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Trip from Franklin, TN to Collegedale, TN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 57m

Distance

147.3 mi

237 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 46m ★
6 AM
2h 57m
8 AM
3h 20m
10 AM
3h 5m
12 PM
3h 3m
3 PM
3h 6m
5 PM
3h 19m
8 PM
2h 51m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Download GPX
city and county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States

Franklin, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Collegedale, TN, TN

Collegedale, TN

Davide Comunian

Trip Overview

The drive from Franklin, TN to Collegedale, TN covers 147.3 miles and takes about 2h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 24, Murfreesboro Road, Tennessee National Guard Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 110 miles on I 24. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.03 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

73.7 miles from Franklin, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 24 110 mi 2h 3m
Murfreesboro Road 12.8 mi 19m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway 10.1 mi 10m
I 75 6.8 mi 9m
Apison Pike 3.9 mi 7m
Horton Highway 0.7 mi 1m
SR 317 0.4 mi <1m
3rd Avenue South 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 24 — 110 mi, about 2h 3m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 31 Business; TN 96

418 ft · 7 sec · Public Square
2

Continue on 3rd Avenue South

0.3 mi · 34 sec · 3rd Avenue South
Use the straight / right lanes.
3

Continue on SR 96

13 mi · 19 min · Murfreesboro Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Turn right onto US 31A; US 41A

0.7 mi · 1 min · Horton Highway
5

Take the ramp

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward I 840 East: Murfreesboro Use the left lane.
6

Merge onto I 840

10 mi · 10 min · Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 2 min
Exit 53A Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Merge onto I 24

110 mi · 2 hr 3 min · I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 185 B Toward I 75 North: Knoxville Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10

Merge onto I 75

6.8 mi · 9 min · I 75
Use the straight lane.
11

Take the exit onto SR 317

0.4 mi · 32 sec · SR 317
Exit 9 Toward SR 317: Collegedale, Volkswagen Drive Use the slight right lane.
12

Continue on SR 317

3.0 mi · 5 min · Apison Pike
Use the left / straight lanes.
13

Continue on SR 317

0.8 mi · 1 min · Apison Pike
14

Turn right onto Colcord Drive

70 ft · 3 sec · Colcord Drive
15

Arrive at destination

Colcord Drive

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.7 miles from Franklin, TN, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110 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 32 miles or 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 73.7 miles or 1h 29m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 23m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Collegedale, TN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Franklin, 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 Franklin, TN

This is one driving day of about 147.3 miles and 2h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Franklin, 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 24 for about 110 miles.

Where to Stop

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

human settlement in Grundy County, Tennessee, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tracy City, TN

74 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

Christiana, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Monteagle, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 73.7 miles from Franklin, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 24 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 110 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 126.3

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+14237604333

Visit website

Renaissance Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 126.3

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+14236436096

Fiery Gizzard State Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 84.2

Monteagle, Tennessee

Hours: 8 am–4:30 pm

+18888672757

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 13.9 and 143.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
13.9 mi into trip | ~21m in

Take the ramp toward I 840 East: Murfreesboro

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 840 East: Murfreesboro
5
14.6 mi into trip | ~22m in | I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway

Merge onto I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
24.6 mi into trip | ~33m in

Take the exit toward I 24 East: Chattanooga

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 53A Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
8
135.4 mi into trip | ~2h 39m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Knoxville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 185 B Toward I 75 North: Knoxville
8
143.1 mi into trip | ~2h 49m in | SR 317

Take the exit onto SR 317 toward SR 317: Collegedale, Volkswagen Drive

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 9 Toward SR 317: Collegedale, Volkswagen Drive

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.03 one way

$46.06 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $25.28 $50.57
premium $4.89 $28.35 $56.69
diesel $5.61 $32.52 $65.04

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 44.2 0 $15.47 $7.07
Efficient EV 36.8 0 $12.89 $5.89
EV Truck/SUV 58.9 0 $20.62 $9.43

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

17 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.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Franklin, TN

Afternoon in Franklin on Saturday

Local time

3:52 PM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 5 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Destination

Collegedale, TN

Afternoon in Collegedale on Saturday

Local time

4:52 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°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

1 hour later

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

17 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 57m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield

National Battlefield

The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour Free near mile 25.4
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

147.3 mi in 2h 57m, mostly highway — 110 mi of that is on I 24.

86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 110 mi on I 24.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and Murfreesboro Road. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 13.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 147.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 13.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Franklin, TN

Full guide →

Franklin is a city of 81,000 people (2018) in Tennessee, just a few miles south of Nashville. There are two main areas of interest. One is the Cool Springs area, which is identified by its corporate and retail growth surrounding one of the largest malls in the Southeast, the CoolSprings Galleria. The other is historic downtown Franklin which retains much of its small town charm. It is a walkable, friendly historic downtown district, recognized as a Great American Main Street.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 147.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 110 miles on I 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Collegedale, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 13.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Collegedale, TN before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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