The drive from Pikeville, TN to Franklin, TN covers 118 miles and takes about 2h 42m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on SR 30, John Bragg Highway, Murfreesboro Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 39 miles on SR 30.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.45 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
59 miles from Pikeville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 118 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Pikeville, TN to Franklin, TN covers 118 miles and takes about 2h 42m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
SR 30 is the longest continuous segment at about 39 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 40 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 118 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 40 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 85.5 miles (US 231 / South Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 85.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
40 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
85.5 mi into trip|~2h in|US 231 / South Church Street
Turn left onto US 231 / South Church Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
85.8 mi into trip|~2h in
Take the exit toward I 24 West: Nashville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 24 West: Nashville
8
92.6 mi into trip|~2h 8m in
Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 74A
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
8
103.8 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Take the exit toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, Lewisburg
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 42
Toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, Lewisburg
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Pikeville, TN to Franklin, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Lewisburg along the way.
Lewisburg
103.8 mi in|~2h 20m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
SR 30
39 mi
1h
John Bragg Highway
15.6 mi
18m
Murfreesboro Road
12.8 mi
19m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
10.3 mi
10m
Nashville Highway
10.2 mi
11m
McMinnville Highway
8.1 mi
10m
I 24
6.5 mi
6m
South Rutherford Boulevard
3.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
SR 30
— 39 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pikeville, TN and Franklin, TN.
1
Start on Cumberland Avenue
105 ft·6 sec·Cumberland Avenue
2
Turn right onto SR 30
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 127; SR 30
0.1 mi·15 sec·Main Street
4
Turn left onto SR 30
25 mi·40 min·SR 30
5
At end of road, turn right onto SR 30
14 mi·20 min·SR 30
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
7
Keep slight left at fork
101 ft·2 sec
8
Turn left onto US 70S
2.4 mi·2 min·Sparta Highway
9
Continue on US 70S
0.5 mi·36 sec·Sparta Street
10
Continue on US 70S
3.1 mi·3 min·Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway
11
Take the exit onto US 70S
0.3 mi·48 sec·US 70S
12
Keep slight left at fork
422 ft·12 sec
13
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.3 mi·18 sec·West Main Street
14
Continue on US 70S
10 mi·11 min·Nashville Highway
15
Continue on US 70S
8.1 mi·10 min·McMinnville Highway
16
Continue on US 70S; SR 53
1.0 mi·2 min·East Main Street
17
Continue on US 70S
16 mi·18 min·John Bragg Highway
18
Turn left onto South Rutherford Boulevard
3.8 mi·5 min·South Rutherford Boulevard
19
Turn left onto US 231
0.3 mi·22 sec·South Church Street
Use the left lane.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward I 24 West: NashvilleUse the right lane.
21
Merge onto I 24
6.5 mi·6 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 74AToward I 840 West: Memphis, FranklinUse the right lane.
23
Merge onto I 840
10 mi·10 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.5 mi·46 sec
Exit 42Toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, LewisburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn right onto US 31A; US 41A
0.5 mi·57 sec·Horton Highway
26
Turn left onto SR 96
13 mi·19 min·Murfreesboro Road
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on TN 96
0.3 mi·34 sec·3rd Avenue South
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Enter roundabout onto US 31 Business; TN 96
397 ft·6 sec·Public Square
29
Arrive at destination
US 31 Business; TN 96
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 59 miles from Pikeville, TN, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39 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 26 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59 miles or 1h 25m 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 13m
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 Pikeville, 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 Pikeville, TN
This is one driving day of about 118 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Pikeville, 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 SR 30 for about 39 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59 mi from Pikeville, TN
· 1h 25m into the drive
The midpoint is around 68.2 miles from Pikeville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.45 one way
$36.90 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.26
$40.51
premium
$4.89
$22.71
$45.42
diesel
$5.61
$26.05
$52.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.4
0
$12.39
$5.66
Efficient EV
29.5
0
$10.33
$4.72
EV Truck/SUV
47.2
0
$16.52
$7.55
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Pikeville, TN
Morning
in Pikeville on Friday
Local time
9:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Franklin, TN
Morning
in Franklin on Friday
Local time
9:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
McMinnville, TN
59 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 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 42m 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 Pikeville, TN to Franklin, TN covers 118 miles and takes about 2h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are SR 30, John Bragg Highway, Murfreesboro Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59 miles from Pikeville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.45 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 17 significant decision points across 118 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 40 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 85.5 miles (US 231 / South Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 85.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Pikeville, TN to Franklin, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Lewisburg along the way.
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.
