How far is Columbia, TN from Franklin, TN?

The driving distance from Columbia, TN to Franklin, TN is about 31.5 miles (50.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 23.4 miles (37.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 15m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
31.53 mi
00h 37m
Flight
23.36 mi
37.6 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Columbia.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
23.36 mi
Kilometers
37.6 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
31.53 mi
Kilometers
50.75 km
Drive Time
00h 37m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Franklin
Wed, May 13, 1:54 PM CDT
Return by in Columbia
Wed, May 13, 2:31 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbia
2026-05-13T13:16
Arrive Franklin
Wed, May 13, 1:54 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:38 AM to 7:38 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:14 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Columbia
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Thompson's Station
TN

Town in Williamson County, Tennessee, United States

From Columbia
15.7 mi
00h 18m
To Franklin
15.9 mi
00h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph W
Destination
81°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, May 13 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Columbia and Franklin.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbia and Franklin.

  1. 1

    Start on West 7th Street

    24 m · 6 sec · West 7th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Garden Street

    2506 ft · 50 sec · North Garden Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Nashville Highway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Nashville Highway

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Bear Creek Pike

    7.2 mi · 8 min · Bear Creek Pike

  5. 5

    Take the exit left

    1845 ft · 45 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    18.7 mi · 20 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward TN 96: Franklin, Murfreesboro

    1364 ft · 40 sec

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Murfreesboro Road

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Murfreesboro Road

  9. 9

    Continue on 3rd Avenue South

    1761 ft · 34 sec · 3rd Avenue South

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout toward Public Square

    121 m · 7 sec · Public Square

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Public Square

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Columbia and Franklin.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
11 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
34.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Bear Creek Pike
26.3 mi · 84%
Murfreesboro Road
2.44 mi · 8%
Nashville Highway
1.36 mi · 4%
North Garden Street
0.47 mi · 2%
3rd Avenue South
0.33 mi · 1%
TN 96
0.26 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Bear Creek Pike

Merge slight left

18.7 mi · 00h 20m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 37m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.1 mi
23.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thompson's Station
00h 18m from Columbia
Leave By
7:14 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Columbia and Sunny near Franklin.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Columbia to Franklin?

The road trip is about 31.5 miles (50.7 km) and usually takes 00h 37m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Thompson's Station is a useful midpoint, sitting about 15.7 miles from Columbia and 15.9 miles from Franklin.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 23.4 miles (37.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:14 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.19 one way or $8.37 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Columbia and Sunny near Franklin.

Stop Ideas Near Thompson's Station

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Thompson's Station, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Thompson's Station.

BUS

Nashville, TN

41 mi away
705 5th Avenue South
BUS

Clarksville, TN

91 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Columbia and Franklin. Straight-line distance: 23.36 mi (37.6 km).

Columbia

#1 Columbia

The county seat of Maury County, Tennessee.

Population41,826
Coordinates35.6150700, -87.0352800
Altitude196
CountryUnited States
Franklin

#2 Franklin

The second most populous city in Williamson County, Tennessee.

Population85,316
Coordinates35.9250600, -86.8688900
Altitude196
CountryUnited States
Start: West 7th Street (-87.035291, 35.615001)
End: Public Square (-86.868874, 35.925004)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 51 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 47m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 37m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.11 gal
4.21 L · about $4.19
Round trip
$8.37
2.22 gal · 8.42 L
Estimated CO2
9.9 kg one way
Round trip: 19.7 kg / 43 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $4.19 $8.37
Mid-grade $4.25 $4.72 $9.44
Premium $4.65 $5.17 $10.33
Diesel $5.30 $5.89 $11.77

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Tennessee · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Columbia and Franklin. The current time is 13:16:24.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.