How far is Franklin, TN from Decatur, TN?

The driving distance from Franklin, TN to Decatur, TN is about 155.3 miles (250 km), with a travel time of about 03h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 120 miles (193.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 53m 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
155.34 mi
03h 26m
Flight
120 mi
193.12 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
120 mi
Kilometers
193.12 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
155.34 mi
Kilometers
249.99 km
Drive Time
03h 26m

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 03h 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Decatur
Thu, Apr 23, 4:48 AM EDT
Return by in Franklin
Thu, Apr 23, 7:14 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Franklin
2026-04-23T00:21
Arrive Decatur
Thu, Apr 23, 3:48 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:27 AM to 12:27 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
10:06 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
McMinnville
TN

City in Tennessee

From Franklin
77.6 mi
01h 43m
To Decatur
77.7 mi
01h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S
Destination
82°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    12.8 mi · 19 min · Murfreesboro Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Horton Highway

    1.1 km · 1 min · Horton Highway

  5. 5

    Take the ramp left toward I 840 East: Murfreesboro

    1.1 km · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway

    10.1 mi · 11 min · Tennessee National Guard Parkway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 24 East: Chattanooga

    1.3 km · 2 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    6.2 mi · 7 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 231 North: Murfreesboro

    1308 ft · 37 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto South Church Street

    2935 ft · 44 sec · South Church Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto South Rutherford Boulevard

    3.8 mi · 5 min · South Rutherford Boulevard

  12. 12

    Turn right onto John Bragg Highway

    15.6 mi · 19 min · John Bragg Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on West Main Street

    1 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

  14. 14

    Continue on McMinnville Highway

    8.2 mi · 11 min · McMinnville Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Nashville Highway

    10.1 mi · 12 min · Nashville Highway

  16. 16

    Continue on West Main Street

    2.1 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

  17. 17

    Continue on West Main Street

    94 m · 12 sec · West Main Street

  18. 18

    Continue on West Main Street

    1874 ft · 41 sec · West Main Street

  19. 19

    Continue on East Main Street

    1884 ft · 43 sec · East Main Street

  20. 20

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Beersheba Highway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Beersheba Highway

  21. 21

    Turn slight left onto Harrison Ferry Road

    12.3 mi · 17 min · Harrison Ferry Road

  22. 22

    Continue on State Highway 8

    7.3 mi · 10 min · State Highway 8

  23. 23

    At the end of the road, turn right

    12.6 mi · 17 min

  24. 24

    Continue straight

    11.5 mi · 14 min

  25. 25

    Continue straight

    5.3 mi · 6 min

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right

    1.4 km · 2 min

  27. 27

    Merge slight left

    15.8 mi · 19 min

  28. 28

    Take the exit right

    39 m · 4 sec

  29. 29

    Continue on Washington Street

    114 m · 8 sec · Washington Street

  30. 30

    Continue on Old Washington Highway

    8 mi · 12 min · Old Washington Highway

  31. 31

    Continue on William Jennings Bryan Highway

    5.7 mi · 8 min · William Jennings Bryan Highway

  32. 32

    Continue on Decatur Pike

    2408 ft · 45 sec · Decatur Pike

  33. 33

    Turn left onto Highway 58

    830 ft · 16 sec · Highway 58

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Highway 58

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
34 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
21.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Highway 8
40.7 mi · 26%
John Bragg Highway
15.6 mi · 10%
Murfreesboro Road
12.8 mi · 8%
Harrison Ferry Road
12.3 mi · 8%
Nashville Highway
10.1 mi · 7%
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
10.1 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

State Highway 8

Merge slight left

15.8 mi · 00h 19m

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
03h 26m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+35.3 mi
120 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
McMinnville
01h 43m from Franklin
Leave By
10:06 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Franklin and Sunny near Decatur.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 155.3 miles (250 km) and usually takes 03h 26m 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?

McMinnville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 77.6 miles from Franklin and 77.7 miles from Decatur.

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

The direct path is about 120 miles (193.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.3 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 10:06 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.67 one way or $41.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 48.7 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Franklin and Decatur, 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 Decatur.

Stop Ideas Near McMinnville

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around McMinnville, 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 McMinnville.

BUS

Nashville, TN

104 mi away
705 5th Avenue South

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Franklin and Decatur. Straight-line distance: 120 mi (193.12 km).

Franklin

#1 Franklin

The second most populous city in Williamson County, Tennessee.

Population85,316
Coordinates35.9250600, -86.8688900
Altitude196
CountryUnited States
Decatur

#2 Decatur

Human settlement in Meigs County, Tennessee, United States of America

Population1,663
Coordinates35.5147900, -84.7902200
Altitude237
CountryUnited States
Start: Franklin (-86.86889, 35.92506)
End: Decatur (-84.79022, 35.51479)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 250 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 35m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.48 gal
20.75 L · about $20.67
Round trip
$41.33
10.96 gal · 41.5 L
Estimated CO2
48.7 kg one way
Round trip: 97.4 kg / 215 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $20.67 $41.33
Mid-grade $4.25 $23.31 $46.61
Premium $4.65 $25.50 $51.01
Diesel $5.30 $29.07 $58.13

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 23, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Franklin, TN and Decatur, TN. The current time in Franklin is 00:21:24, although it is 01:21:24 in Decatur.

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.