Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 19m
Distance
178.2 mi
287 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
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
Arlington, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Franklin to Arlington is 178.2 miles and takes about 3h 19m via I 40 and State Highway 96, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward highway-focused trip, making it a good option for a single-day journey. You'll spend most of your time on major roads, so expect a generally efficient travel experience. Consider this route if you're looking for a simple, direct connection between these two points with minimal fuss.
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
89.1 miles from Franklin, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 152.2 mi | 2h 43m |
| State Highway 96 | 11.8 mi | 15m |
| SR 96 | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| Highway 96 | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| TN 96 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Forrest Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Hickory Withe Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| SR 196 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, TN and Arlington, TN.
Start on US 31 Business; TN 96
Continue on US 31 Business; TN 96
Turn right onto US 431 Business; TN 96
Turn left onto TN 96
At end of road, turn left onto SR 96; SR 100
Take the exit onto TN 96
Continue on Highway 96
Take the exit
Merge onto I 40
Take the exit
Turn right onto SR 196
Turn straight onto Hickory Withe Road
Continue on Forrest Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 3h 19m estimated duration, this is easily a same-day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. The longest stretch on I 40 is over 150 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before you begin that segment. While the route is primarily highway, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the longer stretches. With only one recommended stop, you can make good time, but don't hesitate to pull over if you need a break.
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 39 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.1 miles or 1h 39m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington, 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 178.2 miles and 3h 19m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
89 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 89.1 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 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 152.2 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 0.1 and 22.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Slight right onto US 31 Business; TN 96 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto US 431 Business; TN 96 / 5th Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto TN 96 / State Highway 96
Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn left onto SR 96; SR 100
Navigation decision point
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Regular Gas
$27.86 one way
$55.72 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $30.59 | $61.18 |
| premium | $4.89 | $34.29 | $68.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.34 | $78.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.5 | 0 | $18.71 | $8.55 |
| Efficient EV | 44.6 | 0 | $15.59 | $7.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.3 | 0 | $24.95 | $11.40 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
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 drive is overwhelmingly a highway-focused experience, with 98% of the journey on major roads like I 40. You'll encounter a long, uninterrupted stretch of 152.2 miles on I 40, which means you can settle in for a good period of consistent travel. The route begins with some mileage on State Highway 96 and SR 96 before merging onto the interstate. The character is predominantly that of a fast-paced highway drive, allowing for steady progress towards your destination. Expect a consistent driving environment for the majority of the trip.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and State Highway 96. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 31 Business; TN 96 / Main Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 19m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 31 Business; TN 96 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.2 miles (US 431 Business; TN 96 / 5th Avenue North): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (TN 96 / State Highway 96): 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 19m. Total distance: 178.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
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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