Greenback, TN to Murfreesboro, TN is 176.6 miles and takes about 3h 24m via I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a relatively quick journey between these two points. With a single recommended day for travel, you won't feel rushed, allowing for a relaxed pace.
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
88.3 miles from Greenback, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 24m. Total distance: 176.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is heavily focused on highways, with 92% of the drive utilizing them. Expect a significant portion of your time on I 40, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 128.2 miles. While primarily a highway experience, the inclusion of Tennessee National Guard Parkway and Lamar Alexander Parkway suggests some variation might emerge as you approach your destination, potentially offering a slightly different feel from the main interstate grind. Overall, it’s a practical drive designed for efficient travel.
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 128.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TN 95 / Morganton Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 176.6 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: near the start (TN 95 / Morganton Road): Navigation decision point; at 20.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 148.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|TN 95 / Morganton Road
Turn right onto TN 95 / Morganton Road
Navigation decision point
7
20.1 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit toward I 40 West: Nashville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 40 West: Nashville
8
148.6 mi into trip|~2h 50m in
Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 235
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
8
170.7 mi into trip|~3h 14m in
Take the exit toward US 41, US 70S: Murfreesboro, Smyrna
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 55A-B
Toward US 41, US 70S: Murfreesboro, Smyrna
9
170.9 mi into trip|~3h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 41 South, US 70S East: Murfreesbord
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 55A
Toward US 41 South, US 70S East: Murfreesbord
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
128.2 mi
2h 17m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
21 mi
22m
Lamar Alexander Parkway
12.4 mi
18m
Lenoir City Road
7.6 mi
13m
Northwest Broad Street
3.7 mi
5m
New Nashville Highway
0.8 mi
1m
West Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Morganton Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 128.2 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greenback, TN and Murfreesboro, TN.
1
Start on Oak Street
54 ft·6 sec·Oak Street
2
Turn right onto TN 95
0.2 mi·21 sec·Morganton Road
3
Turn right onto TN 95
5.5 mi·9 min·Lenoir City Road
4
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 95
2.1 mi·3 min·Lenoir City Road
5
Turn left onto US 321
12 mi·18 min·Lamar Alexander Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 40 West: NashvilleUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 40
128 mi·2 hr 17 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Exit 235Toward I 840 West: Memphis, MurfreesboroUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 840
21 mi·22 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 55A-BToward US 41, US 70S: Murfreesboro, SmyrnaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 55AToward US 41 South, US 70S East: MurfreesbordUse the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·1 min
13
Turn straight onto US 41; US 70S
0.8 mi·1 min·New Nashville Highway
14
Continue on US 41; US 70S
3.7 mi·5 min·Northwest Broad Street
15
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·West Main Street
16
Turn right onto South Maple Street
138 ft·4 sec·South Maple Street
17
Turn slight left onto South Public Square
467 ft·12 sec·South Public Square
18
Turn slight right onto East Main Street
47 ft·1 sec·East Main Street
19
Continue on East Main Street
347 ft·13 sec·East Main Street
20
Turn right onto South Spring Street
84 ft·3 sec·South Spring Street
21
Arrive at destination
South Spring Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of about 3 hours and 24 minutes, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning would allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. The longest stretch without a break is over 128 miles on I 40, so plan for a fuel and rest stop before you hit that point to stay comfortable. With a fuel cost estimated at $28, it's an economical trip, and you should find ample services along the main highways.
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 88.3 miles from Greenback, TN, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.2 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 39 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.3 miles or 1h 45m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Murfreesboro, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Greenback, 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 Greenback, TN
This is one driving day of about 176.6 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Greenback, 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 128.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 88.3 mi from Greenback, TN
· 1h 45m into the drive
The midpoint is around 88.3 miles from Greenback, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 128.2 miles.
Arriving in Murfreesboro, TN
The final approach into Murfreesboro, 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 Murfreesboro, TN.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 170.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.61 one way
$55.22 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.31
$60.63
premium
$4.89
$33.99
$67.97
diesel
$5.61
$38.99
$77.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53
0
$18.54
$8.48
Efficient EV
44.2
0
$15.45
$7.06
EV Truck/SUV
70.6
0
$24.72
$11.30
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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
Greenback, TN
Morning
in Greenback on Saturday
Local time
8:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Murfreesboro, TN
Morning
in Murfreesboro on Saturday
Local time
7:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Monterey, TN
88 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
2 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
3h 24m 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 Greenback, TN to Murfreesboro, TN covers 176.6 miles and takes about 3h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Tennessee National Guard Parkway, Lamar Alexander Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88.3 miles from Greenback, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.61 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 176.6 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: near the start (TN 95 / Morganton Road): Navigation decision point; at 20.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 148.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Greenback, TN to Murfreesboro, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Stones River National Battlefield.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
