Murfreesboro to Colonial Heights is 273.4 miles and takes about 5h 2m via I 40 and I 81, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Tennessee, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a primarily highway drive, meaning you'll cover a lot of ground efficiently. Given its manageable length and mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward trip suitable for a single day of travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
136.7 miles from Murfreesboro, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
185.8 mi
3h 23m
I 81
59 mi
1h 3m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
20.9 mi
22m
Northwest Broad Street
3.7 mi
5m
Fort Henry Drive
1.1 mi
1m
New Nashville Highway
0.9 mi
1m
West Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North Public Square
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 185.8 mi, about 3h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Murfreesboro, TN and Colonial Heights, 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
3.7 mi·5 min·Northwest Broad Street
7
Continue on US 41; US 70S
0.9 mi·1 min·New Nashville Highway
8
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville
9
Merge onto I 840
21 mi·22 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 76AToward I 40 East: Knoxville, LebanonUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 40
149 mi·2 hr 42 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·40 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
59 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 59Toward SR 36: Kingsport, Johnson City
15
Turn left onto SR 36
1.1 mi·1 min·Fort Henry Drive
16
Turn right onto Colonial Heights Road
82 ft·2 sec·Colonial Heights Road
17
Arrive at destination
Colonial Heights Road
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving in the morning gives you plenty of daylight to reach your destination without feeling rushed. Since the route is mostly highway, plan for a single fuel stop to manage your $42 budget, or top off before you leave Murfreesboro. The longest stretch without a major exit opportunity is over 185 miles on I 40, so be sure you have enough fuel for that segment. Given the relatively short duration, you have flexibility if you encounter unexpected delays.
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 136.7 miles from Murfreesboro, TN, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 185.8 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 60 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.7 miles or 2h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Colonial Heights, 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 273.4 miles and 5h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 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 185.8 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 272.1 — 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
9
26.6 mi into trip|~32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 76A
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
6
176.4 mi into trip|~3h 15m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
213.1 mi into trip|~3h 56m in|I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 North: Bristol
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
6
272.1 mi into trip|~4h 59m in
Take the exit toward SR 36: Kingsport, Johnson City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 59
Toward SR 36: Kingsport, Johnson City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.37 one way
$80.75 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$44.57
$89.15
premium
$4.72
$50.76
$101.52
diesel
$4.80
$51.62
$103.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82
1
$28.71
$13.12
Efficient EV
68.4
0
$23.92
$10.94
EV Truck/SUV
109.4
1
$38.28
$17.50
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Murfreesboro, TN
Morning
in Murfreesboro on Sunday
Local time
9:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph24% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Colonial Heights, TN
Morning
in Colonial Heights on Sunday
Local time
10:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph24% chanceLive 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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 2m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 198
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly on highways, with 97% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 185.8 miles on I 40 before transitioning to I 81 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. Expect frequent exits and entrances as you navigate these high-speed corridors, especially in and around urban areas.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 185.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 273.4 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: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 26.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 176.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,993 ft537 ft
Total Climb
2,127 ft
Total Descent
1,302 ft
Highest Point
1,993 ft
~97.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,456 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 Murfreesboro, TN to Colonial Heights, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Lebanon along the way.
Murfreesboro is a city in the Nashville metropolitan area of Middle Tennessee. It is the largest suburb of Nashville and the sixth largest city in Tennessee. Since the 1990s, Murfreesboro has been Tennessee's fastest growing major city and one of the fastest growing cities in the country. Murfreesboro is home to Middle Tennessee State University, the second largest undergraduate university in the state of Tennessee, with almost 23,000 students in 2014.
Top landmarks
•Fortress Rosecrans — fort in Murfreesboro, Tennessee
•Marymont — historic mansion in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 2m. Total distance: 273.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 185.8 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 32 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Colonial Heights, 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. There are 32 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 26.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 176.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Colonial Heights, TN before the return drive.
