The drive from Murfreesboro, TN to Surgoinsville, TN covers 255.2 miles and takes about 4h 50m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, Rutledge Pike, Lee Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 156.7 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.90 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
127.6 miles from Murfreesboro, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 50m. Total distance: 255.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 50m highway drive covering 255.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Rutledge Pike. The longest continuous stretch is about 156.7 miles on I 40.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 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 156.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Rutledge Pike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.
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 18 significant decision points across 255.2 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 (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 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|East Main Street
Turn left onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
5.7 mi into trip|~9m in|I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge onto I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
26.6 mi into trip|~32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 76A
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
5
27.3 mi into trip|~33m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
184.1 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 11W: Mascot, Blaine, Rutledge, Bean Station
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 11W: Mascot, Blaine, Rutledge, Bean S...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Murfreesboro, TN and Surgoinsville, TN, road signs point toward Lebanon, Blaine, Rutledge and Bean Station.
Lebanon
26.6 mi in|~32m
Blaine
184.1 mi in|~3h 25m
Rutledge
184.1 mi in|~3h 25m
Bean Station
184.1 mi in|~3h 25m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
156.7 mi
2h 51m
Rutledge Pike
28.5 mi
32m
Lee Highway
27.1 mi
31m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
20.9 mi
22m
Rogersville Bypass
11.7 mi
13m
Northwest Broad Street
3.7 mi
5m
Appalachian Highway
1.7 mi
1m
Main Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 156.7 mi, about 2h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Murfreesboro, TN and Surgoinsville, TN.
1
Start on South Spring Street
84 ft·11 sec·South Spring Street
2
Turn left onto East Main Street
347 ft·9 sec·East Main Street
3
Turn right onto North Church Street
115 ft·3 sec·North Church Street
4
Turn slight left onto North Public Square
393 ft·11 sec·North Public Square
Use the left lane.
5
Turn slight right onto West Main Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·West Main Street
6
Turn right onto US 41; US 70S; US 231
3.7 mi·5 min·Northwest Broad Street
7
Continue on US 41; US 70S
0.9 mi·1 min·New Nashville Highway
8
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville
9
Merge onto I 840
21 mi·22 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 76AToward I 40 East: Knoxville, LebanonUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 40
149 mi·2 hr 42 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
7.6 mi·9 min·I 40
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 11W: Knoxville Zoo
14
Keep slight right at fork
391 ft·9 sec
Toward US 11W: Mascot, Blaine, Rutledge, Bean Station
15
Continue on US 11W
29 mi·32 min·Rutledge Pike
16
Continue on US 11W; SR 1
12 mi·13 min·Lee Highway
17
Merge onto US 11W; US 25E; SR 1; SR 32; ADHS S
1.7 mi·1 min·Appalachian Highway
18
Turn left onto Old US 11W
1.2 mi·2 min·Main Street
19
Turn left onto US 11W; SR 1
16 mi·18 min·Lee Highway
20
Continue on US 11W; SR 1
3.4 mi·3 min·Rogersville Bypass
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 11W; SR 1
8.3 mi·9 min·Rogersville Bypass
22
Turn right onto Nelhms Street
127 ft·5 sec·Nelhms Street
23
Continue on Surgoinsville Creek Road
0.1 mi·30 sec·Surgoinsville Creek Road
24
Continue on Surgoinsville Creek Road
0.1 mi·24 sec·Surgoinsville Creek Road
25
Continue on Surgoinsville Creek Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Surgoinsville Creek Road
26
Turn right onto SR 346
208 ft·4 sec·Main Street
27
Arrive at destination
SR 346
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 127.6 miles from Murfreesboro, TN, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.7 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 56 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.6 miles or 2h 22m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Surgoinsville, 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 255.2 miles and 4h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 40 for about 156.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 127.6 mi from Murfreesboro, TN
· 2h 22m 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...
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...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 220
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.90 one way
$79.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$43.81
$87.61
premium
$4.89
$49.11
$98.22
diesel
$5.61
$56.34
$112.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.6
0
$26.80
$12.25
Efficient EV
63.8
0
$22.33
$10.21
EV Truck/SUV
102.1
1
$35.73
$16.33
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Murfreesboro, TN
Evening
in Murfreesboro on Friday
Local time
8:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Surgoinsville, TN
Night
in Surgoinsville on Friday
Local time
9:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Johnson, TN
128 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
4 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 50m 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 Murfreesboro, TN to Surgoinsville, TN covers 255.2 miles and takes about 4h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Rutledge Pike, 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 127.6 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 $39.90 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 18 significant decision points across 255.2 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 (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Murfreesboro, TN and Surgoinsville, TN, road signs point toward Lebanon, Blaine, Rutledge and Bean Station.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Stones River National Battlefield and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
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.
