Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 55m
Distance
99.6 mi
160 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
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
Bruceton, TN
Wikimedia Commons
This 99.6-mile drive from Franklin, TN to Bruceton, TN is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 55 minutes. It's primarily a highway-focused trip, making it an excellent option for a single-day excursion. With an estimated fuel cost of $16, this route is quite budget-friendly. You'll be spending most of your time on major roadways, so expect a consistent pace. Since both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, you won't be crossing any major geographical or cultural divides on this Tennessee-to-Tennessee adventure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.8 miles from Franklin, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 55.4 mi | 59m |
| US 641 | 13.7 mi | 15m |
| State Highway 96 | 11.8 mi | 15m |
| US 70 | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| SR 96 | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| Highway 96 | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| TN 96 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, TN and Bruceton, 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
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 641
Turn left onto US 70
At end of road, turn left onto US 70
Arrive at destination
Given its manageable 1 hour and 55-minute duration, this drive offers considerable flexibility. You could depart mid-morning to avoid rush hour and still arrive with plenty of daylight. With no specific stops noted, consider this an opportunity to be spontaneous, or plan a brief break along I-40 if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 55.4-mile stretch on I-40, as finding services can be less frequent on longer highway segments. The $16 fuel cost suggests you won't need to worry excessively about gas stops, but it's always wise to start with a full tank.
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.
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 22 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.8 miles or 57m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bruceton, TN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Franklin, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Franklin, TN
This is one driving day of about 99.6 miles and 1h 55m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 49.8 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 78.3 — 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
Take the exit toward US 641: Camden, Paris, Parsons
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$15.57 one way
$31.14 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.10 | $34.19 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.17 | $38.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.99 | $43.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.9 | 0 | $10.46 | $4.78 |
| Efficient EV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.71 | $3.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.94 | $6.37 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Night in Franklin on Saturday
Local time
11:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Rain Showers Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Night in Bruceton on Saturday
Local time
11:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°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.
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this 99.6-mile trip, with 99% of the route utilizing major roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 55.4 miles on I-40, offering a chance to settle into a steady rhythm. You'll primarily navigate via I-40, State Highway 96, and US 641, suggesting a consistent driving profile for much of the journey. This highway-focused profile means you can anticipate relatively quick travel times and fewer unexpected delays from local traffic.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 641. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 31 Business; TN 96 / Main Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 99.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Franklin, TN and Bruceton, TN, road signs point toward Paris and Parsons.
Paris
Parsons
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 1h 55m. Total distance: 99.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). 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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