Sewanee, TN to Franklin, TN is 91.3 miles and takes about 1h 51m via I 24, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect a straightforward journey focused on efficient travel, making it a solid choice for a single-day trip. With a highway-heavy profile, this route prioritizes getting you to your destination without significant detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.7 miles from Sewanee, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
60 mi
1h 5m
Murfreesboro Road
12.8 mi
19m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
10.3 mi
10m
Sewanee Highway
1.8 mi
2m
West Main Street
1.5 mi
2m
Sollace M Freeman Highway
1.5 mi
2m
University Avenue
0.6 mi
2m
Horton Highway
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 60 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sewanee, TN and Franklin, TN.
1
Start on University Avenue
0.6 mi·2 min·University Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 41A
1.5 mi·2 min·Sollace M Freeman Highway
3
Continue on US 41A
1.8 mi·2 min·Sewanee Highway
4
Continue on US 41A
0.4 mi·36 sec·David Crockett Highway
5
Continue on US 41A
1.5 mi·2 min·West Main Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
7
Merge onto I 24; US 64
60 mi·1 hr 5 min·I 24; US 64
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 74AToward I 840 West: Memphis, FranklinUse the right lane.
9
Merge onto I 840
10 mi·10 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·46 sec
Exit 42Toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, LewisburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto US 31A; US 41A
0.5 mi·57 sec·Horton Highway
12
Turn left onto SR 96
13 mi·19 min·Murfreesboro Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on TN 96
0.3 mi·34 sec·3rd Avenue South
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Enter roundabout onto US 31 Business; TN 96
397 ft·6 sec·Public Square
15
Arrive at destination
US 31 Business; TN 96
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just under two hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. You won't need extensive stops, but planning for a brief pause around the halfway mark for a stretch or a quick snack is always a good idea. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $14, and while there are no specific long stretches without services noted, it's wise to top off before departing Sewanee. This direct route means you can focus on enjoying the drive rather than navigating complex turns.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 45.7 miles from Sewanee, TN, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60 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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.7 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
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 Sewanee, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sewanee, TN
This is one driving day of about 91.3 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Sewanee, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 24 for about 60 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 6 and 78.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6 mi into trip|~10m in|I 24; US 64
Merge onto I 24; US 64
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
66 mi into trip|~1h 16m 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
66.9 mi into trip|~1h 18m 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.
8
77.1 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, Lewisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 42
Toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, Lewisburg
5
78.1 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|SR 96 / Murfreesboro Road
Turn left onto SR 96 / Murfreesboro Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.27 one way
$28.55 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.67
$31.34
premium
$4.89
$17.57
$35.14
diesel
$5.61
$20.16
$40.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.4
0
$9.59
$4.38
Efficient EV
22.8
0
$7.99
$3.65
EV Truck/SUV
36.5
0
$12.78
$5.84
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 20, 2026
Origin
Sewanee, TN
Morning
in Sewanee on Tuesday
Local time
10:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Franklin, TN
Morning
in Franklin on Tuesday
Local time
10:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
17 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
1h 51m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 77% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 24 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. You'll experience about 60 miles on I 24 as the longest uninterrupted stretch, offering a consistent pace. While much of the journey involves higher speeds, you'll also transition onto roads like Murfreesboro Road, which may offer a slightly different driving feel before reaching Franklin. The overall character is efficient and direct, designed for timely arrival.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and Murfreesboro Road. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6 miles in near I 24; US 64.
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 91.3 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 6 miles (I 24; US 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 66 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.9 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
On the drive from Sewanee, TN to Franklin, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Lewisburg along the way.
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 1h 51m. Total distance: 91.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60 miles on I 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 6 miles (I 24; US 64): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 66 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.9 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Franklin, TN before heading back.
