Origin
Franklin, TN
Late night in Franklin on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Franklin, TN to Murfreesboro, TN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
31.4 mi
51 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Franklin, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Murfreesboro, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion between Franklin and Murfreesboro, you can expect a manageable 41.1-mile journey that typically takes about 45 minutes to complete. Because the trip is short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, meaning you won’t need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting approximately $6 for fuel should cover your needs for this Southeast Tennessee transit. Since the route relies entirely on local roads rather than interstate highways, it offers a more grounded, community-focused experience. Whether you are commuting or just exploring, this straightforward drive is efficient enough to fit into a busy schedule without any unnecessary logistical stress.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Murfreesboro Road | 12.8 mi | 19m |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | 10.1 mi | 10m |
| I 24 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Old Fort Parkway | 2 mi | 3m |
| Horton Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 3rd Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Northwest Broad Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.2 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 Murfreesboro, 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
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 78B
Toward SR 96 East: Murfreesboro
Use the right lane.
10
Turn straight onto SR 96
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Fort Parkway
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
12
Keep slight right at fork
181 ft
·
6 sec
13
Turn right onto US 41; US 70S; US 231
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Northwest Broad Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
West Main Street
15
Turn right onto South Maple Street
138 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Maple Street
16
Turn slight left onto South Public Square
467 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Public Square
17
Turn slight right onto East Main Street
47 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Main Street
18
Continue on East Main Street
347 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Main Street
19
Turn right onto South Spring Street
84 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Spring Street
20
Arrive at destination
South Spring Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.7 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 13.9 and 30.7 — 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
7
28.3 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward SR 96 East: Murfreesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 78B
Toward SR 96 East: Murfreesboro
6
30.7 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
US 41; US 70S; US 231 / Northwest Broad Street
Turn right onto US 41; US 70S; US 231 / Northwest Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.91 one way
$9.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.39 | $10.78 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.04 | $12.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.93 | $13.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.75 | $1.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.40 | $2.01 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Murfreesboro, TN
Late night in Murfreesboro on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
45m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate through a variety of surface streets, including 3rd Avenue South, Murfreesboro Road, and Horton Highway, which keeps the experience engaging behind the wheel. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on 3rd Avenue South, you should be prepared for frequent turns and constant shifts in pace. This is a practical, hands-on driving experience that demands your attention as you transition between these two Tennessee cities. It is a far cry from the cruise-control ease of a major expressway, offering a more localized perspective of the region.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 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?
8/10
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
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 31.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 45m.
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.
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.
Arriving in Murfreesboro, TN
Full guide →Murfreesboro is a city in the Nashville metropolitan area of Middle Tennessee. It is the largest suburb of Nashville and the sixth largest city in Tennessee. Since the 1990s, Murfreesboro has been Tennessee's fastest growing major city and one of the fastest growing cities in the country. Murfreesboro is home to Middle Tennessee State University, the second largest undergraduate university in the state of Tennessee, with almost 23,000 students in 2014.
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 45m. Total distance: 31.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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 Murfreesboro, 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 — 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 Murfreesboro, 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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