Origin
Belle Meade, TN
Evening in Belle Meade on Sunday
Local time
5:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Belle Meade, TN to Knoxville, TN
Drive Time
3h 27m
Distance
185.2 mi
298 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 15m
★
6 AM
3h 27m
8 AM
3h 52m
10 AM
3h 36m
12 PM
3h 33m
3 PM
3h 37m
5 PM
3h 51m
8 PM
3h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Knoxville, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Belle Meade, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 185.2 miles and takes about 3h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway, Hillsboro Pike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 174.1 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.13 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
92.6 miles from Belle Meade, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 45m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 3h 27m highway drive covering 185.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 174.1 miles on I 40.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 174.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 185.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
8.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 24 West: Nashville, Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 24 West: Nashville, Knoxville
8
9.1 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 24 West, I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 24 West, I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxvil...
8
9.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52B
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville
6
181.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 21m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
184.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 388
Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee Histor...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 174.1 mi | 3h 9m |
| Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Hillsboro Pike | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Harding Place | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Henley Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I 24 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 174.1 mi, about 3h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belle Meade, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on Harding Place
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Harding Place
Use the left lane.
2
Turn left onto US 431
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Hillsboro Pike
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 440 East: Knoxville
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 440
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 24 West: Nashville, Knoxville
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 24 West, I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
Use the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto I 24
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
I 24
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 52B
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 40
171 mi
·
3 hr 6 min
·
I 40
Use the none lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
I 40
Use the none lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 388
Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 388
Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
13
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 441
255 ft
·
11 sec
·
Henley Street
15
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 92.6 miles from Belle Meade, TN, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 174.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.6 miles or 1h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Knoxville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Belle Meade, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Belle Meade, TN
This is one driving day of about 185.2 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Belle Meade, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 174.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 92.6 mi from Belle Meade, TN · 1h 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 92.6 miles from Belle Meade, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 174.1 miles.
Arriving in Knoxville, TN
The final approach into Knoxville, TN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Knoxville, TN.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.13 one way
$56.26 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $31.01 | $62.02 |
| premium | $4.80 | $34.96 | $69.92 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $41.15 | $82.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.6 | 0 | $19.45 | $8.89 |
| Efficient EV | 46.3 | 0 | $16.21 | $7.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.1 | 0 | $25.93 | $11.85 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Evening in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
6:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
61°F
Johnson, TN
93 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 27m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Belle Meade, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 185.2 miles and takes about 3h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway, Hillsboro Pike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 92.6 miles from Belle Meade, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.13 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 185.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Belle Meade, TN to Knoxville, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Knoxville, TN
More trips to Knoxville, TN
Explore more options from Belle Meade, TN or browse trips ending in Knoxville, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.
Explore maps for Belle Meade, TN or Knoxville, TN on MapSof.net.