Origin
Murfreesboro, TN
Morning in Murfreesboro on Tuesday
Local time
9:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Murfreesboro, TN to Lafayette, TN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
68.4 mi
110 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Murfreesboro, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Lafayette, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Murfreesboro to Lafayette, TN, covers 68.4 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 22 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $10 on fuel for the round trip, making this an affordable excursion within the Southeast region. The route relies heavily on major infrastructure, including I-40, the Tennessee National Guard Parkway, and the Nashville Highway. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, the straightforward nature of this drive makes it a practical choice for motorists looking to navigate between these two Tennessee locales efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 32.5 mi | 34m |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | 20.9 mi | 22m |
| Nashville Highway | 4.8 mi | 7m |
| Northwest Broad Street | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Buffalo Valley Highway | 3 mi | 5m |
| New Nashville Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Chestnut Mound Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 32.5 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Murfreesboro, TN and Lafayette, 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 76A
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 40
33 mi
·
34 min
·
I 40
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Toward TN 96: Center Hill Dam
13
Turn left onto SR 96
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Buffalo Valley Highway
14
Continue on SR 96
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Chestnut Mound Road
15
Turn right onto US 70N; SR 96
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Nashville Highway
16
Arrive at destination
US 70N; SR 96
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.2 miles from Murfreesboro, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 26.6 — 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
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Public Square
Turn slight left onto North Public Square
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
5.7 mi into trip
|
~9m 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.
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.69 one way
$21.39 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.74 | $23.48 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.16 | $26.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.10 | $30.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.18 | $3.28 |
| Efficient EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.99 | $2.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.58 | $4.38 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Lafayette, TN
Morning in Lafayette on Tuesday
Local time
9:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Watertown, TN
34 mi in
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
20 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 22m 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 drive is largely highway-focused, with 78% of your travel occurring on higher-speed roads. You will settle into a rhythmic pace during the longest stretch of the trip, which spans 32.5 miles on I-40. As you transition from the interstate onto the Tennessee National Guard Parkway and the Nashville Highway, the character of the road shifts from busy multi-lane transit to more localized highway travel. Expect a consistent, efficient experience that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads. Staying focused is key during the interstate portion, while the remainder of the route offers a standard transition as you move toward Lafayette.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 68.4 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: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Public Square): Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Lafayette, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Lebanon along the way.
Lebanon
26.6 mi in
|
~32m
About the Cities
Starting in Murfreesboro, TN
Full guide →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.
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 1h 22m. Total distance: 68.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.5 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Lafayette, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 0.1 miles (North Public Square): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lafayette, 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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