Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Lafayette, TN to Murfreesboro, TN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
65.8 mi
106 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 25m
★
6 AM
1h 33m
8 AM
1h 47m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 38m
5 PM
1h 46m
8 PM
1h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lafayette, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Murfreesboro, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Lafayette to Murfreesboro is a straightforward 65.8-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 32 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $10 on fuel for the trip, making it a budget-friendly option for your Southeast Tennessee travels. The drive relies primarily on a combination of the Tennessee National Guard Parkway, US 231, and Hartsville Road. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a day of exploring, the direct nature of this connection ensures you spend more time at your destination than behind the wheel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.9 miles from Lafayette, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | 21 mi | 22m |
| US 231 | 12.9 mi | 19m |
| Hartsville Road | 11.5 mi | 17m |
| TN 25 | 8.7 mi | 13m |
| Northwest Broad Street | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| I 40 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| South Cumberland Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| New Nashville Highway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
— 21 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lafayette, TN and Murfreesboro, TN.
1
Start on this road
19 ft
·
0 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on TN 10; TN 261
106 ft
·
2 sec
·
Public Square
3
Continue on TN 10
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
College Street
4
Continue on TN 10
12 mi
·
17 min
·
Hartsville Road
5
At end of road, turn right onto TN 25
8.7 mi
·
13 min
·
TN 25
6
Turn left onto US 231
13 mi
·
19 min
·
US 231
7
Enter roundabout onto US 231
134 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Cumberland Street
8
Continue on US 231
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Cumberland Street
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 40 West: Nashville
10
Merge onto I 40
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 40
11
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Exit 235
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 840
21 mi
·
22 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 55A-B
Toward US 41, US 70S: Murfreesboro, Smyrna
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 55A
Toward US 41 South, US 70S East: Murfreesbord
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
1 min
16
Turn straight onto US 41; US 70S
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
New Nashville Highway
17
Continue on US 41; US 70S
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Northwest Broad Street
18
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
West Main Street
19
Turn right onto South Maple Street
138 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Maple Street
20
Turn slight left onto South Public Square
467 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Public Square
21
Turn slight right onto East Main Street
47 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Main Street
22
Continue on East Main Street
347 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Main Street
23
Turn right onto South Spring Street
84 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Spring Street
24
Arrive at destination
South Spring Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though planning to avoid peak traffic hours will keep your travel time closer to the 1-hour and 32-minute estimate. With no mandatory stops required for a trip of this length, you can easily complete the 65.8 miles in one go if you prefer. Keep your $10 fuel budget in mind as you head out, and ensure your tank is ready for the full duration of the drive before you leave Lafayette. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay alert for changes in speed limits when transitioning from the Tennessee National Guard Parkway onto US 231. This simple awareness will make your transition between road types much smoother.
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 32.9 miles from Lafayette, TN, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21 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 14 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.9 miles or 50m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Murfreesboro, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lafayette, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lafayette, TN
This is one driving day of about 65.8 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Lafayette, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Tennessee National Guard Parkway for about 21 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.9 miles from Lafayette, 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
The Bug Man
0.5 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.5 mi from route
QuikTrip
1.6 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 12.1 and 65.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
12.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
TN 25
At end of road, turn right onto TN 25
Navigation decision point
8
37.9 mi into trip
|
~58m 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
60 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m 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
60.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m 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
5
65.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
South Spring Street
Turn right onto South Spring Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.94 one way
$21.88 round trip
$4.22/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $11.92 | $23.83 |
| premium | $5.18 | $13.43 | $26.85 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $13.86 | $27.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.91 | $3.16 |
| Efficient EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.76 | $2.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.3 | 0 | $9.21 | $4.21 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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.
Origin
Lafayette, TN
Evening in Lafayette on Wednesday
Local time
7:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 mph
86% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Murfreesboro, TN
Evening in Murfreesboro on Wednesday
Local time
7:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 mph
84% chance
Live forecast
68°F
Lebanon, TN
33 mi in
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
3 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
1h 32m 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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 63.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused route is defined by a 68% highway share, providing a consistent pace for the majority of your travel. You will experience a mix of regional roads, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 21 miles along the Tennessee National Guard Parkway. As you transition between the various segments, expect the road personality to shift from local connectors to more sustained highway driving. The experience is practical and functional, designed to get you between these two Tennessee locations efficiently. You won't find yourself dealing with complex navigation, as the route is built for steady, reliable progress.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21 mi on Tennessee National Guard Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Tennessee National Guard Parkway and US 231. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12.1 miles in near TN 25.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 65.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 12.1 miles (TN 25): Navigation decision point; at 37.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
958 ft
478 ft
Total Climb
500 ft
Total Descent
845 ft
Highest Point
958 ft
Elevation Range
481 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Lafayette, TN to Murfreesboro, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Smyrna along the way.
Smyrna
60 mi in
|
~1h 21m
About the Cities
Starting in Lafayette, TN
Full guide →Arriving in Murfreesboro, TN
Full guide →Founded 1811
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.
Top landmarks
- • Fortress Rosecrans — fort in Murfreesboro, Tennessee
- • Marymont — historic mansion in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA
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 1h 32m. Total distance: 65.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21 miles on Tennessee National Guard Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 12.1 miles (TN 25): Navigation decision point; at 37.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60 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.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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