Cost of Driving from Carbondale, Illinois to Clarksville, Tennessee based on Current Gas Prices

Are you gearing up for a road trip from Carbondale, Illinois to Clarksville, Tennessee? Well, chances are you’re wondering about how much it’ll cost you and how long it’ll take. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this blog post, we’ll be breaking down the cost and time of three possible routes you can take.

Route 1: Via I-24 W

The first route option is taking I-24 W, which is the most direct route from Carbondale to Clarksville. It’s approximately 207 miles and should take about 3 hours and 15 minutes without traffic. On this route, you’ll encounter a few toll booths on the way, but luckily they won’t break the bank. The toll fees would add up to around $6.20 in cash or $4.95 with an I-PASS.

Now, let’s talk about gas prices. As of September 9th, 2021, the average gas price in Illinois is $3.35, while in Tennessee, it’s $2.88. Assuming your car gets 25 miles per gallon and gas prices don’t change, you’d need about 8.28 gallons of gas for this trip. That means you’d spend roughly $27.77 on one-way gas.

Route 2: Via Western Kentucky Parkway

If you’re in the mood for a scenic route, you can take the Western Kentucky Parkway. This route is a bit longer coming in at approximately 272 miles and takes about 4 hours and 20 minutes without traffic. The toll on this route is also higher, with fees totaling $6.70, taking cash or card.

Regarding gas prices, you’d have to adjust your journey slightly to pass through Kentucky instead of the direct route through Illinois. The gas prices in Kentucky are currently $2.94 per gallon, just slightly higher than Tennessee’s. This longer trip means you’d need approximately 10.88 gallons of gas, which would cost you around $31.99 one-way.

Route 3: Via I-24 and KY-1681

Our third route option offers an alternative scenic route. You’ll take I-24 E for around 225 miles and then turn off to take KY-1681 for the remaining 32 miles. The total distance would be about 257 miles and take around 4 hours and 20 minutes without traffic. There are no tolls on this route.

The gas prices on this route are similar to our first route option, with gas prices in Illinois costing around $3.35 per gallon and gas prices in Tennessee costing around $2.88 per gallon. For this route, you’d need approximately 10.28 gallons of gas, costing approximately $34.54 one-way.

Conclusion

Suppose you’re planning a road trip from Carbondale, Illinois, to Clarksville, Tennessee. In that case, these three routes offer a good mix of directness and scenic drives. However, if you’re focused on the most economical and fastest travel, Route 1 through I-24 W is your best bet. Bon voyage!