Traveling from Dunlap to Franklin covers 109.9 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 26 minutes behind the wheel. This journey transitions you from the Southeast region of Tennessee toward the central part of the state, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With fuel costs estimated at around $17, it is an accessible drive that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will navigate a mix of thoroughfares, including TN 8, John Bragg Highway, and Murfreesboro Road, to reach your destination. Because the route is straightforward and manageable in a single session, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your day around your arrival time in Franklin rather than worrying about mid-trip lodging.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.9 miles from Dunlap, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
John Bragg Highway
15.6 mi
18m
Murfreesboro Road
12.8 mi
19m
TN 8
12.6 mi
17m
Harrison Ferry Road
12.3 mi
17m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
10.3 mi
10m
Nashville Highway
10.2 mi
11m
McMinnville Highway
8.1 mi
10m
State Highway 8
7.3 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
John Bragg Highway
— 15.6 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dunlap, TN and Franklin, TN.
1
Start on US 127
2.0 mi·3 min·Rankin Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
3
Continue on TN 8; TN 111
13 mi·17 min·TN 8; TN 111
4
Turn left onto TN 8
7.3 mi·9 min·State Highway 8
5
Continue on TN 8
12 mi·17 min·Harrison Ferry Road
6
Turn slight right onto SR 56
1.3 mi·1 min·Beersheba Highway
7
Continue on SR 56
0.5 mi·45 sec·East Colville Street
8
Turn right onto SR 56
0.1 mi·20 sec·South Chancery Street
9
Turn left onto SR 380
0.3 mi·26 sec·West Morford Street
10
Continue on SR 380
2.1 mi·3 min·West Main Street
11
Continue on US 70S
10 mi·11 min·Nashville Highway
12
Continue on US 70S
8.1 mi·10 min·McMinnville Highway
13
Continue on US 70S; SR 53
1.0 mi·2 min·East Main Street
14
Continue on US 70S
16 mi·18 min·John Bragg Highway
15
Turn left onto South Rutherford Boulevard
3.8 mi·5 min·South Rutherford Boulevard
16
Turn left onto US 231
0.3 mi·22 sec·South Church Street
Use the left lane.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward I 24 West: NashvilleUse the right lane.
18
Merge onto I 24
6.5 mi·6 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 74AToward I 840 West: Memphis, FranklinUse the right lane.
20
Merge onto I 840
10 mi·10 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.5 mi·46 sec
Exit 42Toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, LewisburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn right onto US 31A; US 41A
0.5 mi·57 sec·Horton Highway
23
Turn left onto SR 96
13 mi·19 min·Murfreesboro Road
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on TN 96
0.3 mi·34 sec·3rd Avenue South
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Enter roundabout onto US 31 Business; TN 96
397 ft·6 sec·Public Square
26
Arrive at destination
US 31 Business; TN 96
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever fits your schedule best without needing a complex itinerary. While the 109.9-mile distance is easily completed in one go, keep in mind that the mix of highway and local roads may lead to varying traffic patterns. Aim to top off your tank before heading out to keep your fuel budget near that $17 mark. Because there are no designated stops required by the route, use your flexibility to plan your own breaks along the Murfreesboro Road section if you need to stretch your legs. A helpful tip for this specific route is to monitor your speed closely as you transition between the highway stretches and local road segments where speed limits fluctuate.
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 54.9 miles from Dunlap, TN, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.6 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 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.9 miles or 1h 14m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Franklin, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dunlap, 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 Dunlap, TN
This is one driving day of about 109.9 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Dunlap, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on John Bragg Highway for about 15.6 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 77.4 and 95.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
77.4 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|US 231 / South Church Street
Turn left onto US 231 / South Church Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
77.7 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 24 West: Nashville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 24 West: Nashville
5
78.1 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|I 24
Merge onto I 24
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
84.5 mi into trip|~1h 51m 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
8
95.6 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, Lewisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 42
Toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, Lewisburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.18 one way
$34.36 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.86
$37.73
premium
$4.89
$21.15
$42.30
diesel
$5.61
$24.26
$48.53
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: 38.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33
0
$11.54
$5.28
Efficient EV
27.5
0
$9.62
$4.40
EV Truck/SUV
44
0
$15.39
$7.03
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Dunlap, TN
Late night
in Dunlap on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Franklin, TN
Late night
in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
2:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°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
9 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
2h 26m 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?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile that keeps you engaged as you transition between different road types. Only about 33% of the journey is spent on major highways, meaning you will spend the majority of your time on local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 15.6-mile segment on the John Bragg Highway, which provides a brief period of consistent cruising. Expect the road personality to shift as you move away from the initial TN 8 corridor and navigate through the varied infrastructure of Murfreesboro Road. You will find that the drive feels less like a monotonous interstate haul and more like a functional, multi-stage regional transit.
33% 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: 15.6 mi on John Bragg Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 77.4 miles in near US 231 / South Church Street.
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 12 significant decision points across 109.9 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 77.4 miles (US 231 / South Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 77.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.1 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
On the drive from Dunlap, TN to Franklin, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Lewisburg along the way.
Franklin is a city of 81,000 people (2018) in Tennessee, just a few miles south of Nashville.
There are two main areas of interest. One is the Cool Springs area, which is identified by its corporate and retail growth surrounding one of the largest malls in the Southeast, the CoolSprings Galleria. The other is historic downtown Franklin which retains much of its small town charm. It is a walkable, friendly historic downtown district, recognized as a Great American Main Street.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 109.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.6 miles on John Bragg Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Franklin, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 77.4 miles (US 231 / South Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 77.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.1 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Franklin, TN before heading back.
