Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 2m
Distance
150 mi
241 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Franklin, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Apison, TN
Kelly
Franklin, TN to Apison, TN is 150 miles and takes about 3 hours 2 minutes via I-24, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, traveling from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. The drive is primarily on highways, making it a straightforward journey with a high highway share of 85%. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 110 miles on I-24, it's a good option for a single-day trip when you want to get to your destination efficiently. Consider this route if you prefer a direct path with minimal navigation.
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
75 miles from Franklin, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 24 | 110 mi | 2h 3m |
| Murfreesboro Road | 12.8 mi | 19m |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | 10.1 mi | 10m |
| I 75 | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| Apison Pike | 6.6 mi | 11m |
| Horton Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| SR 317 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, TN and Apison, TN.
Start on US 31 Business; TN 96
Continue on 3rd Avenue South
Continue on SR 96
Turn right onto US 31A; US 41A
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 840
Take the exit
Merge onto I 24
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 75
Take the exit onto SR 317
Continue on SR 317
Arrive at destination
Given the 3-hour duration, you can easily complete this drive in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to take advantage of daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. Since there's only one recommended stop and the longest stretch is 110 miles, plan your refueling before you leave Franklin or be mindful of fuel availability around the halfway point. The high highway share means you can maintain steady progress, so consider leaving after your morning coffee and arriving in Apison before dinner.
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.
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 33 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75 miles or 1h 31m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Apison, TN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Franklin, 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 Franklin, TN
This is one driving day of about 150 miles and 3h 2m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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.
A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 75 miles from Franklin, 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 110 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.9 and 143.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward I 840 East: Murfreesboro
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto SR 317 toward SR 317: Collegedale, Volkswagen Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$23.45 one way
$46.90 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $25.75 | $51.50 |
| premium | $4.89 | $28.87 | $57.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.12 | $66.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45 | 0 | $15.75 | $7.20 |
| Efficient EV | 37.5 | 0 | $13.13 | $6.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60 | 0 | $21.00 | $9.60 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Franklin on Saturday
Local time
11:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Rain Showers Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Apison on Sunday
Local time
12:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 85% of the route utilizing major roadways like I-24 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. You'll experience a significant stretch of 110 miles on I-24, which means extended periods of consistent driving speeds. While Murfreesboro Road offers a brief change of pace, the majority of this journey emphasizes efficient travel over varied scenery. Expect a direct and predictable driving experience, largely characterized by interstate conditions.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and Murfreesboro Road. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 13.9 miles in.
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 150 miles you will encounter 9 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 13.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 2m. Total distance: 150 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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