Spanning 100.1 miles, this journey from Gruetli-Laager to Franklin takes you across the Southeast in approximately 1 hour and 49 minutes. Because the trip is short and manageable, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You should budget about $15 for fuel to cover the distance, making this a highly economical excursion. The route transitions from the rural landscape of Gruetli-Laager toward the more developed surroundings of Franklin. Since the entire drive stays within Tennessee, you will find the logistics straightforward and easy to navigate. Plan for a quick, direct transit that gets you to your destination with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50 miles from Gruetli-Laager, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
53 mi
56m
Murfreesboro Road
12.8 mi
19m
SR 108
10.6 mi
17m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
10.3 mi
10m
Elkhead Road
4.8 mi
8m
Pelham Road
3.5 mi
6m
SR 50
2.7 mi
4m
Horton Highway
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 53 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gruetli-Laager, TN and Franklin, TN.
1
Start on SR 108
11 mi·17 min·SR 108
2
Turn left onto SR 50
3.5 mi·6 min·Pelham Road
3
Continue on SR 50
4.8 mi·8 min·Elkhead Road
4
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 50
2.7 mi·4 min·SR 50
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
6
Merge onto I 24
53 mi·56 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 74AToward I 840 West: Memphis, FranklinUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 840
10 mi·10 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·46 sec
Exit 42Toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, LewisburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto US 31A; US 41A
0.5 mi·57 sec·Horton Highway
11
Turn left onto SR 96
13 mi·19 min·Murfreesboro Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on TN 96
0.3 mi·34 sec·3rd Avenue South
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Enter roundabout onto US 31 Business; TN 96
397 ft·6 sec·Public Square
14
Arrive at destination
US 31 Business; TN 96
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 49 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around traffic patterns near Franklin. Since there are no scheduled stops, ensure your fuel tank is ready for the full 100.1-mile haul before you leave Gruetli-Laager to keep your $15 budget on track. Because the route relies heavily on local roads like Pelham and Elkhead, stay alert for sharper curves and changing speed limits that you wouldn't encounter on a major interstate. Use your mobility to your advantage by leaving early in the day, which allows you to maximize your time once you arrive. Keep a close eye on your GPS, as the turn-heavy nature of this specific route requires frequent adjustments compared to standard highway travel.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50 miles from Gruetli-Laager, TN, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53 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 22 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50 miles or 1h 6m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Franklin, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gruetli-Laager, 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 Gruetli-Laager, TN
This is one driving day of about 100 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Gruetli-Laager, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 24 for about 53 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 21.7 and 86.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
21.7 mi into trip|~36m in|I 24
Merge onto I 24
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
74.7 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 74A
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
5
75.6 mi into trip|~1h 35m 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.
8
85.8 mi into trip|~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, Lewisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 42
Toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, Lewisburg
5
86.8 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|SR 96 / Murfreesboro Road
Turn left onto SR 96 / Murfreesboro Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.63 one way
$31.27 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.17
$34.33
premium
$4.89
$19.24
$38.49
diesel
$5.61
$22.08
$44.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30
0
$10.50
$4.80
Efficient EV
25
0
$8.75
$4.00
EV Truck/SUV
40
0
$14.00
$6.40
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Gruetli-Laager, TN
Late night
in Gruetli-Laager on Sunday
Local time
3:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Franklin, TN
Late night
in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
3:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 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 8m 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 turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. You will navigate a series of local roads, specifically Pelham Road and Elkhead Road, before eventually transitioning onto I-840 West. With a highway share of 0%, this route favors winding, intimate surface roads over high-speed interstate cruising. The lack of long, uninterrupted highway stretches means you will be actively engaged with the road layout throughout the duration of the trip. The character of the drive remains consistent, favoring technical navigation over the monotony of a typical highway grind.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and Murfreesboro Road. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 21.7 miles in near I 24.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 100 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 21.7 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.6 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Gruetli-Laager, TN to Franklin, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Lewisburg along the way.
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 8m. Total distance: 100 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53 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 Franklin, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 21.7 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.6 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Franklin, TN before heading back.
