Origin
Franklin, TN
Late night in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
2:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Franklin, TN to Christiana, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
39.8 mi
64 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Franklin, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Christiana, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 39.8 miles across Middle Tennessee, this drive from Franklin to Christiana is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 54 minutes. It functions perfectly as a quick day trip, requiring only a single day to complete without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $6 for fuel, making it a very economical excursion through the Southeast. The route utilizes a mix of local roads and interstate travel, providing a balanced transition between the areas. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this short transit offers a practical way to navigate between these two Tennessee communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Murfreesboro Road | 12.8 mi | 19m |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | 10.1 mi | 10m |
| I 24 | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| Shelbyville Highway | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| South Church Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Hwy 269 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Horton Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 3rd Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Murfreesboro Road
— 12.8 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, TN and Christiana, 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
13 mi
·
19 min
·
Murfreesboro Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn right onto US 31A; US 41A
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Horton Highway
5
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 840 East: Murfreesboro
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 840
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
2 min
Exit 53A
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 24
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 81A
Toward US 231 South: Shelbyville
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto US 231
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
South Church Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 231
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Shelbyville Highway
12
Turn left onto Hwy 269
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Hwy 269
13
Turn left onto Main Street
492 ft
·
23 sec
·
Main Street
14
Turn right onto Church Street
16 ft
·
5 sec
·
Church Street
15
Turn left
11 ft
·
0 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.9 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 13.9 and 31.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
13.9 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the ramp toward I 840 East: Murfreesboro
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 840 East: Murfreesboro
5
14.6 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge onto I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
24.6 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 53A
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
5
25.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
I 24
Merge onto I 24
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
31.2 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward US 231 South: Shelbyville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 81A
Toward US 231 South: Shelbyville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.22 one way
$12.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.83 | $13.66 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.66 | $15.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.79 | $17.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.18 | $1.91 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.48 | $1.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.57 | $2.55 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Christiana, TN
Late night in Christiana on Sunday
Local time
2:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
33 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
54m 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 trip features a mixed drive profile, with 42% of your time spent on highways. You will begin by navigating local stretches, including a notable 12.8-mile segment along Murfreesboro Road, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the journey. As you progress, the path transitions onto the Tennessee National Guard Parkway and eventually I-24 to complete the connection. Expect a shift in pace as you move from local surface streets to the higher-speed environment of the interstate. It is a functional drive that requires your attention as you transition between these varying road types.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.8 mi on Murfreesboro Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 39.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
853 ft
569 ft
Total Climb
378 ft
Total Descent
327 ft
Highest Point
853 ft
~17 mi in
Elevation Range
284 ft
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 54m. Total distance: 39.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.8 miles on Murfreesboro Road. 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 Christiana, 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 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Christiana, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Christiana, TN
More trips to Christiana, TN
Explore more options from Franklin, TN or browse trips ending in Christiana, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.