The drive from Murfreesboro, TN to Lebanon, TN covers 125.9 miles and takes about 2h 41m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 24, I 75, Lee Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 103.4 miles on I 24.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.68 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
62.9 miles from Murfreesboro, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 125.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 41m highway drive covering 125.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 24 and I 75. The longest continuous stretch is about 103.4 miles on I 24.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 24 is the longest continuous segment at about 103.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
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 125.9 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 2.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 2.9 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 106.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
2.6 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
5
2.9 mi into trip|~5m in|I 24
Merge onto I 24
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
106.3 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 185 B
Toward I 75 North: Knoxville
5
107.2 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
116.7 mi into trip|~2h 15m in|US 11; US 64
Take the exit onto US 11; US 64 toward US 11, US 64 East: Ooltewah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 11
Toward US 11, US 64 East: Ooltewah
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
103.4 mi
1h 56m
I 75
9.5 mi
12m
Lee Highway
3.4 mi
5m
Pine Hill Road
2.7 mi
8m
South Church Street
2.4 mi
3m
Rakestraw Road
1.2 mi
4m
Tunnel Hill Road
0.8 mi
3m
Candies Creek Road Southwest
0.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 103.4 mi, about 1h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Murfreesboro, TN and Lebanon, TN.
1
Start on South Spring Street
292 ft·16 sec·South Spring Street
2
Turn right onto East Vine Street
371 ft·23 sec·East Vine Street
3
Turn left onto South Church Street
2.4 mi·3 min·South Church Street
4
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
5
Merge onto I 24
103 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 185 BToward I 75 North: KnoxvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 75
9.5 mi·12 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit onto US 11; US 64
0.3 mi·37 sec·US 11; US 64
Exit 11Toward US 11, US 64 East: Ooltewah
9
Turn right onto US 11; US 64
3.4 mi·5 min·Lee Highway
10
Turn right onto Pine Hill Road
2.7 mi·8 min·Pine Hill Road
11
At end of road, turn right onto Old Alabama Road Southwest
0.1 mi·19 sec·Old Alabama Road Southwest
12
Turn left onto Rakestraw Road
1.2 mi·4 min·Rakestraw Road
13
Turn left onto Candies Creek Road Southwest
0.6 mi·2 min·Candies Creek Road Southwest
14
Keep slight right at fork onto Candies Creek Road Southwest
299 ft·13 sec·Candies Creek Road Southwest
15
Turn straight onto Tunnel Hill Road
0.8 mi·3 min·Tunnel Hill Road
16
Arrive at destination
Tunnel Hill Road
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.9 miles from Murfreesboro, TN, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.4 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 28 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.9 miles or 1h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lebanon, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Murfreesboro, 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 Murfreesboro, TN
This is one driving day of about 125.9 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Murfreesboro, 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 24 for about 103.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.9 mi from Murfreesboro, TN
· 1h 13m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.68 one way
$39.37 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.61
$43.22
premium
$4.89
$24.23
$48.46
diesel
$5.61
$27.80
$55.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.8
0
$13.22
$6.04
Efficient EV
31.5
0
$11.02
$5.04
EV Truck/SUV
50.4
0
$17.63
$8.06
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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 15, 2026
Origin
Murfreesboro, TN
Late night
in Murfreesboro on Saturday
Local time
12:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lebanon, TN
Late night
in Lebanon on Saturday
Local time
1:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°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
7 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
2h 41m 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 Murfreesboro, TN to Lebanon, TN covers 125.9 miles and takes about 2h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 24, I 75, Lee Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.9 miles from Murfreesboro, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.68 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 125.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 2.9 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 106.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Murfreesboro, TN to Lebanon, 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.
