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Trip from Lafayette, TN to Murfreesboro, TN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 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

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
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.

city in Macon County, Tennessee, United States of America

Lafayette, TN

Wikimedia Commons

city in Tennessee, United States of America

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.

city in Wilson County, Tennessee, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lebanon, TN

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.

Popular next leg

Lebanon, TN to Murfreesboro, TN

32.2 mi · 40m

Pacing Suggestions

Hartsville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lebanon, TN

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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 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

$10.29 one way

$20.57 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $11.29 $22.59
premium $4.89 $12.66 $25.33
diesel $5.61 $14.53 $29.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

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, 2026-04-13.

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Lafayette, TN

Late night in Lafayette on Sunday

Local time

2:44 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Murfreesboro, TN

Late night in Murfreesboro on Sunday

Local time

2:44 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

77°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

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

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.

On the drive from Lafayette, TN to Murfreesboro, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Smyrna along the way.

Smyrna

60 mi in | ~1h 21m

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.

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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Explore more options from Lafayette, TN or browse trips ending in Murfreesboro, TN.

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