The drive from Franklin, TN to Jellico, TN covers 206.8 miles and takes about 4h 23m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, Clarkrange Highway, I 75 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 87 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.33 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
103.4 miles from Franklin, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 23m. Total distance: 206.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Franklin, TN to Jellico, TN covers 206.8 miles and takes about 4h 23m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 35 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 87 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 21 significant decision points across 206.8 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 21 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 Jellico, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville, Chattanooga, Primary Sr 84: Monterey, Livingston and Louisville.
Knoxville
17.2 mi in|~20m
Chattanooga
17.5 mi in|~21m
Primary Sr 84: Monterey
108.3 mi in|~2h
Livingston
108.3 mi in|~2h
Louisville
189 mi in|~4h 2m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
87 mi
1h 33m
Clarkrange Highway
21.7 mi
32m
I 75
16.1 mi
17m
Howard H Baker Highway
15.8 mi
24m
I 65
14.1 mi
15m
Scott Highway
10.1 mi
14m
Nashville Highway
9.7 mi
13m
Deer Lodge Highway
9.5 mi
16m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 87 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, TN and Jellico, 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
87 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 70N, Primary SR 84: Monterey, Livingston
15
Turn straight onto US 70N; SR 84
0.6 mi·59 sec·South Holly Street
16
Turn right onto SR 62
1.4 mi·2 min·East Commercial Avenue
17
Turn straight onto SR 62
22 mi·32 min·Clarkrange Highway
18
Continue on SR 62
9.7 mi·13 min·Nashville Highway
19
Continue on SR 329
2.6 mi·4 min·Deer Lodge Highway
20
Turn right onto SR 329
0.2 mi·20 sec·Irving Street
21
Continue on SR 329
6.9 mi·12 min·Deer Lodge Highway
22
Turn left onto US 27
5.3 mi·6 min·Morgan County Highway
23
Continue on US 27
4.0 mi·4 min·Scott Highway
24
Continue on US 27
1.4 mi·1 min·Lon Foust Highway
25
Continue on US 27
6.1 mi·9 min·Scott Highway
26
Turn right onto SR 63; SR 297
16 mi·24 min·Howard H Baker Highway
27
Continue on SR 63
2.0 mi·3 min·Howard H. Baker Highway
28
Turn left onto Stinking Creek Road
2.2 mi·5 min·Stinking Creek Road
29
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward Louisville
30
Merge onto I 75
16 mi·17 min·I 75
31
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward US 25W: Jellico
32
Turn slight right
0.1 mi·16 sec
33
Turn straight onto US 25W
1.1 mi·1 min·5th Street
34
Turn right onto US 25W
68 ft·1 sec·North Main Street
35
Arrive at destination
US 25W
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 103.4 miles from Franklin, TN, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87 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 45 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.4 miles or 1h 55m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jellico, 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 206.8 miles and 4h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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 87 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 103.4 mi from Franklin, TN
· 1h 55m 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
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 35.7
Cumberland Gap was the first great gateway to the west. Come follow the path of bison, Native Americans, longhunters, and pioneers. Walk where 300,000 people crossed the Appalachians to settle America...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 206.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.33 one way
$64.66 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$35.50
$71.00
premium
$4.89
$39.80
$79.59
diesel
$5.61
$45.66
$91.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62
0
$21.71
$9.93
Efficient EV
51.7
0
$18.10
$8.27
EV Truck/SUV
82.7
1
$28.95
$13.24
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 15, 2026
Origin
Franklin, TN
Late night
in Franklin on Friday
Local time
12:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jellico, TN
Late night
in Jellico on Friday
Local time
1:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Spring City, TN
103 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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
27 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 23m 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 Jellico, TN covers 206.8 miles and takes about 4h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Clarkrange Highway, I 75. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 103.4 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 $32.33 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 21 significant decision points across 206.8 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 Jellico, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville, Chattanooga, Primary Sr 84: Monterey, Livingston and Louisville.
