton, 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 Dayton, TN
This is one driving day of about 107.7 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Dayton, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 27 for about 15.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 53.9 miles from Dayton, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 0 and 107.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SR 378 / Market Street
Turn right onto SR 378 / Market Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SR 30 / 3rd Avenue
Turn right onto SR 30 / 3rd Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
67.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
SR 56 / South Chancery Street
Turn right onto SR 56 / South Chancery Street
Navigation decision point
4
67.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
SR 380 / West Morford Street
Turn left onto SR 380 / West Morford Street
Navigation decision point
5
107.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 20m in
|
South Spring Street
Turn right onto South Spring Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.84 one way
$33.68 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.49 | $36.97 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.73 | $41.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.78 | $47.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.3 | 0 | $11.31 | $5.17 |
| Efficient EV | 26.9 | 0 | $9.42 | $4.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.1 | 0 | $15.08 | $6.89 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Murfreesboro, TN
Late night in Murfreesboro on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
McMinnville, TN
54 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
2 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 20m 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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 107.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
The journey features a 49% highway share, meaning you'll experience a blend of faster-paced driving and more local road navigation. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 15.8 miles on US 27. As you progress, the drive transitions, moving from the character of US 27 to the John Bragg Highway and TN 8. This mixed profile suggests a dynamic drive, not a monotonous interstate cruise, allowing for varied scenery and driving conditions throughout the 2 hours and 20 minutes.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.8 mi on US 27.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 378 / Market Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 20m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SR 378 / Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SR 30 / 3rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 67.3 miles (SR 56 / South Chancery Street): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Dayton, TN
Full guide →Dayton is the seat of Rhea County in Eastern Tennessee.
Arriving in Murfreesboro, TN
Full guide →Murfreesboro is a city in the Nashville metropolitan area of Middle Tennessee. It is the largest suburb of Nashville and the sixth largest city in Tennessee. Since the 1990s, Murfreesboro has been Tennessee's fastest growing major city and one of the fastest growing cities in the country. Murfreesboro is home to Middle Tennessee State University, the second largest undergraduate university in the state of Tennessee, with almost 23,000 students in 2014.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 107.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.8 miles on US 27. 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: near the start (SR 378 / Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SR 30 / 3rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 67.3 miles (SR 56 / South Chancery Street): Navigation decision point.
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 Murfreesboro, TN before heading back.
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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