Closest Airport to Franklin, TN, Plus a Two-Day House-Hunting Trip

Header photo: I-40 near Nashville International Airport, by Thank You (21 Millions+) views, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Quick answer (as of November 2026) The closest airport to Franklin, TN is Nashville International Airport (BNA), about 26 road miles from downtown Franklin, or about 32 minutes with no traffic by I-40, I-440 and I-65. Franklin doesn't have a public airport of its own. The next closest airports with airline service are Huntsville International in Alabama, about 104 miles away, and Chattanooga, about 140. For a private plane, John C. Tune Airport in west Nashville is about 28 miles from downtown Franklin.

Send me the moving guide

You've saved a dozen homes around Franklin, and you've got two days to see them in person. Pick the wrong airport or the wrong order, and a lot of that time goes to driving.

I moved to Middle Tennessee from California myself, and I live in Canterbury, in Thompson's Station. I've been selling real estate since 2013, with more than 500 transactions behind me. Here's where to fly in, how to get from the airport to Franklin, and the two-day route I'd use to see Franklin, Thompson's Station, Spring Hill and College Grove.

What airport is closest to Franklin, TN?

Nashville International Airport (BNA), at 1 Terminal Drive in Nashville, is the closest airport to Franklin, TN with airline service. It's about 26 road miles from Franklin's Public Square. It's also by far the biggest airport in the region: the FAA counted about 12.5 million passengers boarding at BNA in 2025, the 25th most of any U.S. airport.

Franklin doesn't have a public airport, so every commercial flight into the area lands at BNA or at an airport in another city.

How far is Franklin, TN from the Nashville airport?

Franklin, TN is about 26 road miles from the Nashville airport, roughly 32 minutes with no traffic, measured from BNA to Franklin's Public Square. The route runs I-40 west, I-440 west, then I-65 south to Exit 65, Murfreesboro Road, into downtown Franklin.

Those are no-traffic times. Add time at rush hour, and drive the route yourself at the hour you'd really drive it. My page on how far Franklin is from Nashville has the times to downtown Nashville and other stops.

Road miles and minutes measured with OpenStreetMap routing, November 2026, with no traffic.

How do you get from the Nashville airport to Franklin?

Most people who fly into BNA and head to Franklin rent a car or take Uber or Lyft. As of November 2026, the airport's bus doesn't run to Franklin.

1. Rent a car. BNA's help center lists 10 rental car companies. Their counters are on Level 1, the Ground Transportation Level. The cars are at the Consolidated Rental Car Facility next to Terminal Garage 1, straight across Terminal Drive from the terminal.
2. Take Uber or Lyft. Ride app pickups are at the Ground Transportation Center on Level 1 of Terminal Garage 2. Exit the terminal on Level 1, turn right and follow the covered sidewalk. BNA lists Lyft in Ride App Zone A and Uber in Zones B and C.
3. Take the WeGo bus as far as downtown Nashville. WeGo's Route 18 runs between BNA and WeGo Central in downtown Nashville, not Franklin. It boards at BNA's Ground Transportation Center, the adult fare is $2 each way, and express trips take about 20 minutes.

For a house-hunting trip, I'd rent the car. The homes you want to see are spread across two counties, and you'll want to drive your future commute yourself.

Tell me your travel dates and the homes you've saved, and I'll build the route around your flight. DM me, text or call 615-392-1186.

What other airports with airline service are near Franklin?

Three smaller airports with scheduled airline service sit within about three hours of downtown Franklin. Check them when BNA fares from your city run high, and count the extra drive.

Drive figures measured with OpenStreetMap routing from each terminal to Franklin's Public Square, November 2026, no traffic. Boardings from the FAA's calendar year 2025 commercial service list.

Huntsville International says it flies nonstop to 18 cities. If you land there, plan on close to two hours on I-565 and I-65 before you reach Franklin.

Can you fly a private plane into Franklin, TN?

Not into Franklin itself, because Franklin doesn't have a public airport. The closest public airports for private and charter flights are John C. Tune Airport (JWN) in west Nashville, about 28 road miles from downtown Franklin; the Smyrna and Murfreesboro airports, about 33 miles each; and Maury County Airport near Mount Pleasant, about 42 miles. None of the four has airline service. John C. Tune is run by the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, the same authority that runs BNA.

How do you plan a two-day house-hunting trip to Franklin, TN?

