Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 8, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
79.6 mi
128 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
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
Cowan, TN
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Franklin, TN to Cowan, TN covers 79.6 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Shelbyville Highway, US 41A, Murfreesboro Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 25.6 miles on Shelbyville Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.34 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.8 miles from Franklin, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Shelbyville Highway | 25.6 mi | 38m |
| US 41A | 20.8 mi | 24m |
| Murfreesboro Road | 12.8 mi | 19m |
| Madison Street | 9.7 mi | 12m |
| Horton Highway | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Cowan Highway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Bypass Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Cumberland Street West | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, TN and Cowan, TN.
Start on US 31 Business; TN 96
Continue on 3rd Avenue South
Continue on SR 96
Turn right onto US 31A; US 41A
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41A
Continue on US 41A
Continue on US 41A
Continue on UA 41A
Merge onto US 41A
Turn left onto Bypass Road
Turn left onto US 41A; US 64 Business
Continue on US 41A
Turn left onto Tennessee Avenue North
Arrive at destination
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 18 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.8 miles or 59m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cowan, 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 79.6 miles and 1h 52m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 39.8 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 73.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Straight onto 3rd Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto US 31A; US 41A / Horton Highway
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41A / Shelbyville Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Merge onto US 41A
Merge point - match speed before joining
Turn left onto Bypass Road
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$12.34 one way
$24.68 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $13.53 | $27.06 |
| premium | $4.93 | $15.44 | $30.89 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $17.55 | $35.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.9 | 0 | $8.36 | $3.82 |
| Efficient EV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.97 | $3.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.8 | 0 | $11.14 | $5.09 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Evening in Franklin on Monday
Local time
7:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Evening in Cowan on Monday
Local time
7:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Clear
93°F
Unionville, TN
40 mi in
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.
79.6 mi in 1h 52m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 3rd Avenue South.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Franklin, TN to Cowan, TN is easy. At 1h 52m with 26% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (3rd Avenue South): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.2 miles (US 31A; US 41A / Horton Highway): Navigation decision point; at 16.6 miles (US 41A / Shelbyville Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
594 ft
Total Descent
263 ft
Highest Point
1,097 ft
~56.9 mi in
Elevation Range
452 ft
Founded 1799
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.
Top landmarks
Founded 1808
Not to be confused with Cowan in Victoria, in which is covered in the Phillip Island article Cowan is a very small town in Tennessee. It has roughly 1,700 residents, and is located at the foot of the Cumberland Plateau between Chattanooga and Nashville. Cowan is oriented around the junction of Tennessee Highway 41 and the CSX railroad heading toward Decherd.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 79.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (26%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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