Origin
Murfreesboro, TN
Evening in Murfreesboro on Sunday
Local time
6:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Murfreesboro, TN to Carthage, TN
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
56 mi
90 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Murfreesboro, TN
Kelly
Carthage, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
If you are planning to head from Murfreesboro to Carthage, you are looking at a straightforward 56-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 8 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance is short enough that you will not need to plan for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $9 on fuel, making this a budget-friendly way to navigate between these two Tennessee towns. The path utilizes a combination of I-40, the Tennessee National Guard Parkway, and Gordonsville Highway to get you to your destination efficiently. Since both locations are situated within the Southeast region, you will find consistent driving conditions throughout the journey. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection that gets you from point A to point B without any unnecessary complexity.
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
28 miles from Murfreesboro, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .
Drive Character
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with about 78% of your time spent on higher-speed roads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 22.7 miles on I-40. While the interstate sections allow for steady progress, the transition onto the Tennessee National Guard Parkway and Gordonsville Highway shifts the feel of the drive as you move toward Carthage. Expect a functional experience behind the wheel that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads. Because the route relies so heavily on major thoroughfares, you should remain focused on merging and maintaining pace with regional traffic flow.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 22.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 56 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 41; US 70S; US 231 / Northwest Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Main Street
Turn left onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 41; US 70S; US 231 / Northwest Broad Street
Turn right onto US 41; US 70S; US 231 / Northwest Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
5.7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge onto I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
26.6 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 76A
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
6
50.2 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
SR 53 / Gordonsville Highway
Turn left onto SR 53 / Gordonsville Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Towns Along This Route
Between Murfreesboro, TN and Carthage, TN, road signs point toward Lebanon and Gordonsville.
Lebanon
26.6 mi in
|
~32m
Gordonsville
50 mi in
|
~57m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 22.7 mi | 24m |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | 20.9 mi | 22m |
| Gordonsville Highway | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| Northwest Broad Street | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| New Nashville Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Upper Ferry Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 22.7 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Murfreesboro, TN and Carthage, TN.
1
Start on South Spring Street
84 ft
·
11 sec
·
South Spring Street
2
Turn left onto East Main Street
347 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Main Street
3
Turn right onto North Church Street
115 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Church Street
4
Turn slight left onto North Public Square
393 ft
·
11 sec
·
North Public Square
Use the left lane.
5
Turn slight right onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
West Main Street
6
Turn right onto US 41; US 70S; US 231
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Northwest Broad Street
Use the none lane.
7
Continue on US 41; US 70S
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
New Nashville Highway
8
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville
9
Merge onto I 840
21 mi
·
22 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 76A
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 40
23 mi
·
24 min
·
I 40
Use the none lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward TN 53: Carthage, Gordonsville
13
Turn left onto SR 53
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Gordonsville Highway
Use the none lane.
14
Turn left onto Upper Ferry Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Upper Ferry Road
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on Main Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Main Street
16
Turn right onto East 3rd Avenue
138 ft
·
7 sec
·
East 3rd Avenue
17
Turn left onto Futtrell Alley
88 ft
·
6 sec
·
Futtrell Alley
18
Arrive at destination
Futtrell Alley
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively quick trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid local congestion. You do not need to worry about planning formal rest stops given the short 1 hour and 8 minute duration, allowing you to drive straight through if you prefer. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Murfreesboro, though the estimated $9 cost makes it easy to budget for a round trip. As you transition from the interstate onto the Gordonsville Highway, be prepared for the change in road type and adjust your speed accordingly. Taking advantage of the route's brevity means you can easily complete the drive in a single morning or afternoon and still have a full day ahead of you.
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 28 miles from Murfreesboro, TN, or about 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.7 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 56 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 28 miles or 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 55m
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 Murfreesboro, 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 Murfreesboro, TN
This is one driving day of about 56 miles and 1h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Murfreesboro, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 22.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28 mi from Murfreesboro, TN · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28 miles from Murfreesboro, 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
$8.51 one way
$17.01 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $9.38 | $18.75 |
| premium | $4.80 | $10.57 | $21.14 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $12.44 | $24.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.88 | $2.69 |
| Efficient EV | 14 | 0 | $4.90 | $2.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.84 | $3.58 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
6:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 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
1h 8m 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 Murfreesboro, TN to Carthage, TN covers 56 miles and takes about 1h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Tennessee National Guard Parkway, Gordonsville Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28 miles from Murfreesboro, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.51 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 56 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 41; US 70S; US 231 / Northwest Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.7 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Murfreesboro, TN and Carthage, TN, road signs point toward Lebanon and Gordonsville.
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