How far is Franklin, TN from Unicoi, TN?

The driving distance from Franklin, TN to Unicoi, TN is about 310.4 miles (499.5 km), with a travel time of about 05h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 253.1 miles (407.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 29m 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
310.38 mi
05h 44m
Flight
253.09 mi
407.31 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
253.09 mi
Kilometers
407.31 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
310.38 mi
Kilometers
499.51 km
Drive Time
05h 44m

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 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Unicoi
Thu, Apr 23, 6:18 AM EDT
Return by in Franklin
Thu, Apr 23, 11:03 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Franklin
2026-04-22T23:33
Arrive Unicoi
Thu, Apr 23, 5:18 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:45 PM to 2:45 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
5:30 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
Harriman
TN

City in Tennessee

From Franklin
155 mi
02h 52m
To Unicoi
155.3 mi
02h 52m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW
Destination
72°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    56.6 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville

    2112 ft · 40 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway

    22.7 mi · 27 min · James H. Quillen Parkway

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward TN 173

    1599 ft · 45 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left

    2073 ft · 44 sec

  20. 20

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Unicoi Drive

    1.1 km · 1 min · Unicoi Drive

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Unicoi Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
21 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
5 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
208 mi · 67%
I 81 North
56.6 mi · 18%
James H. Quillen Parkway
22.7 mi · 7%
Murfreesboro Road
16.8 mi · 5%
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 44m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+57.3 mi
253.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Harriman
02h 52m from Franklin
Leave By
5:30 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Franklin and Sunny near Unicoi.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 310.4 miles (499.5 km) and usually takes 05h 44m 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?

Harriman is a useful midpoint, sitting about 155 miles from Franklin and 155.3 miles from Unicoi.

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

The direct path is about 253.1 miles (407.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 57.3 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 5:30 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.29 one way or $82.58 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Franklin and Unicoi. Straight-line distance: 253.09 mi (407.31 km).

Franklin

#1 Franklin

The second most populous city in Williamson County, Tennessee.

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

#2 Unicoi

City in Unicoi County, Tennessee, United States of America

Population3,579
Coordinates36.1953900, -82.3495800
Altitude586
CountryUnited States
Start: Franklin (-86.86889, 35.92506)
End: Unicoi (-82.34958, 36.19539)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 500 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.95 gal
41.46 L · about $41.29
Round trip
$82.58
21.9 gal · 82.92 L
Estimated CO2
97.3 kg one way
Round trip: 194.6 kg / 429 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $41.29 $82.58
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.57 $93.14
Premium $4.65 $50.96 $101.92
Diesel $5.30 $58.08 $116.16

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 Unicoi, TN. The current time in Franklin is 23:33:59, although it is 00:33:59 in Unicoi.

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.