Origin
Sweetwater, TN
Afternoon in Sweetwater on Sunday
Local time
1:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sweetwater, TN to Franklin, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
70.8 mi
114 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sweetwater, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Franklin, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Sweetwater, TN to Franklin, TN is 70.8 miles and takes about 1h 26m via I 65 and US 412, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, making it a convenient journey for those already in or near Tennessee. The drive offers a mixed experience, not solely relying on interstate travel, which can provide a more varied perspective of the landscape. With a duration under two hours and a modest fuel cost, this route is an excellent choice for a quick, straightforward trip between these two Tennessee locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 65 | 18.7 mi | 20m |
| US 412 | 14.1 mi | 16m |
| Hampshire Pike | 13.3 mi | 15m |
| Columbia Highway | 13 mi | 16m |
| Waynesboro Highway | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Murfreesboro Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| East Main Street | 2 mi | 2m |
| South Park Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 18.7 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sweetwater, TN and Franklin, TN.
1
Start on Trace Creek Road
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Trace Creek Road
2
Turn straight onto TN 48
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Waynesboro Highway
3
Continue on SR 48
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Park Street
4
Turn right onto US 412
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
5
Continue on US 412
13 mi
·
16 min
·
Columbia Highway
6
Continue on US 412
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Hampshire Pike
7
Take the exit onto US 412
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 412
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 412
14 mi
·
16 min
·
US 412
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
10
Merge onto I 65
19 mi
·
20 min
·
I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 65
Toward TN 96: Franklin, Murfreesboro
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto Murfreesboro Road
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Murfreesboro Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.4 miles from Sweetwater, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 34.5 and 68 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
34.5 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
US 412
Take the exit onto US 412
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
48.6 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
49 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
67.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward TN 96: Franklin, Murfreesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 65
Toward TN 96: Franklin, Murfreesboro
5
68 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
Murfreesboro Road
Turn left onto Murfreesboro Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.07 one way
$22.14 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.15 | $24.31 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.62 | $27.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.63 | $31.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.43 | $3.40 |
| Efficient EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.19 | $2.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.3 | 0 | $9.91 | $4.53 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Franklin, TN
Afternoon in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
1:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph
7% chance
Live forecast
84°F
Columbia, TN
35 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
36 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 26m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive presents a mixed profile, with 46% of the journey on highway. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 18.7 miles on I 65, offering a chance for steady progress. The route then transitions to US 412 and Hampshire Pike, suggesting a change in road type and pace. Expect a blend of faster highway sections and potentially more local road driving as you approach your destination. This variety means you won't be stuck in a single driving mode for the entire 70.8 miles.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.7 mi on I 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 34.5 miles in near US 412.
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 70.8 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 34.5 miles (US 412): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 48.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 49 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Franklin, TN
Full guide →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.
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 26m. Total distance: 70.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.7 miles on I 65. 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 Franklin, 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: at 34.5 miles (US 412): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 48.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 49 miles (I 65): 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.
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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