Origin
Franklin, TN
Late night in Franklin on Tuesday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Franklin, TN to Alexandria, 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
1h 21m
Distance
64.6 mi
104 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Franklin, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Alexandria, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Franklin to Alexandria, Tennessee, you are looking at a manageable 64.6-mile trek that typically takes about 1 hour and 21 minutes. This journey stays entirely within the Southeast region, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You can expect to budget roughly $10 for fuel, keeping the trip very cost-effective. Because the route relies on local roads rather than long interstate stretches, it offers a more personal, hands-on driving experience. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick change of scenery, the simplicity of this trip makes it a straightforward choice for any weekend or weekday outing.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 26.2 mi | 28m |
| Sparta Pike | 15.2 mi | 21m |
| I 65 | 14.1 mi | 15m |
| Murfreesboro Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway | 2 mi | 2m |
| Nashville Highway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Locust Street | 0.5 mi | 2m |
| 3rd Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 26.2 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, TN and Alexandria, TN.
1
Start on US 31 Business; TN 96
418 ft
·
7 sec
·
Public Square
2
Continue on 3rd Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
3rd Avenue South
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on SR 96
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Murfreesboro Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 65
14 mi
·
15 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 80
Toward I 440: Memphis, Knoxville
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 440 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 440
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 24 West: Nashville, Knoxville
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 24 West, I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 24
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
I 24
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 52B
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 40
26 mi
·
28 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 239A
Toward US 70 East: Watertown
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn slight right onto US 70
15 mi
·
21 min
·
Sparta Pike
16
Continue on US 70
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Nashville Highway
17
Turn left onto Locust Street
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Locust Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto Church Street
371 ft
·
18 sec
·
Church Street
19
Turn right onto West Main Street
249 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.3 miles from Franklin, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 17.5 and 47.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
17.5 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 440 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 440 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
8
19.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 24 West: Nashville, Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 24 West: Nashville, Knoxville
8
20.4 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 24 West, I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 24 West, I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxvil...
8
21 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52B
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville
7
47.5 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward US 70 East: Watertown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 239A
Toward US 70 East: Watertown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.10 one way
$20.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.09 | $22.18 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.43 | $24.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.26 | $28.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.78 | $3.10 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.65 | $2.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.04 | $4.13 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Alexandria, TN
Late night in Alexandria on Tuesday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
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
1h 21m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate via 3rd Avenue South, Murfreesboro Road, and I-440, focusing on surface streets that require your full attention behind the wheel. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on 3rd Avenue South, you should be prepared for frequent turns and constant adjustments rather than long, straight-line driving. The personality of this trip is defined by its technical nature, keeping you engaged with the road throughout the entire 1 hour and 21-minute duration. It is a practical, direct way to move between these two Tennessee towns without the typical interstate grind.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.2 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Sparta Pike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.6 miles you will encounter 15 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 17.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
777 ft
487 ft
Total Climb
494 ft
Total Descent
484 ft
Highest Point
777 ft
~55.3 mi in
Elevation Range
289 ft
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 Franklin, TN and Alexandria, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Knoxville
17.2 mi in
|
~20m
Chattanooga
17.5 mi in
|
~21m
About the Cities
Starting in Franklin, TN
Full guide →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.
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 1h 21m. Total distance: 64.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.2 miles on I 40. 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 Alexandria, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Alexandria, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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