Origin
Central, TN
Late night in Central on Monday
Local time
2:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Central, TN to Murfreesboro, TN
Drive Time
4h 30m
Distance
274.4 mi
442 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 17m
★
6 AM
4h 31m
8 AM
4h 57m
10 AM
4h 40m
12 PM
4h 37m
3 PM
4h 41m
5 PM
4h 56m
8 PM
4h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Central, TN
Diego Girón
Murfreesboro, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Central, TN to Murfreesboro, TN covers 274.4 miles and takes about 4h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Main Street, Legion Street, James H for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.68 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
137.2 miles from Central, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 30m drive with frequent turns across 274.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Main Street 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 30m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Central, TN to Murfreesboro, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Legion Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| James H | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 81 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nashville | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 840 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Central, TN and Murfreesboro, TN.
1
Start on Elizabethton Highway
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Elizabethton Highway
2
Continue on East Main Street
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Main Street
3
Turn straight
233 ft
·
10 sec
4
Turn right onto Legion Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Legion Street
5
Take the ramp slight right
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
6
Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway
14 mi
·
17 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 81 South: Knoxville
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 81 South: Knoxville
8
Merge slight left
56 mi
·
1 hr
9
Continue on I 40 West: Knoxville
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 40 West: Knoxville
10
Merge slight left
53 mi
·
59 min
11
Keep slight right to continue on Nashville
133 mi
·
2 hr 22 min
·
Nashville
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
13
Continue on Tennessee National Guard Parkway
21 mi
·
22 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
14
Take the exit slight right toward US 41, US 70S: Murfreesboro, Smyrna
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
US 41, US 70S: Murfreesboro, Smyrna
15
Keep slight left to continue on US 41 South, US 70S East: Murfreesbord
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
US 41 South, US 70S East: Murfreesbord
16
Keep slight right
0.4 mi
·
1 min
17
Turn straight onto New Nashville Highway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
New Nashville Highway
18
Continue on Northwest Broad Street
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Northwest Broad Street
19
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
West Main Street
20
Turn right onto South Maple Street
138 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Maple Street
21
Turn slight left onto South Public Square
466 ft
·
13 sec
·
South Public Square
22
Turn slight right onto East Main Street
46 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Main Street
23
Continue on East Main Street
348 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Main Street
24
Turn right onto South Spring Street
85 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Spring Street
25
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 137.2 miles from Central, TN, or about 2h 15m 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 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.2 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Murfreesboro, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Central, 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 Central, TN
This is one driving day of about 274.4 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Central, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 137.2 mi from Central, TN · 2h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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 137.2 miles from Central, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Murfreesboro, TN
The final approach into Murfreesboro, 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 Murfreesboro, 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
$41.68 one way
$83.36 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $45.95 | $91.89 |
| premium | $4.80 | $51.80 | $103.60 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $60.96 | $121.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.3 | 1 | $28.81 | $13.17 |
| Efficient EV | 68.6 | 0 | $24.01 | $10.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.8 | 1 | $38.42 | $17.56 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Murfreesboro, TN
Late night in Murfreesboro on Monday
Local time
1:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
61°F
Johnson, TN
137 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
8 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
4h 30m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Central, TN to Murfreesboro, TN covers 274.4 miles and takes about 4h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Main Street, Legion Street, James H. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 137.2 miles from Central, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.68 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 30m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Central, TN to Murfreesboro, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Central, TN to Murfreesboro, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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