Jefferson City, TN to Murfreesboro, TN is 208.5 miles and takes about 3h 54m via I 40, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, traversing Tennessee from east to west. With 86% of the drive on highways, it's a largely efficient route, ideal for a single-day trip. Consider this drive if you're looking for a straightforward connection between two points without extensive detours.
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
104.3 miles from Jefferson City, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
158.3 mi
2h 52m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
21 mi
22m
Andrew Johnson Highway
13.9 mi
15m
Asheville Highway
5.9 mi
6m
Northwest Broad Street
3.4 mi
5m
West Broadway Boulevard
1.4 mi
1m
New Nashville Highway
0.8 mi
1m
Russell Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 158.3 mi, about 2h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson City, TN and City of Murfreesboro, TN.
1
Start on Russell Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Russell Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 11E
1.4 mi·1 min·West Broadway Boulevard
3
Continue on US 11E
14 mi·15 min·Andrew Johnson Highway
4
Continue on US 11E; US 25W; US 70
5.9 mi·6 min·Asheville Highway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward US 25W North, I 40 West
6
Merge onto I 40; US 25W
26 mi·30 min·I 40; US 25W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
133 mi·2 hr 22 min·I 40
Toward NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Exit 235Toward I 840 West: Memphis, MurfreesboroUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 840
21 mi·22 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 55A-BToward US 41, US 70S: Murfreesboro, SmyrnaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 55AToward US 41 South, US 70S East: MurfreesbordUse the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·1 min
13
Turn straight onto US 41; US 70S
0.8 mi·1 min·New Nashville Highway
14
Continue on US 41; US 70S
3.4 mi·5 min·Northwest Broad Street
15
Turn right
0.2 mi·37 sec
16
Turn straight onto SR 96
0.4 mi·42 sec·Old Fort Parkway
17
Turn right onto Golf Lane
0.4 mi·1 min·Golf Lane
18
Arrive at destination
Golf Lane
Trip Plan
For this 3h 54m drive, leaving Jefferson City in the morning will allow you to arrive in Murfreesboro with plenty of daylight. With a single recommended stop, plan to take a break around the halfway point or when you feel the need to stretch. The estimated fuel cost of $32 is based on the 208.5 miles, so ensure your tank is full before departing. Since this is a manageable one-day trip, you have flexibility in your timing and can adjust your stop as needed. Keep an eye on traffic conditions as you get closer to the Nashville metropolitan area, which may impact your final approach to Murfreesboro.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 104.3 miles from Jefferson City, TN, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 158.3 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 46 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.3 miles or 1h 57m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Murfreesboro, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jefferson City, 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 Jefferson City, TN
This is one driving day of about 208.5 miles and 3h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Jefferson City, 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 40 for about 158.3 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 202.6 — 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|~25m in
Take the exit toward US 25W North, I 40 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 25W North, I 40 West
7
47.6 mi into trip|~56m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Nashville
8
180.3 mi into trip|~3h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
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 235
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
8
202.4 mi into trip|~3h 42m in
Take the exit toward US 41, US 70S: Murfreesboro, Smyrna
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 55A-B
Toward US 41, US 70S: Murfreesboro, Smyrna
9
202.6 mi into trip|~3h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 41 South, US 70S East: Murfreesbord
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 55A
Toward US 41 South, US 70S East: Murfreesbord
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.78 one way
$69.56 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$37.80
$75.60
premium
$5.26
$43.17
$86.34
diesel
$6.18
$50.72
$101.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.6
0
$21.89
$10.01
Efficient EV
52.1
0
$18.24
$8.34
EV Truck/SUV
83.4
1
$29.19
$13.34
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Jefferson City, TN
Morning
in Jefferson City on Tuesday
Local time
8:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Sunny
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
City of Murfreesboro, TN
Morning
in City of Murfreesboro on Tuesday
Local time
7:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
S 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
2 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
3h 54m on the road
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.
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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 208.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, with 86% of the 208.5 miles on highways like I 40. The longest stretch of continuous highway driving is 158.3 miles on I 40, so expect long periods of consistent speed. The transition to surface roads, likely marked by more frequent exits and potentially slower speeds, will occur towards the end of your drive, after the main interstate segment concludes. You'll notice the shift from open highway cruising to a more developed, exit-rich environment as you approach your destination.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 158.3 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 21.7 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 208.5 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 21.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 180.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,946 ft534 ft
Total Climb
1,661 ft
Total Descent
2,283 ft
Highest Point
1,946 ft
~104.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,413 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jefferson City, TN and City of Murfreesboro, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Murfreesboro.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 54m. Total distance: 208.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 158.3 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 City of Murfreesboro, 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 21.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 180.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at City of Murfreesboro, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
