Drive or Fly: Franklin, TN to Gatlinburg, TN?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for BNA–TYS. At 234 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 32m

Distance

234.2 mi

Total Cost

$87

CO2

95 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$52

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 31m

23m in the air

Air Distance

189 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

48 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Franklin, TN → BNA 26m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 23m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TYS → Gatlinburg, TN 42m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Franklin, TN BNA — Nashville International Airport 17 mi, ~26m drive

Gatlinburg, TN TYS — McGhee Tyson Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BNA and TYS. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 58m

3h 25m on road

Total Cost

$18

CO2

9 kg

Route

Greyhound US0600

Door-to-Door Timeline

Franklin, TN → Nashville Bus Station (NAS6) 25m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 205m

Arrival 10m

Knoxville Area Transit Bus Stop (KNO6) → Gatlinburg, TN 43m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From NAS6 — Nashville Bus Station 17 mi, ~25m drive

To KNO6 — Knoxville Area Transit Bus Stop 28 mi, ~43m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 32m	3h 31m	4h 58m
Total cost (1 person)	$87	$183	$18
Carbon footprint	95 kg CO₂	48 kg CO₂	9 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

234.2 mi 4h 31m

via I 40, US 441; SR 33, I 65

Alternative (+32 min)

236.6 mi 5h 4m

via I 40, US 70S, US 70

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Franklin, TN to Gatlinburg, TN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.