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

The driving distance from Johnson City, TN to Franklin, TN is about 301.6 miles (485.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 253.4 miles (407.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 00m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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
301.57 mi
04h 30m
Flight
253.42 mi
407.84 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Johnson City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
253.42 mi
Kilometers
407.84 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
301.57 mi
Kilometers
485.33 km
Drive Time
04h 30m

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 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Franklin
Thu, Apr 23, 1:35 AM CDT
Return by in Johnson City
Thu, Apr 23, 7:06 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Johnson City
2026-04-22T22:05
Arrive Franklin
Thu, Apr 23, 2:35 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:30 AM to 11:30 AM CDT

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

Leave by
8:00 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Johnson City
9:00 PM EDT
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
Rockwood
TN

City in Tennessee, United States

From Johnson City
150.4 mi
02h 15m
To Franklin
151.1 mi
02h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph W
Destination
81°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    132 m · 35 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Buffalo Street

    1620 ft · 56 sec · Buffalo Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North Roan Street

    1633 ft · 37 sec · North Roan Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto East Watauga Avenue

    1812 ft · 45 sec · East Watauga Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Oak Street

    135 m · 11 sec · Oak Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp straight

    962 ft · 24 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway

    13.7 mi · 16 min · James H. Quillen Parkway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 81 South: Knoxville

    1100 ft · 38 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    56.4 mi · 1 hr

  10. 10

    Continue on I 40 West: Knoxville

    1.1 km · 45 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    52.8 mi · 59 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Nashville

    154.8 mi · 2 hr 47 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 24 East, I 440 West: Memphis, Chattanooga

    1.3 km · 1 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 440 West: Memphis

    2313 ft · 52 sec

  15. 15

    Continue on Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65: Nashville, Huntsville

    638 ft · 16 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Huntsville

    825 ft · 16 sec

  18. 18

    Continue on 65: Huntsville

    2711 ft · 58 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    14.1 mi · 15 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward TN 96: Franklin, Murfreesboro

    1498 ft · 40 sec

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Murfreesboro Road

    2.3 mi · 4 min · Murfreesboro Road

  22. 22

    Continue on 3rd Avenue South

    1761 ft · 35 sec · 3rd Avenue South

  23. 23

    Enter the roundabout toward Public Square

    121 m · 7 sec · Public Square

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Public Square

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Nashville
155 mi · 51%
I 81 South
56.6 mi · 19%
I 40 West
53.5 mi · 18%
65
14.7 mi · 5%
James H. Quillen Parkway
13.7 mi · 5%
Murfreesboro Road
2.34 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Nashville

Keep slight right to continue on Nashville

155 mi · 02h 47m

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 30m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+48.2 mi
253.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rockwood
02h 15m from Johnson City
Leave By
8:00 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Johnson City and Sunny near Franklin.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 301.6 miles (485.3 km) and usually takes 04h 30m 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?

Rockwood is a useful midpoint, sitting about 150.4 miles from Johnson City and 151.1 miles from Franklin.

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

The direct path is about 253.4 miles (407.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.2 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 EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:00 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.12 one way or $80.25 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 94.6 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Johnson City and Franklin. Straight-line distance: 253.42 mi (407.84 km).

Johnson City

#1 Johnson City

The most populous city in Washington County, Tennessee.

Population66,906
Coordinates36.3134400, -82.3534700
Altitude498
CountryUnited States
Franklin

#2 Franklin

The second most populous city in Williamson County, Tennessee.

Population85,316
Coordinates35.9250600, -86.8688900
Altitude196
CountryUnited States
Start: Cherry Street (-82.353659, 36.313645)
End: Public Square (-86.868874, 35.925004)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 485 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.64 gal
40.28 L · about $40.12
Round trip
$80.25
21.28 gal · 80.56 L
Estimated CO2
94.6 kg one way
Round trip: 189.1 kg / 417 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $40.12 $80.25
Mid-grade $4.25 $45.25 $90.50
Premium $4.65 $49.52 $99.04
Diesel $5.30 $56.43 $112.87

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 Johnson City, TN and Franklin, TN. The current time in Johnson City is 22:05:46, although it is 21:05:46 in Franklin.

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.