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Trip from Milan, TN to Franklin, TN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 35m

Distance

127.5 mi

205 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 25m ★
6 AM
2h 36m
8 AM
2h 56m
10 AM
2h 43m
12 PM
2h 41m
3 PM
2h 44m
5 PM
2h 55m
8 PM
2h 29m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Gibson County, Tennessee, United States

Milan, TN

Wikimedia Commons

city and county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States

Franklin, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Milan to Franklin is 127.5 miles and takes about 2 hours 35 minutes via I-40 and State Highway 96, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, moving from one part of the Southeast region to another. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on major highways, making it an easy choice for a single-day journey. You'll find the route efficient, with little need for extensive planning due to its relatively short distance and clear path.

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

63.7 miles from Milan, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 81 mi 1h 26m
State Highway 96 11.8 mi 14m
TN 104 8 mi 10m
Fairview Boulevard 5.2 mi 5m
SR 104 4.8 mi 8m
Highway 96 4.8 mi 6m
State Highway 220 4.5 mi 7m
SR 220 4.2 mi 7m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 81 mi, about 1h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Milan, TN and Franklin, TN.

1

Start on South Main Street

7 ft · 5 sec · South Main Street
2

Turn left onto Williamson Street

254 ft · 14 sec · Williamson Street
3

Turn right onto US 45E

0.5 mi · 1 min · South 1st Street
4

Turn left onto TN 104

1.4 mi · 2 min · Ellington Drive
5

Continue on SR 104

4.8 mi · 8 min · SR 104
6

At end of road, turn right onto SR 220

4.2 mi · 7 min · SR 220
7

Turn left onto SR 220

4.5 mi · 7 min · State Highway 220
8

Turn right onto US 70; SR 104

0.5 mi · 46 sec · Broadway of America
9

Turn left onto TN 104

8.0 mi · 10 min · TN 104
10

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 101 Toward SR 104
11

Merge onto I 40

81 mi · 1 hr 26 min · I 40
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Toward Primary SR 96: Fairview, Franklin Use the right lane.
13

Turn left onto TN 96

4.8 mi · 6 min · Highway 96
14

Merge onto SR 96; SR 100

5.2 mi · 5 min · Fairview Boulevard
15

Take the exit

292 ft · 8 sec
16

Turn right onto TN 96

12 mi · 14 min · State Highway 96
Use the straight lane.
17

Continue on Bridge Street

0.2 mi · 40 sec · Bridge Street
18

Turn right onto 3rd Avenue North

0.1 mi · 12 sec · 3rd Avenue North
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19

Enter roundabout onto US 31 Business; TN 96

174 ft · 2 sec · Public Square
20

Arrive at destination

US 31 Business; TN 96

Trip Plan

Given this route is only 127.5 miles and takes under 3 hours, you have plenty of flexibility. Leaving anytime in the morning will get you to Franklin with ample daylight. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 81 miles on I-40, so plan for a fuel and rest stop before or during that segment. With a low fuel cost estimated at $20, you won't need to worry about frequent fill-ups, but it's always wise to keep an eye on your gauge, especially on the interstate sections.

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 63.7 miles from Milan, TN, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81 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 28 miles or 44m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 63.7 miles or 1h 22m 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 6m

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 Milan, 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 Milan, TN

This is one driving day of about 127.5 miles and 2h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Milan, 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 81 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Tennessee, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dickson, TN

64 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

Dickson, TN to Franklin, TN

37 mi · 47m

Pacing Suggestions

Huntingdon, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

McEwen, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 63.7 miles from Milan, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 81 miles.

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 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 6.7 and 127.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
6.7 mi into trip | ~12m in | SR 220

At end of road, turn right onto SR 220

Navigation decision point

5
23.9 mi into trip | ~39m in

Take the ramp toward SR 104

Navigation decision point

Exit 101 Toward SR 104
7
105.1 mi into trip | ~2h 7m 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
115.4 mi into trip | ~2h 19m in | TN 96 / State Highway 96

Turn right onto TN 96 / State Highway 96

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
127.3 mi into trip | ~2h 35m in | 3rd Avenue North

Turn right onto 3rd Avenue North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.93 one way

$39.87 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $21.89 $43.77
premium $4.89 $24.54 $49.07
diesel $5.61 $28.15 $56.30

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 44.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 38.3 0 $13.39 $6.12
Efficient EV 31.9 0 $11.16 $5.10
EV Truck/SUV 51 0 $17.85 $8.16

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 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

Milan, TN

Night in Milan on Saturday

Local time

11:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Franklin, TN

Night in Franklin on Saturday

Local time

11:16 PM

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

29 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 35m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll spend most of your time on I-40, experiencing an uninterrupted stretch of 81 miles. While the majority is interstate, the latter part of the journey incorporates State Highway 96, offering a slight shift in scenery and driving experience as you approach your destination. Expect a consistent pace for most of the trip, with the interstate providing a direct and efficient connection between the two points.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81 mi on I 40.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and State Highway 96. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.7 miles in near SR 220.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 127.5 miles you will encounter 16 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 6.7 miles (SR 220): Navigation decision point; at 23.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 105.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.

On the drive from Milan, TN to Franklin, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Primary Sr 96: Fairview along the way.

Primary Sr 96: Fairview

105.1 mi in | ~2h 7m

About the Cities

Arriving in Franklin, TN

Full guide →

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.

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 2h 35m. Total distance: 127.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 81 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 6.7 miles (SR 220): Navigation decision point; at 23.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 105.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Franklin, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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