Origin
Franklin, TN
Afternoon in Franklin on Thursday
Local time
2:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Franklin, TN to Gatlinburg, TN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 31m
Distance
234.2 mi
377 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 18m
★
6 AM
4h 32m
8 AM
4h 59m
10 AM
4h 41m
12 PM
4h 38m
3 PM
4h 42m
5 PM
4h 57m
8 PM
4h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Franklin, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Gatlinburg, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Franklin, TN to Gatlinburg, TN covers 234.2 miles and takes about 4h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 3rd Avenue South, Murfreesboro Road, I 440 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.61 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
117.1 miles from Franklin, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 31m. Total distance: 234.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 31m drive with frequent turns across 234.2 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.
3rd Avenue South 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.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 31m 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 Franklin, TN to Gatlinburg, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd Avenue South | — | — |
| Murfreesboro Road | — | — |
| I 440 | — | — |
| I 440 East | — | — |
| Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway | — | — |
| I 24 West | — | — |
| I 40 East | — | — |
| Convention Center | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
3rd Avenue South
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, TN and Gatlinburg, TN.
1
Start on Public Square
417 ft
·
7 sec
·
Public Square
2
Exit the rotary onto 3rd Avenue South
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
3rd Avenue South
3
Continue on Murfreesboro Road
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Murfreesboro Road
4
Take the exit left
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
5
Merge slight left
14 mi
·
15 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 440: Memphis, Knoxville
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
I 440: Memphis, Knoxville
7
Keep slight right to continue on I 440 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 440 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
8
Merge slight left onto Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 24 West: Nashville, Knoxville
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 24 West: Nashville, Knoxville
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 24 West, I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
I 24 West, I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
11
Merge slight left
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
12
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Knoxville
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 40 East: Knoxville
13
Merge slight left
171 mi
·
3 hr 6 min
14
Keep slight left
2.9 mi
·
3 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
16
Keep slight left to continue on Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
17
Continue on Henley Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Henley Street
18
Continue on Chapman Highway
22 mi
·
26 min
·
Chapman Highway
19
Continue on West Main Street
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
20
Turn right onto Forks of the River Parkway
0.6 mi
·
46 sec
·
Forks of the River Parkway
21
Turn right onto Parkway
7.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Parkway
22
Continue on Gatlinburg Spur Road
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Gatlinburg Spur Road
23
Continue on Parkway
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Parkway
24
Turn right
407 ft
·
30 sec
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 117.1 miles from Franklin, 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 52 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.1 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gatlinburg, 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 234.2 miles and 4h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 117.1 mi from Franklin, TN · 2h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
117 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 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 117.1 miles from Franklin, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Gatlinburg, TN
The final approach into Gatlinburg, 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 Gatlinburg, 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
$36.61 one way
$73.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
82 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $40.20 | $80.40 |
| premium | $4.89 | $45.07 | $90.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.71 | $103.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70.3 | 0 | $24.59 | $11.24 |
| Efficient EV | 58.6 | 0 | $20.49 | $9.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 93.7 | 1 | $32.79 | $14.99 |
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Gatlinburg, TN
Afternoon in Gatlinburg on Thursday
Local time
3:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Johnson, TN
117 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
19 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 31m 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 Gatlinburg, TN covers 234.2 miles and takes about 4h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 3rd Avenue South, Murfreesboro Road, I 440. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 117.1 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 $36.61 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 31m 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 Franklin, TN to Gatlinburg, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Franklin, TN to Gatlinburg, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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