Red Boiling Springs, TN to Franklin, TN is 91.9 miles and takes about 1h 59m via I 65 and US 31E, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect a mixed drive experience, offering a balance between quicker highway travel and more local road cruising. With a travel time under two hours, this route is ideal for a straightforward day trip, allowing plenty of time for activities at your destination without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46 miles from Red Boiling Springs, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 91.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This drive offers a 49% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 25.3 miles on I 65, providing a good opportunity to settle into a steady pace. As you transition between I 65 and routes like Lafayette Road and US 31E, the character of the drive will shift. You'll experience a mixed drive profile, incorporating both efficient highway segments and potentially more varied local road conditions as you approach Franklin.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 65 is the longest continuous segment at about 25.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near SR 52 / Lafayette Road.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.9 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (SR 52 / Lafayette Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 59.4 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 68.1 miles (I 24): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.2 mi into trip|~1m in|SR 52 / Lafayette Road
Turn right onto SR 52 / Lafayette Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
59.4 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|I 65
Merge onto I 65
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
68.1 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|I 24
Continue onto I 24 toward I 24 East: Chattanooga, Knoxville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 86
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga, Knoxville
9
70.9 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|Downtown Loop
Keep slight right at fork onto Downtown Loop toward I 40 West: Memphis, Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 50B
Toward I 40 West: Memphis, Huntsville
8
88.9 mi into trip|~1h 54m 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 Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Red Boiling Springs, TN and Franklin, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville and Huntsville.
Knoxville
68.1 mi in|~1h 29m|via I 24
Huntsville
70.9 mi in|~1h 33m|via Downtown Loop
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 65
25.3 mi
28m
Lafayette Road
23.7 mi
35m
US 31E
16.9 mi
21m
Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
15.1 mi
17m
I 24
2.8 mi
3m
Murfreesboro Road
2.3 mi
3m
Long Hollow Pike
2 mi
2m
Main Street
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 65
— 25.3 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Red Boiling Springs, TN and Franklin, TN.
1
Start on SR 56
1.2 mi·1 min·Main Street
2
Turn right onto SR 52
24 mi·35 min·Lafayette Road
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto US 31E; US 231
17 mi·21 min·US 31E; US 231
4
Continue on US 31E
0.4 mi·41 sec·West Broadway
5
Turn right onto TN 25
0.4 mi·31 sec·Red River Road
6
Turn straight onto SR 174
2.0 mi·2 min·Long Hollow Pike
7
Continue on TN 386
15 mi·17 min·Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 65
8.7 mi·10 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 24
2.8 mi·3 min·I 24
Exit 86Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga, KnoxvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto Downtown Loop
1.0 mi·1 min·Downtown Loop
Exit 50BToward I 40 West: Memphis, HuntsvilleUse the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Exit 210BToward I 65 South: Huntsville
12
Continue on I 65
17 mi·18 min·I 65
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 65Toward TN 96: Franklin, MurfreesboroUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto TN 96
2.3 mi·3 min·Murfreesboro Road
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on TN 96
0.3 mi·34 sec·3rd Avenue South
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Enter roundabout onto US 31 Business; TN 96
397 ft·6 sec·Public Square
17
Arrive at destination
US 31 Business; TN 96
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under two hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. You could depart anytime in the morning or afternoon and still arrive with ample daylight. Plan to refuel before leaving Red Boiling Springs if your tank is low, as the $14 fuel cost estimate suggests a moderate expenditure. While there are no specified stops, the longest stretch on I 65 is over 25 miles, so consider a quick break before or after that segment if needed. The flexibility of this shorter drive means you can adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46 miles from Red Boiling Springs, TN, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.3 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 20 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46 miles or 1h 4m 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 39m
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 Red Boiling Springs, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Red Boiling Springs, TN
This is one driving day of about 91.9 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Red Boiling Springs, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 65 for about 25.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 46 mi from Red Boiling Springs, TN
· 1h 4m into the drive
The midpoint is around 46 miles from Red Boiling Springs, 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.
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 82.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.37 one way
$28.74 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.77
$31.55
premium
$4.89
$17.69
$35.37
diesel
$5.61
$20.29
$40.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.6
0
$9.65
$4.41
Efficient EV
23
0
$8.04
$3.68
EV Truck/SUV
36.8
0
$12.87
$5.88
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Red Boiling Springs, TN
Evening
in Red Boiling Springs on Friday
Local time
6:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Franklin, TN
Evening
in Franklin on Friday
Local time
6:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 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
1h 59m 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 Red Boiling Springs, TN to Franklin, TN covers 91.9 miles and takes about 1h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 65, Lafayette Road, US 31E. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 46 miles from Red Boiling Springs, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.37 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 91.9 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (SR 52 / Lafayette Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 59.4 miles (I 65): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 68.1 miles (I 24): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Red Boiling Springs, TN and Franklin, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville and Huntsville.
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.
