Traveling from Martin to Franklin covers 148.1 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 59 minutes. Because the trip is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day journey, though you should budget approximately $22 for fuel to make the trek. You will primarily utilize I-40, TN-22, and State Highway 96 to navigate between these two Southeast Tennessee locations. Since 91% of your travel occurs on highways, the transit is straightforward and efficient. Whether you are heading out for a quick weekend getaway or a necessary commute, this route offers a predictable pace that keeps your travel plans simple and manageable.
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
74 miles from Martin, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
73.7 mi
1h 19m
TN 22
42.8 mi
56m
State Highway 96
11.8 mi
14m
Fairview Boulevard
5.2 mi
5m
Highway 96
4.8 mi
6m
Main Street
3.2 mi
5m
SR 22 Bypass
2.1 mi
3m
Lexington Street
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 73.7 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Martin, TN and Franklin, TN.
1
Start on US 45E Business
77 ft·6 sec·South Lindell Street
2
Turn left onto TN 431
3.2 mi·5 min·Main Street
3
Continue on TN 22
31 mi·40 min·TN 22
4
Continue on SR 22 Business
390 ft·9 sec·SR 22 Business
5
Turn right onto US 70A
1.5 mi·2 min·Veterans Drive North
6
Turn left onto SR 22 Bypass
2.1 mi·3 min·SR 22 Bypass
7
Turn right onto Lexington Street
1.9 mi·3 min·Lexington Street
8
Turn right onto TN 22
6.5 mi·8 min·TN 22
9
Continue on SR 22; SR 424
0.2 mi·21 sec·Lexington Clarksburg Road
10
Continue on TN 22
5.4 mi·7 min·TN 22
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington, Huntingdon
12
Merge onto I 40
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 40
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward Primary SR 96: Fairview, FranklinUse the right lane.
14
Turn left onto TN 96
4.8 mi·6 min·Highway 96
15
Merge onto SR 96; SR 100
5.2 mi·5 min·Fairview Boulevard
16
Take the exit
292 ft·8 sec
17
Turn right onto TN 96
12 mi·14 min·State Highway 96
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on Bridge Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Bridge Street
19
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue North
0.1 mi·12 sec·3rd Avenue North
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
20
Enter roundabout onto US 31 Business; TN 96
174 ft·2 sec·Public Square
21
Arrive at destination
US 31 Business; TN 96
Trip Plan
Since the trip is under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With only one recommended stop, you can easily manage the drive in one go, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the long 73.7-mile stretch of I-40. Leaving mid-morning can help you avoid the heaviest traffic patterns, ensuring you arrive in Franklin feeling refreshed. Because the majority of your time is spent on major thoroughfares, prioritize checking traffic reports for I-40 specifically, as any congestion here will be the primary factor in extending your drive time beyond the estimated three-hour mark.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74 miles from Martin, TN, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.7 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 33 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74 miles or 1h 35m 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 26m
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 Martin, 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 Martin, TN
This is one driving day of about 148.1 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Martin, 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 73.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
4.6 mi from route
~12 min detour
$1 to $10
mile 21.2
Gleason, Tennessee
Hours: 5 am–1 pm
+17316481999
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 51.8 and 148 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
51.8 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington, Huntingdon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexing...
7
125.7 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward Primary SR 96: Fairview, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Primary SR 96: Fairview, Franklin
5
136 mi into trip|~2h 43m in|TN 96 / State Highway 96
Turn right onto TN 96 / State Highway 96
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
147.9 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|3rd Avenue North
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
148 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|US 31 Business; TN 96 / Public Square
Enter roundabout onto US 31 Business; TN 96 / Public Square
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.15 one way
$46.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.42
$50.84
premium
$4.89
$28.50
$57.00
diesel
$5.61
$32.70
$65.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.4
0
$15.55
$7.11
Efficient EV
37
0
$12.96
$5.92
EV Truck/SUV
59.2
0
$20.73
$9.48
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Martin, TN
Morning
in Martin on Sunday
Local time
7:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Franklin, TN
Morning
in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
7:50 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
7 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
2h 59m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive moves quickly, with a significant 91% of the distance spent on high-speed roads. You can expect a consistent flow as you transition between routes, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 73.7 miles along I-40. The road character shifts from the initial state highway segments into the heavy interstate transit, before eventually tapering off onto State Highway 96 as you approach your destination. While the experience is primarily defined by high-speed efficiency, the mix of roads ensures you are not stuck on the same type of pavement for the entire three-hour duration. Expect a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and TN 22. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 51.8 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 148.1 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 51.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 136 miles (TN 96 / State Highway 96): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
857 ft374 ft
Total Climb
734 ft
Total Descent
496 ft
Highest Point
857 ft
~116.3 mi in
Elevation Range
482 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Martin, TN and Franklin, TN, road signs point toward Primary Sr 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington, Huntingdon and Primary Sr 96: Fairview.
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 2h 59m. Total distance: 148.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.7 miles on I 40. 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 51.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 136 miles (TN 96 / State Highway 96): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Franklin, TN before heading back.
