Origin
Athens, TN
Late night in Athens on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Athens, TN to Calhoun, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
22m
Distance
14.7 mi
24 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Athens, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Calhoun, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick, straightforward trip in Southeast Tennessee, the 14.7-mile drive from Athens to Calhoun is an ideal choice. Covering this distance takes roughly 22 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You won't need to worry about lodging or overnight planning, as the duration is very manageable. Budgeting about $2 for fuel should comfortably cover the journey between these two towns. Because the entire route remains within the same region, you can expect a consistent local atmosphere from start to finish.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Madison Avenue | 7.1 mi | 10m |
| Lee Highway | 6.9 mi | 10m |
| Washington Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Etowah Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Madison Avenue
— 7.1 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Athens, TN and Calhoun, TN.
1
Start on SR 39
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Washington Avenue
2
Turn straight onto SR 39
7.1 mi
·
10 min
·
West Madison Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 11
6.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Lee Highway
4
Turn left onto TN 163
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Etowah Road
5
Turn left onto Main Street
112 ft
·
4 sec
·
Main Street
6
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 7.5 and 14.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
7.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
US 11 / Lee Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 11 / Lee Highway
Navigation decision point
4
14.4 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
TN 163 / Etowah Road
Turn left onto TN 163 / Etowah Road
Navigation decision point
5
14.6 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.30 one way
$4.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.52 | $5.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.83 | $5.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.25 | $6.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.54 | $0.71 |
| Efficient EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.29 | $0.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.06 | $0.94 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Calhoun, TN
Late night in Calhoun on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°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
3 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
22m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will navigate a series of surface roads including West Madison Avenue, Lee Highway, and Washington Avenue, with zero percent of the trip spent on major highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 7.1-mile segment along West Madison Avenue. Since the route relies entirely on local roads, you should prepare for a slower pace that reflects the character of the surrounding communities.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
6 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.1 mi on West Madison Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
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. The trickiest moment comes around 7.5 miles in near US 11 / Lee Highway.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Athens, TN to Calhoun, TN is easy. At 22m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.5 miles (US 11 / Lee Highway): Navigation decision point; at 14.4 miles (TN 163 / Etowah Road): Navigation decision point; at 14.6 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 22m. Total distance: 14.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.1 miles on West Madison Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.5 miles (US 11 / Lee Highway): Navigation decision point; at 14.4 miles (TN 163 / Etowah Road): Navigation decision point; at 14.6 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Calhoun, TN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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