Murfreesboro, TN to Arlington, TN is 210.6 miles and takes about 3h 55m via I 40 and I 24, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a straightforward journey, primarily on major highways, making it a practical choice for a quick trip. Expect a consistent driving experience without significant changes in scenery or road type. This route is best suited for those prioritizing efficiency and a direct path to their destination.
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
105.3 miles from Murfreesboro, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
146.4 mi
2h 37m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
53.7 mi
58m
I 24
3.3 mi
3m
Old Fort Parkway
1.7 mi
3m
Forrest Street
1.4 mi
3m
Hickory Withe Road
1 mi
2m
SR 196
0.4 mi
<1m
Northwest Broad Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 146.4 mi, about 2h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Murfreesboro, TN and Arlington, TN.
1
Start on South Spring Street
84 ft·11 sec·South Spring Street
2
Turn left onto East Main Street
347 ft·9 sec·East Main Street
3
Turn right onto North Church Street
115 ft·3 sec·North Church Street
4
Turn slight left onto North Public Square
393 ft·11 sec·North Public Square
Use the left lane.
5
Turn slight right onto West Main Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·West Main Street
6
Turn right onto US 41; US 70S; US 231
0.3 mi·32 sec·Northwest Broad Street
7
Turn left
0.2 mi·37 sec
8
Turn straight onto SR 96
1.7 mi·3 min·Old Fort Parkway
9
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 24 West: Nashville
10
Merge onto I 24
3.3 mi·3 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 74AToward I 840 West: Memphis, FranklinUse the right lane.
12
Merge onto I 840
54 mi·58 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 40
146 mi·2 hr 37 min·I 40
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
15
Turn right onto SR 196
0.4 mi·46 sec·SR 196
16
Turn straight onto Hickory Withe Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Hickory Withe Road
17
Continue on Forrest Street
1.4 mi·3 min·Forrest Street
18
Arrive at destination
Walker Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 4 hours, this trip is easily accomplished in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop, you can be strategic about where you choose to refuel or stretch your legs. The longest stretch without a major highway change is 146.4 miles on I-40, so plan your break before or after this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the destination, as services can sometimes be spaced out on interstates.
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 105.3 miles from Murfreesboro, TN, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 146.4 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 46 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.3 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arlington, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Murfreesboro, 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 Murfreesboro, TN
This is one driving day of about 210.6 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Murfreesboro, 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 146.4 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 7.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Main Street
Turn left onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North Church Street
Turn right onto North Church Street
Navigation decision point
5
3.1 mi into trip|~6m in|I 24
Merge onto I 24
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
6.4 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 74A
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
5
7.3 mi into trip|~12m in|I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge onto I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.92 one way
$65.85 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.15
$72.30
premium
$4.89
$40.53
$81.06
diesel
$5.61
$46.50
$93.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.2
0
$22.11
$10.11
Efficient EV
52.7
0
$18.43
$8.42
EV Truck/SUV
84.2
1
$29.48
$13.48
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Murfreesboro, TN
Late night
in Murfreesboro on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Arlington, TN
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°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
13 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 55m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with a 98% highway share. You'll spend most of your time on interstates like I-40 and I-24. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 146.4 miles on I-40, meaning you can settle in for a significant period. The road character remains consistent, offering a predictable experience for the majority of the journey. This drive is built for covering distance efficiently rather than for scenic meandering.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 146.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 55m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 55m. Total distance: 210.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 146.4 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.
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: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Arlington, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
