Spanning 186.3 miles across Tennessee, this drive from Obion to Franklin typically takes about 3 hours and 4 minutes to complete. Because the route is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $28 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating through the Southeast, you will find this journey relies on local surface streets rather than major interstates. It is a straightforward trip if you prefer a consistent pace over long-distance highway cruising.
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
93.1 miles from Obion, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 412
137.4 mi
2h 32m
US 51
24.7 mi
27m
State Highway 96
11.8 mi
14m
Fairview Boulevard
5.2 mi
5m
Highway 96
4.8 mi
6m
West Palestine Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Elbridge-Obion Road
0.5 mi
1m
Bridge Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 412
— 137.4 mi, about 2h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Obion, TN and Franklin, TN.
1
Start on this road
88 ft·12 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Main Street
257 ft·13 sec·Main Street
3
Turn right onto 8th Street
401 ft·23 sec·8th Street
4
Turn left onto SR 183
0.9 mi·1 min·West Palestine Avenue
5
Continue on SR 183
0.5 mi·1 min·Elbridge-Obion Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 51 South: Dyersburg
7
Merge onto US 51
16 mi·17 min·US 51
8
Take the exit onto US 51
8.8 mi·10 min·US 51
Toward US 51 South, US 412 East: Dyersburg, Jackson
9
Continue on US 412
5.7 mi·6 min·US 412
10
Continue on US 412
29 mi·34 min·US 412
11
Turn left onto US 412
103 mi·1 hr 50 min·US 412
Toward I-40 East, US 412 East: NashvilleUse the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward Primary SR 96: Fairview, FranklinUse 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
Since this is a manageable 3-hour journey, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid local congestion. Planning for at least one stop is recommended to break up the drive and keep you refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge early on, as the local road navigation may vary your actual consumption compared to highway driving. Because you are sticking to local routes, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersections along Main Street and 8th Street. This route's simplicity is its greatest strength, so take advantage of the ability to pace your day exactly how you prefer.
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 93.1 miles from Obion, TN, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.4 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 41 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.1 miles or 1h 47m 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 51m
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 Obion, 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 Obion, TN
This is one driving day of about 186.3 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Obion, 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 US 412 for about 137.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
4.2 mi from route
~11 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 66.5
Jackson, Tennessee
Hours: 10 am–10 pm
+19012203010
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 186.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto Main Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|8th Street
Turn right onto 8th Street
Navigation decision point
6
61.1 mi into trip|~1h 13m in|US 412
Turn left onto US 412 toward I-40 East, US 412 East: Nashville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I-40 East, US 412 East: Nashville
7
164 mi into trip|~3h 3m 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
7
186.2 mi into trip|~3h 32m in|3rd Avenue North
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.13 one way
$58.25 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.98
$63.96
premium
$4.89
$35.85
$71.70
diesel
$5.61
$41.13
$82.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.9
0
$19.56
$8.94
Efficient EV
46.6
0
$16.30
$7.45
EV Truck/SUV
74.5
0
$26.08
$11.92
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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 15, 2026
Origin
Obion, TN
Late night
in Obion on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Franklin, TN
Late night
in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
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
31 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 32m 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.
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 186.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route relies on Main Street, 8th Street, and West Palestine Avenue to connect your start and end points. With a highway share of 0%, the experience is defined by local traffic patterns and changing road conditions rather than high-speed cruising. You will find that the lack of major highways requires more focus on navigation, making it a more hands-on driving experience than standard cross-country travel.
96% 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: 137.4 mi on US 412.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 412 and US 51. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 186.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 (Main Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 61.1 miles (US 412): 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.
Between Obion, TN and Franklin, TN, road signs point toward Jackson and Primary Sr 96: Fairview.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 186.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 137.4 miles on US 412. 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 (Main Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 61.1 miles (US 412): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Franklin, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
