How far is Johnson City, TN from Carthage, TN?

The driving distance from Johnson City, TN to Carthage, TN is about 240.6 miles (387.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 200.5 miles (322.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 58m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
240.63 mi
04h 29m
Flight
200.44 mi
322.58 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Johnson City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
200.44 mi
Kilometers
322.58 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
240.63 mi
Kilometers
387.25 km
Drive Time
04h 29m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Carthage
Thu, Apr 23, 1:37 AM CDT
Return by in Johnson City
Thu, Apr 23, 7:06 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Johnson City
2026-04-22T22:08
Arrive Carthage
Thu, Apr 23, 2:37 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:29 AM to 11:29 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:02 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Johnson City
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Farragut
TN

Town of the United States

From Johnson City
120.2 mi
02h 14m
To Carthage
120.5 mi
02h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph W
Destination
79°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Johnson City and Carthage.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City and Carthage.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    132 m · 35 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Buffalo Street

    1620 ft · 56 sec · Buffalo Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North Roan Street

    1633 ft · 37 sec · North Roan Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto East Watauga Avenue

    1812 ft · 45 sec · East Watauga Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Oak Street

    135 m · 11 sec · Oak Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp straight

    962 ft · 24 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway

    13.7 mi · 16 min · James H. Quillen Parkway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 81 South: Knoxville

    1100 ft · 38 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    56.4 mi · 1 hr

  10. 10

    Continue on I 40 West: Knoxville

    1.1 km · 45 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    52.8 mi · 59 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Nashville

    109.6 mi · 1 hr 58 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward TN 53: Carthage, Gordonsville

    1218 ft · 31 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Gordonsville Highway

    4.8 mi · 8 min · Gordonsville Highway

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Upper Ferry Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Upper Ferry Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Main Street

    828 ft · 29 sec · Main Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto East 3rd Avenue

    42 m · 8 sec · East 3rd Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Futtrell Alley

    27 m · 6 sec · Futtrell Alley

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Futtrell Alley

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Johnson City and Carthage.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
19 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Nashville
110 mi · 46%
I 81 South
56.6 mi · 24%
I 40 West
53.5 mi · 22%
James H. Quillen Parkway
13.7 mi · 6%
Gordonsville Highway
4.83 mi · 2%
Upper Ferry Road
0.75 mi
Longest Stretch

Nashville

Keep slight right to continue on Nashville

110 mi · 01h 58m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 29m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40.1 mi
200.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Farragut
02h 14m from Johnson City
Leave By
8:02 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Johnson City and Sunny near Carthage.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Johnson City to Carthage?

The road trip is about 240.6 miles (387.2 km) and usually takes 04h 29m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Farragut is a useful midpoint, sitting about 120.2 miles from Johnson City and 120.5 miles from Carthage.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 200.5 miles (322.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:02 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.02 one way or $64.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 75.5 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Johnson City and Carthage, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Johnson City and Sunny near Carthage.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Johnson City and Carthage. Straight-line distance: 200.44 mi (322.58 km).

Johnson City

#1 Johnson City

The most populous city in Washington County, Tennessee.

Population66,906
Coordinates36.3134400, -82.3534700
Altitude498
CountryUnited States
Carthage

#2 Carthage

Town in Tennessee, USA

Population2,331
Coordinates36.2522800, -85.9516500
Altitude157
CountryUnited States
Start: Johnson City (-82.35347, 36.31344)
End: Carthage (-85.95165, 36.25228)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 387 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.49 gal
32.14 L · about $32.02
Round trip
$64.03
16.98 gal · 64.28 L
Estimated CO2
75.5 kg one way
Round trip: 150.9 kg / 333 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $32.02 $64.03
Mid-grade $4.25 $36.11 $72.22
Premium $4.65 $39.51 $79.02
Diesel $5.30 $45.03 $90.06

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Tennessee · Apr 23, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Johnson City, TN and Carthage, TN. The current time in Johnson City is 22:08:49, although it is 21:08:49 in Carthage.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.