Origin
Bells, TN
Evening in Bells on Sunday
Local time
5:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bells, TN to Franklin, TN
Drive Time
2h 20m
Distance
139.2 mi
224 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 10m
★
6 AM
2h 20m
8 AM
2h 39m
10 AM
2h 27m
12 PM
2h 25m
3 PM
2h 28m
5 PM
2h 38m
8 PM
2h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bells, TN
Ulrick Trappschuh
Franklin, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Bells, TN to Franklin, TN covers 139.2 miles and takes about 2h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 412 East, I-40 East, SR 96 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.14 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.6 miles from Bells, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 20m drive with frequent turns across 139.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 412 East is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Bells, TN to Franklin, TN is easy. At 2h 20m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bells, TN to Franklin, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 412 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-40 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| SR 96 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 96 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Fairview Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bridge Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 3rd Avenue North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Public Square | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
US 412 East
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bells, TN and Franklin, TN.
1
Start on High Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
High Street
2
Take the ramp slight right toward US 412 East: Jackson
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
US 412 East: Jackson
3
Merge slight left
12 mi
·
14 min
4
Turn left onto I-40 East, US 412 East: Nashville
103 mi
·
1 hr 50 min
·
I-40 East, US 412 East: Nashville
5
Take the exit slight right toward Primary SR 96: Fairview, Franklin
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Primary SR 96: Fairview, Franklin
6
Turn left onto Highway 96
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Highway 96
7
Merge slight left onto Fairview Boulevard
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Fairview Boulevard
8
Take the exit slight right
292 ft
·
8 sec
9
Turn right onto State Highway 96
12 mi
·
14 min
·
State Highway 96
10
Continue on Bridge Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Bridge Street
11
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue North
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
3rd Avenue North
12
Enter the roundabout toward Public Square
174 ft
·
3 sec
·
Public Square
13
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 69.6 miles from Bells, TN, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.6 miles or 1h 10m 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 54m
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 Bells, 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 Bells, TN
This is one driving day of about 139.2 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bells, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.6 mi from Bells, TN · 1h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.6 miles from Bells, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Franklin, TN
The final approach into Franklin, TN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Franklin, TN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.14 one way
$42.29 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $23.31 | $46.62 |
| premium | $4.80 | $26.28 | $52.56 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $30.93 | $61.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.8 | 0 | $14.62 | $6.68 |
| Efficient EV | 34.8 | 0 | $12.18 | $5.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.7 | 0 | $19.49 | $8.91 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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
Evening in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
5:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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
20 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 20m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bells, TN to Franklin, TN covers 139.2 miles and takes about 2h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 412 East, I-40 East, SR 96. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.6 miles from Bells, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.14 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Bells, TN to Franklin, TN is easy. At 2h 20m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bells, TN to Franklin, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Bells, TN to Franklin, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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