"Calculating the Cost of a Road Trip from Bristol, Tennessee to Barbourville, Kentucky in Today's Gas Prices"
Are you ready to take a road trip from Bristol, Tennessee, to Barbourville, Kentucky? Before you pack your bags and hit the road, you need to know how much it will cost you. In this article, we'll explore the different possible routes you can take, the approximate distance of each route, and the cost of gasoline for your trip based on current gas prices. We'll also recommend the best route to take and calculate the total cost of your trip.
Possible Routes
The trip between Bristol, Tennessee, and Barbourville, Kentucky, can take approximately three hours and cover approximately 150 miles if you take the direct route. However, you have three possible route options: two of them are through Tennessee, and the other one is through Virginia.
The first and most direct route is taking TN-11E and then US 25E North. This route is approximately 150 miles long.
Another route is taking I-81 N and then taking 40 E. This alternative takes a longer distance of approximately 174 miles.
The third route is also an interesting one, taking VA-75 S/US-58 W and then US-25E S. This path has an approximate distance of 165 miles.
Now that you know all your options, let's analyze and break down the cost of each route to determine which one could be the best for you.
Calculating the Cost of Gas
Before you hit the road, you need to know the price of gas. According to AAA, the average gas price per gallon in the area as of July 2021 is $2.98. You can use the information to calculate the cost of gas for each route.
Based on the miles per gallon (MPG) of your vehicle, you need to calculate the total amount of gasoline it will take for each route. For this demonstration, we'll use the assumption that the average vehicle has a fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon, and the tank size is 15 gallons.
| Direct Route (TN-11E and US-25E North) | I-81 N and 40 E | VA-75 S/US-58 W and US-25E S | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance (Miles) | 150 | 174 | 165 |
| Estimated Fuel Consumption (Gallons) | 6 | 6.96 | 6.6 |
| Total Gasoline Cost | $17.9 | $20.7 | $19.68 |
As you can see, driving the direct route will cost you around $17.9, while driving through Virginia will cost you about $19.68. It is worth noting that the longer route through I-81 N and 40 E might cost more in gasoline, but on the other hand, you would be driving on a highway that might offer better road conditions and speed limits that might save you time. Now that we know the approximate cost of gas let's choose the best route based on this information.
Choosing the Best Route
Based on the previous analysis, it is clear that all three routes are affordable price wise, but the cost is not the only factor to consider when choosing the best route for your trip. Driving on two-lane roads, for example, could be more challenging and take longer than driving on high-speed highways.
Given this fact, we can advise driving on the first route, which is the most direct and might have a shorter route time. Driving north through US-25E is a straight stretch of road that covers mountainous landscapes and the countryside. It is an impressive and scenic road that provides good access to small towns in the area and lots of spots where you can stop and rest.
Conclusion
To calculate the cost of your trip from Bristol, Tennessee, to Barbourville, Kentucky, you need to consider the average gas price and the miles per gallon of your vehicle. According to our calculations, the direct route costs less than $18. Whether you spend more will depend on the MPG of your car and the number of stops you make along the trip.
Regarding the route to take, we suggest driving north on TN-11E and then taking US-25E. It might have the shortest possible time, a pretty scenic route with exciting mountain views, and overall an affordable and enjoyable road trip.