Murfreesboro, TN to Rutledge, TN is 212.7 miles and takes about 3h 58m via I 40, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, connecting the Southeast region from one point to another. With 83% of the drive on highways, expect a fairly direct path for most of the way. This route is a solid option for a single-day trip, offering a straightforward drive without extensive detours.
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
106.4 miles from Murfreesboro, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
156.7 mi
2h 51m
Rutledge Pike
28.5 mi
32m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
20.9 mi
22m
Northwest Broad Street
3.7 mi
5m
New Nashville Highway
0.9 mi
1m
West Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North Public Square
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 156.7 mi, about 2h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Murfreesboro, TN and Rutledge, 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
7.6 mi·9 min·I 40
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 11W: Knoxville Zoo
14
Keep slight right at fork
391 ft·9 sec
Toward US 11W: Mascot, Blaine, Rutledge, Bean Station
15
Continue on US 11W
29 mi·32 min·Rutledge Pike
16
Turn left onto Marshall Avenue
76 ft·3 sec·Marshall Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Marshall Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 58m drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. The longest stretch without a major road change is 156.7 miles on I 40, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, perhaps before you leave Murfreesboro or as you approach the end of that segment. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your drive.
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 106.4 miles from Murfreesboro, TN, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.7 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 47 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.4 miles or 1h 59m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rutledge, 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 212.7 miles and 3h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 156.7 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 184.1 — 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
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
5
27.3 mi into trip|~33m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
184.1 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 11W: Mascot, Blaine, Rutledge, Bean Station
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 11W: Mascot, Blaine, Rutledge, Bean S...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.48 one way
$70.96 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$38.71
$77.43
premium
$5.25
$43.99
$87.98
diesel
$6.28
$52.56
$105.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.8
0
$22.33
$10.21
Efficient EV
53.2
0
$18.61
$8.51
EV Truck/SUV
85.1
1
$29.78
$13.61
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Murfreesboro, TN
Morning
in Murfreesboro on Thursday
Local time
6:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
S 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Rutledge, TN
Morning
in Rutledge on Thursday
Local time
7:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
0 mph0% 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
3h 58m 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...
Cumberland Gap was the first great gateway to the west. Come follow the path of bison, Native Americans, longhunters, and pioneers. Walk where 300,000 people crossed the Appalachians to settle America...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 212.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway cruising, with 83% of the 212.7 miles on major roads like I 40. You'll experience a longest stretch of 156.7 miles on I 40 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate the interstate system, particularly in more populated areas.
83% 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: 156.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Rutledge Pike. 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 212.7 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 5.7 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,881 ft535 ft
Total Climb
1,683 ft
Total Descent
1,272 ft
Highest Point
1,881 ft
~106.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,345 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Murfreesboro, TN and Rutledge, TN, road signs point toward Lebanon, Blaine and Bean Station.
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 3h 58m. Total distance: 212.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 156.7 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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 Rutledge, 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 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Rutledge, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
