The drive from Franklin, TN to Dandridge, TN covers 227.1 miles and takes about 4h 13m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, I 65, US 25W for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 202 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.50 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
113.6 miles from Franklin, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 13m. Total distance: 227.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 13m highway drive covering 227.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 65. The longest continuous stretch is about 202 miles on I 40.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 202 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 65. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 227.1 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 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.9 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
17.5 mi into trip|~21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 440 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 440 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
8
19.9 mi into trip|~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 24 West: Nashville, Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 24 West: Nashville, Knoxville
8
20.4 mi into trip|~25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 24 West, I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 24 West, I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxvil...
8
21 mi into trip|~26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52B
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Franklin, TN and Dandridge, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Knoxville
17.2 mi in|~20m
Chattanooga
17.5 mi in|~21m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
202 mi
3h 40m
I 65
14.1 mi
15m
US 25W
3.4 mi
5m
Murfreesboro Road
2.4 mi
3m
Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway
2 mi
2m
3rd Avenue South
0.3 mi
<1m
I 24
0.3 mi
<1m
Chestnut Hill Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 202 mi, about 3h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, TN and Dandridge, 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
2.4 mi·3 min·Murfreesboro Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 65
14 mi·15 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 80Toward I 440: Memphis, Knoxville
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward I 440 East: Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 440
2.0 mi·2 min·Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·48 sec
Toward I 24 West: Nashville, KnoxvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 24 West, I 40 East: Nashville, KnoxvilleUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 24
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 24
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 52BToward I 40 East: KnoxvilleUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 40
171 mi·3 hr 6 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
31 mi·34 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward US 25W, US 70: Dandrige
16
Turn slight right onto US 25W; US 70
2.8 mi·4 min·US 25W; US 70
17
Turn slight right
365 ft·13 sec
18
Turn straight onto US 25W; US 70; SR 92
0.6 mi·1 min·US 25W; US 70; SR 92
19
Turn right onto SR 92
525 ft·15 sec·Chestnut Hill Road
20
Turn left onto East Main Street
74 ft·3 sec·East Main Street
21
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
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 113.6 miles from Franklin, TN, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 202 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 50 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.6 miles or 2h 7m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dandridge, 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 227.1 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 40 for about 202 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 113.6 mi from Franklin, TN
· 2h 7m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 39.2
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 219.3
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.1
0
$23.85
$10.90
Efficient EV
56.8
0
$19.87
$9.08
EV Truck/SUV
90.8
1
$31.79
$14.53
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Morning
in Franklin on Saturday
Local time
9:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Dandridge, TN
Morning
in Dandridge on Saturday
Local time
10:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
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
4h 13m 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 Franklin, TN to Dandridge, TN covers 227.1 miles and takes about 4h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 65, US 25W. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 113.6 miles from Franklin, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.50 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 demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 227.1 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 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Franklin, TN and Dandridge, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville and Chattanooga.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
