How far is Franklin, TN from Oak Ridge, TN?

The driving distance from Franklin, TN to Oak Ridge, TN is about 179 miles (288.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 19m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 145.5 miles (234.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 38m 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
179 mi
03h 19m
Flight
145.47 mi
234.11 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
145.47 mi
Kilometers
234.11 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
179 mi
Kilometers
288.07 km
Drive Time
03h 19m

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 19m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Oak Ridge
Wed, Apr 15, 6:12 PM EDT
Return by in Franklin
Wed, Apr 15, 8:32 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Franklin
2026-04-15T13:53
Arrive Oak Ridge
Wed, Apr 15, 5:12 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 19m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:19 AM to 12:19 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
10:22 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
Baxter
TN

Town of the United States

From Franklin
89.4 mi
01h 39m
To Oak Ridge
89.6 mi
01h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SSW
Destination
84°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 PM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Franklin and Oak Ridge.

  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

    134.4 mi · 2 hr 25 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 27: Harriman, Rockwood

    1106 ft · 27 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right

    102 m · 8 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    6.8 mi · 8 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Harriman Highway

    9.6 mi · 11 min · Harriman Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on West Tri County Boulevard

    5.6 mi · 7 min · West Tri County Boulevard

  19. 19

    Continue on North Illinois Avenue

    1 mi · 1 min · North Illinois Avenue

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Illinois Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
1 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
5 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
135 mi · 75%
Murfreesboro Road
16.8 mi · 9%
Harriman Highway
9.57 mi · 5%
US 27
7.02 mi · 4%
West Tri County Boulevard
5.65 mi · 3%
Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway
2.01 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

Merge slight left

134 mi · 02h 25m

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 19m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.5 mi
145.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Baxter
01h 39m from Franklin
Leave By
10:22 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Franklin and Mostly Sunny near Oak Ridge.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Franklin to Oak Ridge?

The road trip is about 179 miles (288.1 km) and usually takes 03h 19m 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?

Baxter is a useful midpoint, sitting about 89.4 miles from Franklin and 89.6 miles from Oak Ridge.

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

The direct path is about 145.5 miles (234.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.5 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 10:22 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.83 one way or $47.67 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 56.2 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Franklin and Mostly Sunny near Oak Ridge.

Stop Ideas Near Baxter

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

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

BUS

Nashville, TN

101 mi away
705 5th Avenue South

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Franklin and Oak Ridge. Straight-line distance: 145.47 mi (234.11 km).

Franklin

#1 Franklin

The second most populous city in Williamson County, Tennessee.

Population85,316
Coordinates35.9250600, -86.8688900
Altitude196
CountryUnited States
Oak Ridge

#2 Oak Ridge

City in Tennessee, United States

Population29,340
Coordinates36.0103600, -84.2696400
Altitude259
CountryUnited States
Start: Franklin (-86.86889, 35.92506)
End: Oak Ridge (-84.26964, 36.01036)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 288 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.32 gal
23.91 L · about $23.83
Round trip
$47.67
12.64 gal · 47.82 L
Estimated CO2
56.2 kg one way
Round trip: 112.3 kg / 248 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $23.83 $47.67
Mid-grade $4.25 $26.88 $53.76
Premium $4.65 $29.41 $58.83
Diesel $5.30 $33.52 $67.04

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 15, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Franklin, TN and Oak Ridge, TN. The current time in Franklin is 13:53:31, although it is 14:53:31 in Oak Ridge.

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.