Origin
Carthage, TN
Late night in Carthage on Sunday
Local time
2:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carthage, TN to Murfreesboro, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
56.7 mi
91 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carthage, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Murfreesboro, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward connection between Carthage and Murfreesboro, this 56.7-mile journey is a highly efficient option. Expect to spend approximately 1 hour and 8 minutes on the road, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of about $9, the route is as economical as it is quick. You will be traveling entirely within the Southeast region of Tennessee, keeping the transition between these two towns seamless. Since the drive is relatively short, there is no need to worry about overnight lodging, allowing you to focus on your arrival at your destination. This highway-focused path provides a reliable, no-nonsense way to navigate between these two points without any required stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 22.7 mi | 24m |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | 21 mi | 22m |
| TN 25 | 4.8 mi | 7m |
| Northwest Broad Street | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| New Nashville Highway | 0.8 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 Carthage, TN and Murfreesboro, 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
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
TN 25
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
7
Merge onto I 40
23 mi
·
24 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
1 min
Exit 235
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 840
21 mi
·
22 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 55A-B
Toward US 41, US 70S: Murfreesboro, Smyrna
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 55A
Toward US 41 South, US 70S East: Murfreesbord
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
1 min
13
Turn straight onto US 41; US 70S
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
New Nashville Highway
14
Continue on US 41; US 70S
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Northwest Broad Street
15
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
West Main Street
16
Turn right onto South Maple Street
138 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Maple Street
17
Turn slight left onto South Public Square
467 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Public Square
18
Turn slight right onto East Main Street
47 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Main Street
19
Continue on East Main Street
347 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Main Street
20
Turn right onto South Spring Street
84 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Spring Street
21
Arrive at destination
South Spring Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.3 miles from Carthage, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 51 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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 / slight right lanes.
8
28.7 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 235
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
8
50.8 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward US 41, US 70S: Murfreesboro, Smyrna
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 55A-B
Toward US 41, US 70S: Murfreesboro, Smyrna
9
51 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 41 South, US 70S East: Murfreesbord
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 55A
Toward US 41 South, US 70S East: Murfreesbord
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.86 one way
$17.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.73 | $19.47 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.91 | $21.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.52 | $25.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17 | 0 | $5.95 | $2.72 |
| Efficient EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.96 | $2.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.94 | $3.63 |
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
Murfreesboro, TN
Late night in Murfreesboro on Sunday
Local time
2:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Partly Cloudy
SSW 5 to 10 mph
3% chance
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
13 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
1h 8m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is defined by its reliance on major thoroughfares, with 86% of the journey taking place on highways. You will navigate a combination of I-40, the Tennessee National Guard Parkway, and TN 25 to complete your trek. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-40, where you can settle in for 22.7 miles of steady driving. Because the road is heavily highway-focused, the experience behind the wheel is consistent and predictable. Transitioning from the local roads onto the interstate stretches allows you to cover the distance quickly, making for a functional rather than technical driving experience.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 around 0.9 miles in near TN 25.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.7 miles you will encounter 12 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: 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; at 28.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Carthage, TN to Murfreesboro, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Smyrna along the way.
Smyrna
50.8 mi in
|
~58m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 56.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.7 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Murfreesboro, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.9 miles (TN 25): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Murfreesboro, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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