Drive or Fly: Plainview, TN to Knoxville, TN?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for BNA–TYS. At 174 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 35m

Distance

174.8 mi

Total Cost

$74

CO2

71 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$39

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 25m

16m in the air

Air Distance

137 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Plainview, TN → BNA 52m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TYS → Knoxville, TN 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Plainview, TN BNA — Nashville International Airport 35 mi, ~52m drive

Knoxville, TN TYS — McGhee Tyson Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BNA and TYS. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	3h 35m	3h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$74	$125
Carbon footprint	71 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

174.8 mi 3h 34m

via I 40, US 70, SR 55

Alternative (+2 min)

194.2 mi 3h 37m

via I 40, I 840, I 24

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Plainview, TN to Knoxville, TN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.