Origin
Knoxville, TN
Evening in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
6:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Knoxville, TN to Carthage, TN
Drive Time
2h 32m
Distance
135.7 mi
218 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 22m
★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 53m
10 AM
2h 40m
12 PM
2h 38m
3 PM
2h 41m
5 PM
2h 52m
8 PM
2h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Knoxville, TN
Kelly
Carthage, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Spanning 135.7 miles across Tennessee, this journey from Knoxville to Carthage takes approximately 2 hours and 32 minutes of drive time. Because the route is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a highway sprint, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip. You should budget about $20 for fuel to complete the trek comfortably. Navigating through the Southeast, you will find this path offers an intimate look at the local landscape compared to major interstates. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick getaway, the manageable duration means you can easily depart in the morning and arrive by midday without feeling exhausted.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
67.8 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a technical experience behind the wheel, as this route relies entirely on local roads like Henley Street, Western Avenue, and Ailor Avenue. With a highway share of 0%, you won’t be cruising at high speeds on an interstate, which keeps the drive engaging and constant. Because there is no extended highway travel, the longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on Henley Street, requiring your full attention at every turn. The character of the road is winding and interactive, favoring a slower pace that demands active steering through the region. It is a true local drive that avoids the monotony of fast-lane travel.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Henley Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Knoxville, TN to Carthage, TN is easy. At 2h 32m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Knoxville, TN to Carthage, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Henley Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Western Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ailor Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nashville | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| TN 53 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Gordonsville Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Upper Ferry Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Henley Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Carthage, TN.
1
Start on Henley Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Henley Street
2
Continue on Henley Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Henley Street
3
Turn slight left onto Western Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Western Avenue
4
Turn left onto Ailor Avenue
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Ailor Avenue
5
Take the ramp straight toward I 40 West, I 75 South
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 40 West, I 75 South
6
Merge slight left
18 mi
·
21 min
7
Keep slight right to continue on Nashville
110 mi
·
1 hr 57 min
·
Nashville
8
Take the exit slight right toward TN 53: Carthage, Gordonsville
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
TN 53: Carthage, Gordonsville
9
Turn right onto Gordonsville Highway
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Gordonsville Highway
10
Turn left onto Upper Ferry Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Upper Ferry Road
11
Continue on Main Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Main Street
12
Turn right onto East 3rd Avenue
138 ft
·
8 sec
·
East 3rd Avenue
13
Turn left onto Futtrell Alley
89 ft
·
6 sec
·
Futtrell Alley
14
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since you are planning for a 135.7-mile trip with one scheduled stop, aim to depart early to make the most of your day. The local nature of these roads means you should account for variable traffic patterns that could impact your 2-hour and 32-minute estimate. Keep your $20 fuel budget in mind, and consider topping off your tank before leaving Knoxville to avoid searching for stations on unfamiliar local roads. Given the turn-heavy profile, take advantage of your one planned stop to stretch your legs and reset your focus. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so don't feel pressured to rush through the technical sections of the drive.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.8 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.8 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carthage, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Knoxville, 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 Knoxville, TN
This is one driving day of about 135.7 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Knoxville, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 67.8 mi from Knoxville, TN · 1h 16m 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 67.8 miles from Knoxville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Carthage, TN
The final approach into Carthage, 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 Carthage, TN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.61 one way
$41.22 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $22.72 | $45.44 |
| premium | $4.80 | $25.62 | $51.23 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $30.15 | $60.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.7 | 0 | $14.25 | $6.51 |
| Efficient EV | 33.9 | 0 | $11.87 | $5.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.3 | 0 | $19.00 | $8.68 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Carthage, TN
Evening in Carthage on Sunday
Local time
5:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 32m 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 Knoxville, TN to Carthage, TN covers 135.7 miles and takes about 2h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Henley Street, Western Avenue, Ailor Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 67.8 miles from Knoxville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.61 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Knoxville, TN to Carthage, TN is easy. At 2h 32m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Knoxville, TN to Carthage, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Knoxville, TN to Carthage, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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