Photo: Kelly
Drive Time
2h 8m
Distance
136 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
The drive from Carthage, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 136 miles and takes about 2h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East 3rd Avenue, Main Street, Upper Ferry Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.19 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
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
68 miles from Carthage, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 8m drive with frequent turns across 136 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East 3rd Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Upper Ferry Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Convention Center | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Henley Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Carthage, TN and Knoxville, TN.
Start on Futtrell Alley
Turn right onto East 3rd Avenue
Turn left onto Main Street
Continue on Upper Ferry Road
Turn right
Take the ramp left
Merge slight left
Keep slight left
Take the exit slight right toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
Keep slight left to continue on Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
Continue on Henley Street
Continue on Henley Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Knoxville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Carthage, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Carthage, TN
This is one driving day of about 136 miles and 2h 8m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 68 mi from Carthage, TN · 1h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
68 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 68 miles from Carthage, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Knoxville, TN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Knoxville, TN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$20.19 one way
$40.38 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $22.77 | $45.54 |
| premium | $4.65 | $24.92 | $49.84 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $28.40 | $56.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.6 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.8 | 0 | $14.28 | $6.53 |
| Efficient EV | 34 | 0 | $11.90 | $5.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.4 | 0 | $19.04 | $8.70 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Carthage on Saturday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Knoxville on Saturday
Local time
6:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
61°F
Johnson, TN
68 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Explore more options from Carthage, TN or browse trips ending in Knoxville, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.
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