Walnut Hill, TN to Murfreesboro, TN is 289 miles and takes about 5h 22m via I 40, I 81, and Tennessee National Guard Parkway, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region, primarily within Tennessee. Expect a route that's almost entirely on major highways, making it a straightforward trip. It's a good option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover this distance without much complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
144.5 miles from Walnut Hill, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
185.5 mi
3h 22m
I 81
69.2 mi
1h 14m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
21 mi
22m
Bristol Highway
3.6 mi
5m
Northwest Broad Street
3.4 mi
5m
Blountville Highway
1.1 mi
1m
Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway
1 mi
1m
New Nashville Highway
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 185.5 mi, about 3h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Walnut Hill, TN and City of Murfreesboro, TN.
1
Start on Walnut Hill Road
41 ft·3 sec·Walnut Hill Road
2
Turn right onto SR 126
1.1 mi·1 min·Blountville Highway
3
Continue on SR 126
3.2 mi·4 min·Bristol Highway
4
Continue on SR 126
0.5 mi·46 sec·Bristol Highway
5
Turn right onto TN 394; I 81 Alt
1.0 mi·1 min·Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway
6
Turn left
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward I 81 SouthUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 81
68 mi·1 hr 13 min·I 81
8
Continue on I 81
0.7 mi·45 sec·I 81
Exit 1BToward I 40 West: Knoxville
9
Merge onto I 40
53 mi·59 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
133 mi·2 hr 22 min·I 40
Toward NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Exit 235Toward I 840 West: Memphis, MurfreesboroUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 840
21 mi·22 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 55A-BToward US 41, US 70S: Murfreesboro, SmyrnaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 55AToward US 41 South, US 70S East: MurfreesbordUse the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·1 min
16
Turn straight onto US 41; US 70S
0.8 mi·1 min·New Nashville Highway
17
Continue on US 41; US 70S
3.4 mi·5 min·Northwest Broad Street
18
Turn right
0.2 mi·37 sec
19
Turn straight onto SR 96
0.4 mi·42 sec·Old Fort Parkway
20
Turn right onto Golf Lane
0.4 mi·1 min·Golf Lane
21
Arrive at destination
Golf Lane
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 22m duration, leaving Walnut Hill in the morning should allow you to reach Murfreesboro with plenty of daylight to spare. The 185.5-mile stretch on I 40 means you can easily go a significant distance before needing to stop for gas or a break. With only one recommended stop and a manageable fuel cost of around $45, this trip is flexible. Consider a mid-morning departure to avoid early morning traffic and enjoy a relaxed pace, perhaps stopping for lunch around the halfway point of your longest highway segment.
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 144.5 miles from Walnut Hill, TN, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 185.5 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 64 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.5 miles or 2h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near City of Murfreesboro, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Walnut Hill, 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 Walnut Hill, TN
This is one driving day of about 289 miles and 5h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Walnut Hill, 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 185.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 283.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5.8 mi into trip|~9m in
Turn left toward I 81 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 81 South
7
128.1 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Nashville
8
260.8 mi into trip|~4h 46m in
Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
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 235
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
8
282.9 mi into trip|~5h 10m in
Take the exit toward US 41, US 70S: Murfreesboro, Smyrna
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 55A-B
Toward US 41, US 70S: Murfreesboro, Smyrna
9
283.1 mi into trip|~5h 10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 41 South, US 70S East: Murfreesbord
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 55A
Toward US 41 South, US 70S East: Murfreesbord
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.18 one way
$90.36 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$49.61
$99.22
premium
$4.89
$55.62
$111.23
diesel
$5.61
$63.81
$127.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.7
1
$30.35
$13.87
Efficient EV
72.3
0
$25.29
$11.56
EV Truck/SUV
115.6
1
$40.46
$18.50
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Walnut Hill, TN
Morning
in Walnut Hill on Tuesday
Local time
8:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
City of Murfreesboro, TN
Morning
in City of Murfreesboro on Tuesday
Local time
7:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Spring City, TN
145 mi in
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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
5 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
5h 22m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 trip is predominantly highway driving, with 96% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll have a continuous stretch of 185.5 miles on I 40, which means you'll encounter a steady stream of exits and services. The highway portion effectively ends around mile 276, transitioning to surface roads for the final stretch into Murfreesboro. Be prepared for consistent cruising speeds for the majority of your travel time.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 185.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 289 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: at 5.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 128.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 260.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Walnut Hill, TN and City of Murfreesboro, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Murfreesboro.
Nashville
128.1 mi in|~2h 23m|via I 40
Murfreesboro
260.8 mi in|~4h 46m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 22m. Total distance: 289 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 22m 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 185.5 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 35 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 City of Murfreesboro, 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 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 128.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 260.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at City of Murfreesboro, TN before the return drive.
