This straightforward 105.1-mile drive from Kimball, TN to Franklin, TN can easily be completed in just over 2 hours, making it a perfect one-day trip. The route primarily utilizes I-24 and US-64, with a portion on Murfreesboro Road, offering an 86% highway experience. With an estimated fuel cost of around $16, this journey through the Southeast region of Tennessee is budget-friendly. You'll find this drive to be efficient and direct, ideal for getting from point A to point B without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.5 miles from Kimball, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
47.8 mi
51m
US 64
31.9 mi
38m
Murfreesboro Road
12.8 mi
19m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
10.3 mi
10m
Horton Highway
0.5 mi
<1m
3rd Avenue South
0.3 mi
<1m
Public Square
<0.1 mi
<1m
Tate Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 47.8 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kimball, TN and Franklin, TN.
1
Start on Tate Road
197 ft·10 sec·Tate Road
2
Turn right onto US 64; US 72
1.0 mi·1 min·US 64; US 72
3
Take the ramp onto US 64
31 mi·37 min·US 64
Toward I-24 West, US 64 West: NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on I 24
48 mi·51 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 74AToward I 840 West: Memphis, FranklinUse the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 840
10 mi·10 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·46 sec
Exit 42Toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, LewisburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto US 31A; US 41A
0.5 mi·57 sec·Horton Highway
9
Turn left onto SR 96
13 mi·19 min·Murfreesboro Road
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on TN 96
0.3 mi·34 sec·3rd Avenue South
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Enter roundabout onto US 31 Business; TN 96
397 ft·6 sec·Public Square
12
Arrive at destination
US 31 Business; TN 96
Trip Plan
Given the short 2-hour duration and 105.1-mile distance, this trip offers great flexibility; you can depart at your leisure. The estimated fuel cost is a manageable $16, but it's always wise to fill up before leaving Kimball, TN, especially since the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 47.8 miles on I-24. While there are no mandated stops, consider a brief break around the halfway point to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can be more spread out on highway stretches.
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 52.5 miles from Kimball, TN, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.8 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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.5 miles or 1h 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 37m
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 Kimball, 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 Kimball, TN
This is one driving day of about 105.1 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Kimball, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 24 for about 47.8 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 91.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip|~1m in|US 64
Take the ramp onto US 64 toward I-24 West, US 64 West: Nashville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I-24 West, US 64 West: Nashville
8
79.7 mi into trip|~1h 30m 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
80.6 mi into trip|~1h 31m 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
90.9 mi into trip|~1h 42m 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
91.8 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|SR 96 / Murfreesboro Road
Turn left onto SR 96 / Murfreesboro Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.43 one way
$32.86 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.04
$36.08
premium
$4.89
$20.23
$40.45
diesel
$5.61
$23.20
$46.41
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: 36.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.5
0
$11.04
$5.04
Efficient EV
26.3
0
$9.20
$4.20
EV Truck/SUV
42
0
$14.71
$6.73
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Kimball, TN
Morning
in Kimball on Tuesday
Local time
10:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Franklin, TN
Morning
in Franklin on Tuesday
Local time
10:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 4m 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 highway-focused experience for the majority of this 105.1-mile journey, with 86% of the drive on interstates and major roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 47.8 miles on I-24, providing a consistent pace. While largely a highway drive, you will transition onto US-64 and Murfreesboro Road, offering slight variations in scenery and speed. This route prioritizes efficient travel over winding country lanes, keeping you moving steadily towards your destination.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.8 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and US 64. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near US 64.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (US 64): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.6 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 Kimball, 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.
The longest stretch is about 47.8 miles on I 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (US 64): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.6 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.
