How far is Knoxville, TN from Carthage, TN?

The driving distance from Knoxville, TN to Carthage, TN is about 135.6 miles (218.3 km), with a travel time of about 02h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 115.1 miles (185.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 05m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
135.66 mi
02h 32m
Flight
115.15 mi
185.31 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Knoxville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
115.15 mi
Kilometers
185.31 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
135.66 mi
Kilometers
218.33 km
Drive Time
02h 32m

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 02h 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Carthage
Fri, Apr 10, 7:19 PM CDT
Return by in Knoxville
Fri, Apr 10, 10:52 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Knoxville
2026-04-10T17:47
Arrive Carthage
Fri, Apr 10, 8:19 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:33 AM to 11:33 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:24 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Knoxville
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Crossville
TN

City in and county seat of Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States

From Knoxville
67.7 mi
01h 16m
To Carthage
67.9 mi
01h 16m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW
Destination
78°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 2:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville and Carthage.

  1. 1

    Start on Henley Street

    1056 ft · 20 sec · Henley Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Henley Street

    727 ft · 14 sec · Henley Street

  3. 3

    Turn slight left onto Western Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · Western Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Ailor Avenue

    2326 ft · 43 sec · Ailor Avenue

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight toward I 40 West, I 75 South

    1637 ft · 40 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    18.3 mi · 21 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Nashville

    109.6 mi · 1 hr 58 min

  8. 8

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

    1218 ft · 31 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Gordonsville Highway

    4.8 mi · 8 min · Gordonsville Highway

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Upper Ferry Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Upper Ferry Road

  11. 11

    Continue on Main Street

    828 ft · 29 sec · Main Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto East 3rd Avenue

    42 m · 8 sec · East 3rd Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Futtrell Alley

    27 m · 6 sec · Futtrell Alley

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Futtrell Alley

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
14 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Nashville
110 mi · 81%
I 40 West
18.6 mi · 14%
Gordonsville Highway
4.83 mi · 4%
Upper Ferry Road
0.75 mi · 1%
Western Avenue
0.68 mi · 1%
Ailor Avenue
0.44 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 comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 32m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20.5 mi
115.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Crossville
01h 16m from Knoxville
Leave By
1:24 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Knoxville and Sunny near Carthage.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Knoxville to Carthage?

The road trip is about 135.6 miles (218.3 km) and usually takes 02h 32m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Crossville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 67.7 miles from Knoxville and 67.9 miles from Carthage.

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

The direct path is about 115.1 miles (185.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 20.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:24 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.06 one way or $36.13 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 42.6 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Knoxville 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 Knoxville and Sunny near Carthage.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Knoxville and Carthage. Straight-line distance: 115.15 mi (185.31 km).

Knoxville

#1 Knoxville

The most populous city in Tennessee.

Population190,223
Coordinates35.9606400, -83.9207400
Altitude276
CountryUnited States
Carthage

#2 Carthage

Town in Tennessee, USA

Population2,331
Coordinates36.2522800, -85.9516500
Altitude157
CountryUnited States
Start: Knoxville (-83.92074, 35.96064)
End: Carthage (-85.95165, 36.25228)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 218 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.79 gal
18.12 L · about $18.06
Round trip
$36.13
9.58 gal · 36.24 L
Estimated CO2
42.6 kg one way
Round trip: 85.1 kg / 188 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $18.06 $36.13
Mid-grade $4.25 $20.37 $40.74
Premium $4.65 $22.29 $44.59
Diesel $5.30 $25.41 $50.81

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 10, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Knoxville, TN and Carthage, TN. The current time in Knoxville is 17:47:22, although it is 16:47:22 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.