This 142.4-mile journey from Franklin, TN to Fairmount, TN is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 52 minutes. The route primarily utilizes I-24 and Murfreesboro Road, with a significant portion, 82%, being on highways, making it a straightforward drive. With an estimated fuel cost of $22, this trip is quite budget-friendly. You'll be staying within the Southeast region and the state of Tennessee for the entire duration. This highway-focused drive is a practical choice for a quick excursion, allowing ample time to enjoy your destination without feeling rushed.
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
71.2 miles from Franklin, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
103.1 mi
1h 54m
Murfreesboro Road
12.8 mi
19m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
10.1 mi
10m
Taft Highway
4.4 mi
6m
US 27
3.4 mi
4m
Signal Mountain Boulevard
3 mi
4m
Signal Mountain Road
1.6 mi
2m
Horton Highway
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 103.1 mi, about 1h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, TN and Fairmount, 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: MurfreesboroUse 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 53AToward I 24 East: ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 24
103 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 184BToward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
10
Continue on US 27
3.4 mi·4 min·US 27
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward US 127 North: Signal Mountain
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·12 sec
13
Turn straight onto US 127
1.6 mi·2 min·Signal Mountain Road
14
Continue on US 127
3.0 mi·4 min·Signal Mountain Boulevard
15
Continue on US 127
4.4 mi·6 min·Taft Highway
16
Turn right onto Gahagan Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Gahagan Road
17
At end of road, turn left onto Fairmount Pike
0.3 mi·1 min·Fairmount Pike
18
Turn right onto North Fairmount Road
52 ft·2 sec·North Fairmount Road
19
Arrive at destination
North Fairmount Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 2-hour and 52-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid any potential traffic, especially around the I-24 corridor. With a total distance of 142.4 miles and a fuel cost of around $22, you won't need extensive planning for fuel or rest stops, though it's always wise to check your fuel level before heading out. The longest stretch without a major turn is over 100 miles on I-24, so be prepared for sustained highway driving. Given the manageable duration, you have the flexibility to add a brief stop if needed, perhaps for a quick break on Murfreesboro Road.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.2 miles from Franklin, TN, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.1 miles.
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 31 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.2 miles or 1h 26m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairmount, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 142.4 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Franklin, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 24 for about 103.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.9 and 128.5 — 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.
5
128.5 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 184B
Toward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.26 one way
$44.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.44
$48.89
premium
$4.89
$27.40
$54.81
diesel
$5.61
$31.44
$62.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.7
0
$14.95
$6.84
Efficient EV
35.6
0
$12.46
$5.70
EV Truck/SUV
57
0
$19.94
$9.11
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Franklin, TN
Late night
in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fairmount, TN
Late night
in Fairmount on Sunday
Local time
3:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 52m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Stones River National Battlefield
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a largely highway-focused experience on this route, with 82% of the drive taking place on faster roads like I-24. The majority of your time will be spent on I-24, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 103.1 miles. While much of the drive is on main arteries, you'll also encounter segments on Murfreesboro Road and Tennessee National Guard Parkway, offering a slight variation in scenery and speed. This road's personality is defined by efficient travel, prioritizing getting you to your destination smoothly.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.1 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and Murfreesboro Road. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 142.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 142.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.1 miles on I 24. 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 Fairmount, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fairmount, TN before heading back.
