Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 29m
Distance
236.7 mi
381 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
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
Morristown, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Franklin, TN to Morristown, TN is 236.7 miles and takes about 4h 29m via I-40, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. The drive is mostly highway, making it a straightforward trip with minimal complexity. With only one recommended stop and a duration under five hours, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, offering a practical way to cover ground efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
118.4 miles from Franklin, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 12m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 180.5 mi | 3h 17m |
| Andrew Johnson Highway | 26.4 mi | 33m |
| I 65 | 14.1 mi | 15m |
| Asheville Highway | 6 mi | 7m |
| Murfreesboro Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway | 2 mi | 2m |
| West Broadway Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| West 1st North Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, TN and Morristown, TN.
Start on US 31 Business; TN 96
Continue on 3rd Avenue South
Continue on SR 96
Take the exit
Merge onto I 65
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 440
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 24
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Take the exit onto US 25W
Turn left onto US 11E; US 25W; US 70
Turn straight onto US 11E
Continue on US 11E; SR 92
Continue on US 11E
Continue on SR 66
Turn left onto North Henry Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 4h 29m estimated drive time, leaving Franklin, TN in the morning will allow you to reach Morristown, TN with plenty of daylight remaining. You only have one suggested stop, so consider if you need more frequent breaks, especially during the 180.5-mile stretch on I-40. The fuel cost is estimated at $38, so plan accordingly. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; however, keeping an eye on traffic as you approach the Morristown area is always a good idea.
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 52 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.4 miles or 2h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Morristown, 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 236.7 miles and 4h 29m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
118 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 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 118.4 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 180.5 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 2.9 and 21 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 440 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 24 West: Nashville, Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 24 West, I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$36.70 one way
$73.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $40.24 | $80.48 |
| premium | $4.93 | $45.92 | $91.85 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $52.18 | $104.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 71 | 0 | $24.85 | $11.36 |
| Efficient EV | 59.2 | 0 | $20.71 | $9.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 94.7 | 1 | $33.14 | $15.15 |
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Morning in Franklin on Friday
Local time
6:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Morristown on Friday
Local time
7:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
You'll be on the highway for about 83% of this 236.7-mile drive, primarily using I-40. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 180.5 miles, so expect extended periods of consistent cruising. After leaving the main interstate, you'll transition to Andrew Johnson Highway and I-65, which will likely feel more rural with fewer exits compared to the interstate.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Andrew Johnson Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 236.7 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 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
2,166 ft
Total Descent
1,513 ft
Highest Point
1,996 ft
~118.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,462 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Franklin, TN and Morristown, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Knoxville
Chattanooga
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 1787
Morristown is in Eastern Tennessee. Settled in the years just after the Revolutionary War, around 1787, Davy Crockett once lived here. Prior to the Civil Rights era, Morristown had one of the only two colleges in eastern Tennessee established for African Americans, called Morristown College. One newer development is the unique urban renewal design that was implemented for the town in the 1960s, with elevated sidewalks connecting city blocks downtown. The idea didn't really take off in terms of ushering in commerce, but it does have a peculiar look nonetheless.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 29m. Total distance: 236.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. 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 options from Franklin, TN or browse trips ending in Morristown, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.
