How far is Franklin, TN from Gatlinburg, TN?

The driving distance from Franklin, TN to Gatlinburg, TN is about 234.2 miles (376.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 31m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 188.6 miles (303.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 03m 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
234.18 mi
04h 31m
Flight
188.63 mi
303.57 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
188.63 mi
Kilometers
303.57 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
234.18 mi
Kilometers
376.88 km
Drive Time
04h 31m

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 04h 31m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gatlinburg
Thu, Apr 16, 12:40 PM EDT
Return by in Franklin
Thu, Apr 16, 4:11 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Franklin
2026-04-16T07:08
Arrive Gatlinburg
Thu, Apr 16, 11:40 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 31m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:32 AM to 1:32 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
7:56 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

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
Monterey
TN

Town in Tennessee, United States

From Franklin
116.9 mi
02h 15m
To Gatlinburg
117.3 mi
02h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SW
Destination
69°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    2.9 mi · 4 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art

    2116 ft · 28 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art

    2403 ft · 56 sec

  17. 17

    Continue on Henley Street

    1 km · 1 min · Henley Street

  18. 18

    Continue on Chapman Highway

    22.1 mi · 26 min · Chapman Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on West Main Street

    1.8 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Forks of the River Parkway

    3212 ft · 46 sec · Forks of the River Parkway

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Parkway

    7.1 mi · 12 min · Parkway

  22. 22

    Continue on Gatlinburg Spur Road

    4.4 mi · 7 min · Gatlinburg Spur Road

  23. 23

    Continue on Parkway

    1.2 mi · 4 min · Parkway

  24. 24

    Turn right

    124 m · 30 sec

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
25 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
174 mi · 74%
Chapman Highway
22.2 mi · 9%
Murfreesboro Road
16.8 mi · 7%
Parkway
8.25 mi · 4%
Gatlinburg Spur Road
4.42 mi · 2%
Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway
2.01 mi · 1%
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
04h 31m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+45.6 mi
188.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Monterey
02h 15m from Franklin
Leave By
7:56 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Franklin and Mostly Sunny near Gatlinburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 234.2 miles (376.9 km) and usually takes 04h 31m 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?

Monterey is a useful midpoint, sitting about 116.9 miles from Franklin and 117.3 miles from Gatlinburg.

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

The direct path is about 188.6 miles (303.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 45.6 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 7:56 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.15 one way or $62.30 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 73.4 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Franklin and Mostly Sunny near Gatlinburg.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Franklin and Gatlinburg. Straight-line distance: 188.63 mi (303.57 km).

Franklin

#1 Franklin

The second most populous city in Williamson County, Tennessee.

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

#2 Gatlinburg

Resort city in Sevier County, Tennessee

Population3,779
Coordinates35.7145300, -83.5118900
Altitude394
CountryUnited States
Start: Franklin (-86.86889, 35.92506)
End: Gatlinburg (-83.51189, 35.71453)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 377 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 51m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 55m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.26 gal
31.28 L · about $31.15
Round trip
$62.30
16.52 gal · 62.56 L
Estimated CO2
73.4 kg one way
Round trip: 146.8 kg / 324 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $31.15 $62.30
Mid-grade $4.25 $35.13 $70.26
Premium $4.65 $38.44 $76.88
Diesel $5.30 $43.81 $87.62

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 16, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Franklin, TN and Gatlinburg, TN. The current time in Franklin is 07:08:16, although it is 08:08:16 in Gatlinburg.

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.