Trip from Dickson, TN to Franklin, TN

Drive Time

47m

Distance

37 mi

60 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 43m ★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 45m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Dickson, TN, TN

Dickson, TN

Kelly

Downtown Franklin, TN, TN

Franklin, TN

Kelly

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel between Dickson and Franklin, Tennessee, this 37-mile drive is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 47 minutes. Since the entire trip is easily manageable in a single day, you will not need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $6 on fuel, making this a very budget-friendly transit across the Southeast region. You will primarily utilize a combination of I-40, Fairview Boulevard, and State Highway 96 to complete the connection. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, this route offers a practical, efficient path between these two Tennessee locales.

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

18.5 miles from Dickson, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .

Drive Character

This 37-mile trek is a highway-focused drive, with 82% of your time spent on major roads. You will experience a blend of interstate travel and state highway cruising as you transition between Dickson and Franklin. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is an 11.8-mile segment along State Highway 96, which allows for consistent pacing. Because the vast majority of the route is highway-based, you can anticipate a steady and predictable driving experience. It serves as a functional link that favors speed and efficiency over winding local backroads.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 96 is the longest continuous segment at about 11.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 96 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near SR 46.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 37 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 0.6 miles (SR 46): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | SR 46

Turn right onto SR 46

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / none lanes.
7
5.2 mi into trip | ~8m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
14.7 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward Primary SR 96: Fairview, Franklin

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward Primary SR 96: Fairview, Franklin
5
24.9 mi into trip | ~31m in | TN 96 / State Highway 96

Turn right onto TN 96 / State Highway 96

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
36.9 mi into trip | ~46m in | 3rd Avenue North

Turn right onto 3rd Avenue North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left / right lanes.

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Dickson, TN to Franklin, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Primary Sr 96: Fairview along the way.

Primary Sr 96: Fairview

14.7 mi in | ~18m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Highway 96 11.8 mi 14m
I 40 9.2 mi 9m
Fairview Boulevard 5.2 mi 5m
Highway 96 4.8 mi 6m
SR 46 4.6 mi 6m
West College Street 0.6 mi 1m
Bridge Street 0.2 mi <1m
3rd Avenue North 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: State Highway 96 — 11.8 mi, about 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dickson, TN and Franklin, TN.

1

Start on US 70 Business

0.6 mi · 1 min · West College Street
2

Turn right onto SR 46

4.6 mi · 6 min · SR 46
Use the left / none lanes.
3

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Use the left lane.
4

Merge onto I 40

9.2 mi · 9 min · I 40
5

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Toward Primary SR 96: Fairview, Franklin Use the right lane.
6

Turn left onto TN 96

4.8 mi · 6 min · Highway 96
7

Merge onto SR 96; SR 100

5.2 mi · 5 min · Fairview Boulevard
8

Take the exit

292 ft · 8 sec
9

Turn right onto TN 96

12 mi · 14 min · State Highway 96
Use the straight lane.
10

Continue on Bridge Street

0.2 mi · 40 sec · Bridge Street
Use the none lane.
11

Turn right onto 3rd Avenue North

0.1 mi · 12 sec · 3rd Avenue North
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12

Enter roundabout onto US 31 Business; TN 96

174 ft · 2 sec · Public Square
13

Arrive at destination

US 31 Business; TN 96

Trip Plan

Because this is a short, 47-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since the trip requires zero mandatory stops, you can easily navigate the 37 miles in one go without needing to plan for long breaks or rest areas. Keep in mind that your fuel budget is quite low at just $6, so you shouldn't need to stress about refueling mid-trip. To make the most of your travel, try to avoid peak rush hour traffic on I-40 to ensure you maintain that estimated 47-minute duration. Use the 11.8-mile stretch on State Highway 96 as a reliable benchmark for your progress as you approach Franklin.

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 18.5 miles from Dickson, TN, or about 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 11.8 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 37 miles or 47m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 18.5 miles or 23m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 39m

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 Dickson, 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 Dickson, TN

This is one driving day of about 37 miles and 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Dickson, 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.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 96 for about 11.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 18.5 mi from Dickson, TN · 23m into the drive

Downtown Nashville, TN, TN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Nashville, TN

19 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

Nashville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Nashville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.5 miles from Dickson, 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

$5.62 one way

$11.24 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $6.20 $12.39
premium $4.80 $6.98 $13.97
diesel $5.64 $8.22 $16.44

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.1 0 $3.89 $1.78
Efficient EV 9.3 0 $3.24 $1.48
EV Truck/SUV 14.8 0 $5.18 $2.37

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Dickson, TN

Night in Dickson on Sunday

Local time

9:42 PM

CDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Franklin, TN

Night in Franklin on Sunday

Local time

9:42 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

47m 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 Dickson, TN to Franklin, TN covers 37 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 96, I 40, Fairview Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.5 miles from Dickson, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.62 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 37 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (SR 46): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Dickson, TN to Franklin, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Primary Sr 96: Fairview along the way.

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Return Trip

Franklin, TN to Dickson, TN

Plan the drive back the other way.

36.8 mi 46m

Explore more options from Dickson, TN or browse trips ending in Franklin, TN.

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