Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
30.6 mi
49 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
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
Unionville, TN
Andy Staver
This 30.6-mile drive from Franklin, TN, to Unionville, TN, is a quick 46-minute journey perfect for a day trip. You'll primarily navigate on Shelbyville Highway, Murfreesboro Road, and Horton Highway, with no interstate driving. The estimated fuel cost is around $5, making it an economical option. Given its short duration and local road profile, this route is best enjoyed without needing an overnight stay. It offers a straightforward local experience within the Southeast region.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Shelbyville Highway | 13.9 mi | 20m |
| Murfreesboro Road | 12.8 mi | 19m |
| Horton Highway | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| 3rd Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Halls Mill Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Public Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, TN and Unionville, 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
Turn right onto Halls Mill Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 15.3 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.
4 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 30.5 — 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
Turn right onto Halls Mill Road
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$4.78 one way
$9.57 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.25 | $10.51 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.89 | $11.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.76 | $13.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 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 | 9.2 | 0 | $3.21 | $1.47 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.68 | $1.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Franklin on Tuesday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Patchy Fog
Destination
Late night in Unionville on Tuesday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a 0% highway share. The roads you'll be on, including Shelbyville Highway, Murfreesboro Road, and Horton Highway, are likely to be more winding and require your attention. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 13.9 miles on Shelbyville Highway. This drive doesn't offer long stretches of high-speed cruising; instead, it's characterized by frequent turns and a more intimate connection with the local landscape as you travel.
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 Unionville, TN is easy. At 46m with 0% 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.
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 30.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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