Traveling from Carthage to Knoxville is a straightforward 136-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 33 minutes. Given the manageable distance, this trip is perfectly suited as a one-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $21 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your Southeast travels. Since the route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, you will find it to be a highly efficient way to cross Tennessee. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick getaway, the trip offers a predictable pace that gets you to your destination without unnecessary complexity.
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
68 miles from Carthage, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
128.8 mi
2h 21m
TN 25
4.9 mi
7m
Upper Ferry Road
0.7 mi
1m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
East 3rd Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Futtrell Alley
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 128.8 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carthage, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on Futtrell Alley
88 ft·6 sec·Futtrell Alley
2
Turn right onto East 3rd Avenue
138 ft·13 sec·East 3rd Avenue
3
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·Main Street
4
Continue on Upper Ferry Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Upper Ferry Road
5
Turn right onto TN 25
4.9 mi·7 min·TN 25
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
7
Merge onto I 40
126 mi·2 hr 17 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi·3 min·I 40
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
11
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi·27 sec·Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
13
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility when planning your departure time. You only need to account for one planned stop to keep your energy levels up during the 2-hour and 33-minute trek. Be mindful that because the route relies so heavily on I-40, your travel speed will be dictated by interstate traffic flow. I recommend keeping your fuel tank topped off before leaving Carthage to ensure a smooth, non-stop run toward Knoxville. Use that single stop to stretch your legs, as the long, 128.8-mile interstate stretch can become monotonous if you don't take a quick break to reset.
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 68 miles from Carthage, TN, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.8 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 30 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68 miles or 1h 17m 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 Knoxville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Carthage, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 128.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 135.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East 3rd Avenue
Turn right onto East 3rd Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|TN 25
Turn right onto TN 25
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
6 mi into trip|~10m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
134.9 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 388
Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee Histor...
7
135.3 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 388
Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee Histor...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.26 one way
$42.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.34
$46.69
premium
$4.89
$26.17
$52.34
diesel
$5.61
$30.03
$60.05
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: 47.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Carthage, TN
Afternoon
in Carthage on Sunday
Local time
3:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Afternoon
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
25 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 33m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is defined by a heavy focus on highway travel, with 98% of your time spent on major roads like I-40. Expect a consistent, interstate-focused experience, as your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 128.8 miles on I-40 alone. You will briefly navigate via TN 25 and Upper Ferry Road, but the vast majority of your journey is a high-speed transit across the region. Because the route is so highway-dominant, the driving environment remains stable and predictable from start to finish. It is the type of trip where you can settle into a steady rhythm behind the wheel without the need for frequent lane changes or technical maneuvering.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 128.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and TN 25. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 3rd Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 136 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 3rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (TN 25): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Knoxville, in Knox County, is the third-largest city in Tennessee. It is the home of the University of Tennessee's primary campus (UTK) and site of the 1982 World's Fair.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 136 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 128.8 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 3rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (TN 25): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Knoxville, TN before heading back.
