This 189.4-mile drive from Loudon, TN to Franklin, TN is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 31 minutes. You'll spend about 94% of your time on major interstates like I-40, I-65, and I-75, making for a straightforward journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $30, this route offers an efficient way to travel within the Southeast region. Considering the relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, it's well-suited for a single day of travel without needing an overnight stop.
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
94.7 miles from Loudon, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
154.4 mi
2h 46m
I 65
14.1 mi
15m
I 75
7.4 mi
7m
Murfreesboro Road
2.3 mi
3m
East Lee Highway
2.3 mi
3m
Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway
2.1 mi
2m
Sugar Limb Road
2 mi
3m
Grove Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 154.4 mi, about 2h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Loudon, TN and Franklin, TN.
1
Start on Blair Street
41 ft·8 sec·Blair Street
2
Turn left onto Grove Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Grove Street
3
Turn right onto US 11
0.1 mi·9 sec·Mulberry Street
4
Continue on US 11
0.5 mi·44 sec·Congressman John J. Duncan Jr. Loudon County Veterans Memorial Bridge
5
Continue on US 11
2.3 mi·3 min·East Lee Highway
6
Turn left onto SR 324
2.0 mi·3 min·Sugar Limb Road
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·50 sec
8
Merge onto I 75
7.4 mi·7 min·I 75
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·31 sec
Toward I 40 West: NashvilleUse the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 40
154 mi·2 hr 46 min·I 40
Toward NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 213AToward I 24 East, I 440 West: Memphis, Chattanooga
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 53Toward I 440 West: Memphis
13
Continue on I 440
2.1 mi·2 min·Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 5Toward I 65: Nashville, HuntsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·15 sec
Toward I 65 South: Huntsville
16
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·57 sec·this road
Exit 5Toward 65: Huntsville
17
Merge onto I 65
14 mi·15 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 65Toward TN 96: Franklin, MurfreesboroUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn right onto TN 96
2.3 mi·3 min·Murfreesboro Road
Use the right lane.
20
Continue on TN 96
0.3 mi·34 sec·3rd Avenue South
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Enter roundabout onto US 31 Business; TN 96
397 ft·6 sec·Public Square
22
Arrive at destination
US 31 Business; TN 96
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3-hour and 31-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Loudon, TN, to avoid potential traffic. With only one recommended stop and a high highway share, you can easily complete this 189.4-mile trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 154.4-mile stretch on I-40, and plan your refueling accordingly. Given the straightforward interstate nature, your $30 fuel budget should be sufficient, but it's always wise to have a little extra padding.
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 94.7 miles from Loudon, TN, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.4 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 42 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.7 miles or 1h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 51m
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 Loudon, 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 Loudon, TN
This is one driving day of about 189.4 miles and 3h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Loudon, 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 154.4 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.3 and 186.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
13.3 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward I 40 West: Nashville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 40 West: Nashville
6
13.7 mi into trip|~19m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40 toward Nashville
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Nashville
7
168.1 mi into trip|~3h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 24 East, I 440 West: Memphis, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 213A
Toward I 24 East, I 440 West: Memphis, Chattano...
8
171.5 mi into trip|~3h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 65: Nashville, Huntsville
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 5
Toward I 65: Nashville, Huntsville
8
186.4 mi into trip|~3h 26m in
Take the exit toward TN 96: Franklin, Murfreesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 65
Toward TN 96: Franklin, Murfreesboro
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.61 one way
$59.22 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.51
$65.02
premium
$4.89
$36.45
$72.90
diesel
$5.61
$41.82
$83.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.8
0
$19.89
$9.09
Efficient EV
47.4
0
$16.57
$7.58
EV Truck/SUV
75.8
0
$26.52
$12.12
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Loudon, TN
Morning
in Loudon on Sunday
Local time
9:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Franklin, TN
Morning
in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
8:41 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
36 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 31m 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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 156.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this 189.4-mile trip, with 94% of your journey on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 154.4 miles along I-40, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent speed. While primarily interstate driving, the route connects you to different segments of Tennessee's highway system, offering a smooth but purposeful transit rather than a winding, scenic exploration.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 154.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 65. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.3 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 14 significant decision points across 189.4 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 13.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Loudon, TN and Franklin, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Chattanooga, Huntsville and 65: Huntsville.
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 3h 31m. Total distance: 189.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 154.4 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 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. 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 13.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Franklin, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
