How far is Franklin, TN from Bluff City, TN?

The driving distance from Franklin, TN to Bluff City, TN is about 306.3 miles (493 km), with a travel time of about 05h 40m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 259.7 miles (417.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 20m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
306.35 mi
05h 40m
Flight
259.68 mi
417.91 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Franklin.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
259.68 mi
Kilometers
417.91 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
306.35 mi
Kilometers
493.03 km
Drive Time
05h 40m

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 05h 40m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bluff City
Fri, Apr 10, 11:32 PM EDT
Return by in Franklin
Sat, Apr 11, 4:12 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Franklin
2026-04-10T16:52
Arrive Bluff City
Fri, Apr 10, 10:32 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 40m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:40 PM to 2:40 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:40 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Franklin
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Midtown
TN

Neighborhood in Manhattan in New York City

From Franklin
153 mi
02h 50m
To Bluff City
153.4 mi
02h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSW
Destination
71°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Franklin and Bluff City.

  1. 1

    Start on Public Square

    127 m · 7 sec · Public Square

  2. 2

    Exit the rotary onto 3rd Avenue South

    1778 ft · 34 sec · 3rd Avenue South

  3. 3

    Continue on Murfreesboro Road

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Murfreesboro Road

  4. 4

    Take the exit left

    1707 ft · 42 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    14.1 mi · 15 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 440: Memphis, Knoxville

    1280 ft · 31 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 440 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga

    2341 ft · 56 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway

    2 mi · 2 min · Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 24 West: Nashville, Knoxville

    2515 ft · 48 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 24 West, I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville

    1506 ft · 37 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    1328 ft · 21 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Knoxville

    1646 ft · 40 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    171.2 mi · 3 hr 6 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    36.7 mi · 41 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol

    69.1 mi · 1 hr 14 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 394: Blountville, Bristol

    1452 ft · 35 sec

  17. 17

    Turn slight right onto I 81 Alt North

    33 m · 5 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway

    5.5 mi · 7 min · Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway

  19. 19

    Turn right

    2 mi · 4 min

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Holston Drive

    119 m · 18 sec · Holston Drive

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Carter Street

    795 ft · 39 sec · Carter Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Main Street

    18 m · 1 sec · Main Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
23 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
208 mi · 68%
I 81 North
69.1 mi · 23%
Murfreesboro Road
16.8 mi · 5%
Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway
5.46 mi · 2%
Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway
2.01 mi · 1%
I 24 West
1.01 mi
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

Merge slight left

171 mi · 03h 06m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 40m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+46.6 mi
259.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Midtown
02h 50m from Franklin
Leave By
5:40 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Franklin and Sunny near Bluff City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Franklin to Bluff City?

The road trip is about 306.3 miles (493 km) and usually takes 05h 40m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Midtown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 153 miles from Franklin and 153.4 miles from Bluff City.

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

The direct path is about 259.7 miles (417.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.6 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:40 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.76 one way or $81.53 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 96.1 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Franklin and Bluff City, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Franklin and Sunny near Bluff City.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Franklin and Bluff City. Straight-line distance: 259.68 mi (417.91 km).

Franklin

#1 Franklin

The second most populous city in Williamson County, Tennessee.

Population85,316
Coordinates35.9250600, -86.8688900
Altitude196
CountryUnited States
Bluff City

#2 Bluff City

City in Harper County, Kansas, United States of America

Population1,670
Coordinates36.4742700, -82.2609700
Altitude442
CountryUnited States
Start: Franklin (-86.86889, 35.92506)
End: Bluff City (-82.26097, 36.47427)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 493 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 22m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.81 gal
40.92 L · about $40.76
Round trip
$81.53
21.62 gal · 81.84 L
Estimated CO2
96.1 kg one way
Round trip: 192.1 kg / 424 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $40.76 $81.53
Mid-grade $4.25 $45.97 $91.95
Premium $4.65 $50.31 $100.62
Diesel $5.30 $57.34 $114.67

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 · Apr 10, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Franklin, TN and Bluff City, TN. The current time in Franklin is 16:52:08, although it is 17:52:08 in Bluff City.

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.