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Trip from Brownsville, TN to Bethel, TN

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

26m

Distance

12.8 mi

21 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 24m ★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Haywood County, Tennessee, United States

Brownsville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Brownsville, TN to Bethel, TN covers 12.8 miles and takes about 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Rudolph Road, State Route 54, Thornton Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 5.8 miles on Rudolph Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.00 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

6.4 miles from Brownsville, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Brownsville, TN to Bethel, TN covers 12.8 miles and takes about 26m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 6 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Rudolph Road is the longest continuous segment at about 5.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near TN 54 / Thornton Road.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Brownsville, TN to Bethel, TN is easy. At 26m with 36% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (TN 54 / Thornton Road): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles (Rudolph Road): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

2 of 2 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3
0.8 mi into trip | ~1m in | TN 54 / Thornton Road

Turn left onto TN 54 / Thornton Road

Navigation decision point

4
7 mi into trip | ~12m in | Rudolph Road

Turn left onto Rudolph Road

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Rudolph Road 5.8 mi 13m
State Route 54 4.6 mi 8m
Thornton Road 1.7 mi 2m
North Washington Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Rudolph Road — 5.8 mi, about 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brownsville, TN and Bethel, TN.

1

Start on TN 54

38 ft · 0 sec · North Washington Avenue
2

Continue on TN 54

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Washington Avenue
3

Turn left onto TN 54

1.7 mi · 2 min · Thornton Road
4

Continue on TN 54

4.6 mi · 8 min · State Route 54
5

Turn left onto Rudolph Road

5.8 mi · 13 min · Rudolph Road
6

Arrive at destination

Rudolph Road

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 6.4 miles from Brownsville, TN, or about 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.8 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 12.8 miles or 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 6.4 miles or 11m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethel, TN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Brownsville, TN.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Brownsville, TN

This is one driving day of about 12.8 miles and 26m.

At 12.8 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Rudolph Road for about 5.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 6.4 mi from Brownsville, TN · 11m into the drive

Pacing Suggestions

Alamo, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bells, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 6.4 miles from Brownsville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bethel, TN

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Bethel, TN if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.00 one way

$4.00 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 5 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $2.20 $4.39
premium $4.89 $2.46 $4.93
diesel $5.61 $2.83 $5.65

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.8 0 $1.34 $0.61
Efficient EV 3.2 0 $1.12 $0.51
EV Truck/SUV 5.1 0 $1.79 $0.82

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Brownsville, TN

Evening in Brownsville on Wednesday

Local time

7:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bethel, TN

Evening in Bethel on Wednesday

Local time

7:43 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

9 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

26m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Brownsville, TN to Bethel, TN covers 12.8 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Rudolph Road, State Route 54, Thornton Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.4 miles from Brownsville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.00 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Brownsville, TN to Bethel, TN is easy. At 26m with 36% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (TN 54 / Thornton Road): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles (Rudolph Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from Brownsville, TN to Bethel, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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