Trip from Kingsport, TN to Franklin, TN

Drive Time

5h 24m

Distance

291.9 mi

470 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 11m ★

6 AM

5h 24m

8 AM

5h 51m

10 AM

5h 33m

12 PM

5h 31m

3 PM

5h 35m

5 PM

5h 50m

8 PM

5h 16m

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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Franklin, TN

Kelly

Trip Overview

Connecting Kingsport to Franklin, this 291.9-mile journey across Tennessee is a straightforward trek that takes approximately 5 hours and 24 minutes. Since the entire route sits within the Southeast, you can expect a consistent regional feel as you transition from the eastern part of the state toward the middle. Given the total duration, this trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day drive, though you should budget about $43 for fuel. Because 95% of the route consists of highway travel, it serves as a highly efficient way to cross the state. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this highway-focused drive offers a predictable experience that avoids the complexities of backroad navigation.

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

146 miles from Kingsport, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 43m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a quintessential interstate experience, as the route relies heavily on a combination of I-81, I-40, and I-65. You will spend the vast majority of your time on these major corridors, making this a high-speed, highway-focused drive rather than a winding scenic tour. The most significant portion of your journey involves a 207.6-mile stretch on I-40, which demands steady focus as you cross the state's interior. Because 95% of your travel is on high-capacity roads, the rhythm of the drive remains consistent from start to finish. You won't encounter many technical local roads, but you should be prepared for the steady pace that comes with navigating these primary Tennessee arteries.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 29 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 207.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 115.7 miles in near I 40.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 291.9 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 115.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 270.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 274 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

115.7 mi into trip | ~2h 11m in | I 40

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Nashville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward Nashville

270.6 mi into trip | ~4h 57m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 24 East, I 440 West: Memphis, Chattanooga

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 213A Toward I 24 East, I 440 West: Memphis, Chattano...

274 mi into trip | ~5h 2m in

Take the exit toward I 65: Nashville, Huntsville

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 5 Toward I 65: Nashville, Huntsville

274.1 mi into trip | ~5h 2m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 65 South: Huntsville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane. Toward I 65 South: Huntsville

288.9 mi into trip | ~5h 19m in

Take the exit toward TN 96: Franklin, Murfreesboro

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 65 Toward TN 96: Franklin, Murfreesboro

Towns Along This Route

Between Kingsport, TN and Franklin, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Chattanooga, Huntsville and 65: Huntsville.

Nashville

115.7 mi in | ~2h 11m | via I 40

Chattanooga

270.6 mi in | ~4h 57m

Huntsville

274 mi in | ~5h 2m

65: Huntsville

274.2 mi in | ~5h 2m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 40	207.6 mi	3h 45m
I 81	50.1 mi	53m
I 65	14.1 mi	15m
South Wilcox Drive	4 mi	6m
Sullivan Gardens Drive	3.1 mi	3m
Murfreesboro Road	2.3 mi	3m
TN 93	2.3 mi	2m
Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway	2.1 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 40 — 207.6 mi, about 3h 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on TN 36

0.1 mi · 24 sec · West Center Street

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto Broad Street

436 ft · 12 sec · Broad Street

Enter roundabout onto Broad Street

49 ft · 1 sec · Broad Street

Continue on Broad Street

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Broad Street

Turn left onto East Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Continue on East Sullivan Street

0.2 mi · 23 sec · East Sullivan Street

Turn right onto TN 126

2.6 mi · 4 min · South Wilcox Drive

Turn right onto TN 93

1.5 mi · 1 min · Sullivan Gardens Parkway

Use the none lane.

Continue on SR 93

1.5 mi · 1 min · South Wilcox Drive

Continue on SR 93

3.1 mi · 3 min · Sullivan Gardens Drive

Continue on TN 93

2.3 mi · 2 min · TN 93

Continue on SR 93

0.3 mi · 21 sec · SR 93

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Merge onto I 81

49 mi · 52 min · I 81

Continue on I 81

0.7 mi · 45 sec · I 81

Exit 1B Toward I 40 West: Knoxville

Merge onto I 40

53 mi · 59 min · I 40

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

155 mi · 2 hr 46 min · I 40

Toward Nashville Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min

Exit 213A Toward I 24 East, I 440 West: Memphis, Chattanooga

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec

Exit 53 Toward I 440 West: Memphis

Continue on I 440

2.1 mi · 2 min · Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec

Exit 5 Toward I 65: Nashville, Huntsville Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 15 sec

Toward I 65 South: Huntsville Use the none lane.

Continue on this road

0.5 mi · 57 sec · this road

Exit 5 Toward 65: Huntsville

Merge onto I 65

14 mi · 15 min · I 65

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec

Exit 65 Toward TN 96: Franklin, Murfreesboro Use the slight right lane.

Turn right onto TN 96

2.3 mi · 3 min · Murfreesboro Road

Use the right lane.

Continue on TN 96

0.3 mi · 34 sec · 3rd Avenue South

Use the straight / right lanes.

Enter roundabout onto US 31 Business; TN 96

397 ft · 6 sec · Public Square

Arrive at destination

US 31 Business; TN 96

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 5-hour and 24-minute travel time, plan for at least one deliberate stop to break up the long 207.6-mile stretch on I-40. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid potential congestion on the interstates as you approach the busier central regions near Franklin. Since your fuel budget is approximately $43, consider topping off your tank before departing Kingsport to ensure you have plenty of range for the long interstate segments. Keep in mind that because this is a highway-focused route, your greatest advantage is flexibility; you can easily adjust your pace to accommodate traffic flow or personal comfort. Always keep an eye on your dashboard navigation to monitor for real-time updates on the I-40 corridor, as this is where most of your transit time is spent.

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 146 miles from Kingsport, TN, or about 2h 43m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 207.6 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 80 miles or 1h 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 146 miles or 2h 43m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 24m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Kingsport, 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 Kingsport, TN

This is one driving day of about 291.9 miles and 5h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kingsport, 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 207.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 146 mi from Kingsport, TN · 2h 43m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Johnson, TN

146 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

Knoxville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Johnson, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 146 miles from Kingsport, 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 207.6 miles.

Arriving in Franklin, TN

The final approach into Franklin, 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 Franklin, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.34 one way

$88.67 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 102 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$48.88	$97.75
premium	$4.80	$55.10	$110.21
diesel	$5.64	$64.85	$129.70

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$44

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$69–$94

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 102.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	87.6	1	$30.65	$14.01
Efficient EV	73	0	$25.54	$11.68
EV Truck/SUV	116.8	1	$40.87	$18.68

Gas CO2

102 kg

EV CO2

34 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Kingsport, TN

Evening in Kingsport on Sunday

Local time

8:33 PM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Franklin, TN

Evening in Franklin on Sunday

Local time

7:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

61°F

Johnson, TN

146 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

5 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 24m 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 Kingsport, TN to Franklin, TN covers 291.9 miles and takes about 5h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 40, I 81, I 65. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 146 miles from Kingsport, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.34 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.

Between Kingsport, TN and Franklin, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Chattanooga, Huntsville and 65: Huntsville.

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Return Trip

Franklin, TN to Kingsport, TN

Plan the drive back the other way.

292.8 mi 5h 26m

Explore more options from Kingsport, TN or browse trips ending in Franklin, TN.

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Trip from Kingsport, TN to Franklin, TN

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Franklin, TN

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Kingsport, TN

Franklin, TN

1 hour earlier

5 degrees warmer at arrival

5h 24m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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