Origin
Etowah, TN
Morning in Etowah on Tuesday
Local time
10:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Etowah, 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
3h 9m
Distance
160.1 mi
258 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 58m
★
6 AM
3h 9m
8 AM
3h 33m
10 AM
3h 18m
12 PM
3h 15m
3 PM
3h 19m
5 PM
3h 32m
8 PM
3h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Etowah, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Murfreesboro, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Etowah, TN to Murfreesboro, TN is 160.1 miles and takes about 3h 9m via I 24 and I 75, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. With 86% of the route on highways, expect a fairly direct trip. This is a manageable one-day drive, so you don't need to plan for an overnight stay.
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
80 miles from Etowah, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 24 | 104.6 mi | 1h 58m |
| Tennessee Avenue | 18.7 mi | 24m |
| I 75 | 18.4 mi | 22m |
| US 64 | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| US 74 | 7 mi | 9m |
| South Church Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| East Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| L & N Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 104.6 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Etowah, TN and Murfreesboro, TN.
1
Start on L & N Drive
115 ft
·
15 sec
·
L & N Drive
2
Turn left onto US 411; SR 30
19 mi
·
24 min
·
Tennessee Avenue
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
4
Merge onto US 64; US 74
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
US 64; US 74
5
Take the exit onto US 74; US 64 Bypass
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
US 74; US 64 Bypass
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Merge onto I 75
18 mi
·
22 min
·
I 75
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 24
105 mi
·
1 hr 58 min
·
I 24
Toward Chattanooga, Nashville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 81
Toward US 231: Murfreesboro, Shelbyville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto US 231
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
South Church Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto East Main Street
47 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Main Street
13
Continue on East Main Street
347 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Main Street
14
Turn right onto South Spring Street
84 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Spring Street
15
Arrive at destination
South Spring Street
Trip Plan
Since this trip is under four hours, you can easily complete it in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to allow for flexibility with any unscheduled stops. The longest stretch without a major exit change is over 100 miles on I-24, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly before embarking on that segment. Budgeting around $25 for fuel should cover the 160.1-mile distance. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of room to adjust your timing.
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 80 miles from Etowah, TN, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.6 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 35 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80 miles or 1h 37m 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 35m
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 Etowah, 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 Etowah, TN
This is one driving day of about 160.1 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Etowah, 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 24 for about 104.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 80 miles from Etowah, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 24 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 104.6 miles.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 33.3 and 160.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
33.3 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
33.6 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
52 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
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.
Toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
8
157.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 4m in
Take the exit toward US 231: Murfreesboro, Shelbyville
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 81
Toward US 231: Murfreesboro, Shelbyville
5
160.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 9m in
|
South Spring Street
Turn right onto South Spring Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.03 one way
$50.06 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $27.48 | $54.96 |
| premium | $4.89 | $30.81 | $61.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.35 | $70.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48 | 0 | $16.81 | $7.68 |
| Efficient EV | 40 | 0 | $14.01 | $6.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64 | 0 | $22.41 | $10.25 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Morning in Murfreesboro on Tuesday
Local time
9:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 9m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 86% of the drive on major roads like I-24 and I-75. You'll encounter a long stretch of 104.6 miles on I-24, offering extended highway cruising. Surface roads will become more prominent as you approach Murfreesboro, likely with more frequent exits and local traffic integration as the highway portions conclude.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.6 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and Tennessee Avenue. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 33.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 160.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 33.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.6 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 52 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Etowah, TN and Murfreesboro, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Chattanooga.
Nashville
52 mi in
|
~1h 5m
Chattanooga
52.7 mi in
|
~1h 6m
|
via I 24
About the Cities
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 3h 9m. Total distance: 160.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 104.6 miles on I 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Murfreesboro, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 33.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.6 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 52 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Murfreesboro, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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