Origin
Shelbyville, TN
Night in Shelbyville on Friday
Local time
9:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shelbyville, TN to Franklin, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
43.2 mi
69 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shelbyville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Franklin, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Shelbyville, TN to Franklin, TN is 43.2 miles and takes about 1h 5m via Union Street/Murfreesboro Road/Horton Highway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region, specifically in Tennessee, offering a straightforward local journey. It's a short trip, making it ideal for a day excursion or an easy transfer between towns. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct connection without extensive highway mileage, keeping your travel time and fuel costs low.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 43.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (2%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with only a 20% highway share. You'll encounter a significant amount of local road navigation, so be prepared for frequent turns and changes in speed. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 25.6 miles on Union Street, offering a brief period of more consistent driving before transitioning back to local roads. Expect a driving experience that feels more connected to the communities you're passing through rather than a high-speed transit.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Union Street is the longest continuous segment at about 25.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Spring Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Shelbyville, TN to Franklin, TN is easy. At 1h 5m with 2% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Spring Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 41A / Union Street): Navigation decision point; at 29.9 miles (SR 96 / Murfreesboro Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Spring Street
Turn right onto North Spring Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 41A / Union Street
Turn left onto US 41A / Union Street
Navigation decision point
5
29.9 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
SR 96 / Murfreesboro Road
Turn left onto SR 96 / Murfreesboro Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
43.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
US 31 Business; TN 96 / Public Square
Enter roundabout onto US 31 Business; TN 96 / Public Square
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Union Street | 25.6 mi | 38m |
| Murfreesboro Road | 12.8 mi | 19m |
| Horton Highway | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Lane Parkway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 3rd Avenue South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Spring Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Public Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Public Square North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Union Street
— 25.6 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shelbyville, TN and Franklin, TN.
1
Start on Public Square North
223 ft
·
11 sec
·
Public Square North
2
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Spring Street
3
Turn left onto SR 64; SR 130
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lane Parkway
4
Turn left onto US 41A
26 mi
·
38 min
·
Union Street
5
Turn straight onto US 31A; US 41A
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Horton Highway
6
Turn left onto SR 96
13 mi
·
19 min
·
Murfreesboro Road
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on TN 96
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
3rd Avenue South
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Enter roundabout onto US 31 Business; TN 96
397 ft
·
6 sec
·
Public Square
9
Arrive at destination
US 31 Business; TN 96
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.6 mi from Shelbyville, TN · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.6 miles from Shelbyville, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.75 one way
$13.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.42 | $14.83 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.31 | $16.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.54 | $19.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.07 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.78 | $1.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.05 | $2.76 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Franklin, TN
Night in Franklin on Friday
Local time
9:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
S 10 mph
7% chance
Live forecast
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
38 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 5m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Shelbyville, TN to Franklin, TN covers 43.2 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Union Street, Murfreesboro Road, Horton Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.6 miles from Shelbyville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.75 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.
The drive from Shelbyville, TN to Franklin, TN is easy. At 1h 5m with 2% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Spring Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 41A / Union Street): Navigation decision point; at 29.9 miles (SR 96 / Murfreesboro Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Shelbyville, TN to Franklin, 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.
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