Spend day one in Franklin and Thompson's Station, and day two in Spring Hill and College Grove. That order keeps every drive between towns under 35 minutes with no traffic, and it ends day two about 48 minutes from BNA.

Measured with OpenStreetMap routing, November 2026, no traffic. Your homes won't sit on these exact points, so treat each leg as a starting estimate.

Before you fly

Watch the walkthroughs first, then fly. Send me the addresses you've saved. I check the county, the city limits and the property tax on each one, then record a video walkthrough of the homes worth a closer look and send you an unlisted YouTube link. You can rewatch it as many times as you need and show it to anyone else in the decision.

By the time you land, your list should be down to the homes worth seeing in person. I line those up back to back, town by town, so most of your two days goes to houses. If you're still early in the process, my guide to buying a house in Tennessee from another state covers the steps from preapproval to closing.

Day 1: Franklin and Thompson's Station

Land at BNA, pick up the rental car and head south about 32 minutes to Franklin. Start with your Franklin homes while you're fresh. Before you fall for one, remember that a Franklin mailing address doesn't always mean Franklin city limits. My moving to Franklin checklist shows how to check city limits, the school district and the water provider on any address.

Leave time to walk Main Street and the Public Square. To me, Franklin has what you'd want out of a small city, with the community events and the small-town feel still there. My Franklin guide covers the rest.

Then drive about 10 miles south on US 31 to Thompson's Station, about 16 minutes. I live in Canterbury, in Thompson's Station. It's close to both Spring Hill and Franklin but not as congested, and you're still close to everything. My Thompson's Station guide and commute times from Thompson's Station show the drives from there.

Before you head to your room, drive the route you'd take to work from the home you liked best, at the hour you'd take it.

Day 2: Spring Hill and College Grove

Spring Hill City Hall is about 5 miles and 9 minutes from Thompson's Station Town Hall, so day two starts with a short drive. Spring Hill sits in both Williamson and Maury counties, and City Hall itself is on the Maury County side. Check the county on every Spring Hill address, because it changes the property tax bill. My page on what county Spring Hill is in explains how.

Fischer Park at Port Royal is one I know well. My kids have played soccer there. My Spring Hill guide and commute times from Spring Hill cover the rest of the city.

Then head east about 19 miles on I-840 to College Grove, about 31 minutes. College Grove is in unincorporated Williamson County, with no city government. My mom lives in McDaniel Farms, in College Grove, and I think it's such a great area. Start with my College Grove guide.

From College Grove, BNA is about 28 miles and 48 minutes with no traffic. Book a flight home late enough to leave a cushion.

After you fly home

Some homes won't open up while you're here, and new ones will list after you leave. For those, I record a video walkthrough and send you an unlisted YouTube link, so you can keep shopping from home without booking another flight. My page on how I work with buyers moving here covers the rest, and my moving to Tennessee guide handles the license, plates and taxes.

Flying in to look at homes?

Send me your dates and the homes you've saved. I'll check the county, the city limits and the property tax on each one, record walkthroughs of the ones worth a closer look and line up the rest for your two days. DM me, text or call 615-392-1186.

Frequently asked questions

What airport is closest to Franklin, TN?

Nashville International Airport (BNA), at 1 Terminal Drive in Nashville, is the closest airport to Franklin, TN with airline service. It's about 26 road miles from Franklin's Public Square.

How far is Franklin, TN from the Nashville airport?

Franklin, TN is about 26 road miles from the Nashville airport, roughly 32 minutes with no traffic, measured from BNA to Franklin's Public Square. The route runs I-40 west, I-440 west, then I-65 south to Exit 65, Murfreesboro Road, into downtown Franklin.

Is there a bus from the Nashville airport to Franklin?

No. WeGo's Route 18 runs between BNA and WeGo Central in downtown Nashville, not Franklin. It boards at BNA's Ground Transportation Center, the adult fare is $2 each way, and express trips take about 20 minutes.

Can you fly a private plane into Franklin, TN?

Not into Franklin itself, because Franklin doesn't have a public airport. The closest public airports for private and charter flights are John C. Tune Airport (JWN) in west Nashville, about 28 road miles from downtown Franklin; the Smyrna and Murfreesboro airports, about 33 miles each; and Maury County Airport near Mount Pleasant, about 42 miles.

How do you plan a two-day house-hunting trip to Franklin, TN?

Spend day one in Franklin and Thompson's Station, and day two in Spring Hill and College Grove. That order keeps every drive between towns under 35 minutes with no traffic, and it ends day two about 48 minutes from BNA.