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Trip from Chuckey, TN to Knoxville, TN

Data updated 5 hours ago

Drive Time

1h 33m

Distance

79.4 mi

128 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 27m ★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 48m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 37m
3 PM
1h 39m
5 PM
1h 47m
8 PM
1h 29m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Chuckey, TN, TN

Chuckey, TN

Kelly

city and county seat of Knox County, State of Tennessee, United States

Knoxville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 79.4-mile journey from Chuckey to Knoxville, Tennessee, can be comfortably completed in about 1 hour and 33 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. The drive, primarily on I-40 and I-81 with a segment on East Andrew Johnson Highway, is largely highway-focused, accounting for 69% of the route. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this trip is budget-friendly. Given its short duration and minimal stops, you won't need to break it up. Both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, offering a consistent feel throughout.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

39.7 miles from Chuckey, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 79.4-mile route, with 69% of it utilizing major interstates like I-40 and I-81. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 31.5 miles on I-40, providing a consistent pace. While much of the journey will be on faster roads, you'll also experience a portion on East Andrew Johnson Highway. This blend means you'll likely experience smooth cruising for significant periods, interspersed with moments on a more local highway feel as you approach Knoxville.

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 31.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 45.5 miles in near I 40.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79.4 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 45.5 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
45.5 mi into trip | ~54m in | I 40

Merge onto I 40

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
77.1 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in

Take the exit toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of Tennessee

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 388A; 389 Toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of Ten...
6
77.3 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in

Keep slight left at fork toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White Parkway, Downtown, University of Tennessee

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White P...
6
78.6 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in | TN 158 / Neyland Drive

Keep slight right at fork onto TN 158 / Neyland Drive toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University of Tennessee

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University o...
6
78.8 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in

Take the exit toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 31.5 mi 34m
I 81 22.7 mi 24m
East Andrew Johnson Highway 20.4 mi 24m
Chuckey Highway 2.1 mi 5m
James White Parkway 0.4 mi <1m
Cumberland Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Neyland Drive 0.1 mi <1m
Henley Street 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 31.5 mi, about 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chuckey, TN and Knoxville, TN.

1

Start on Chuckey Highway

2.1 mi · 5 min · Chuckey Highway
2

At end of road, turn left onto US 11E; US 321

20 mi · 24 min · East Andrew Johnson Highway
3

Turn left

0.3 mi · 39 sec
4

Merge onto I 81

22 mi · 23 min · I 81
5

Continue on I 81

0.7 mi · 45 sec · I 81
Exit 1B Toward I 40 West: Knoxville
6

Merge onto I 40

32 mi · 34 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 26 sec
Exit 388A; 389 Toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of Tennessee Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 2 min
Toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White Parkway, Downtown, University of Tennessee
9

Continue on TN 158

0.4 mi · 23 sec · James White Parkway
10

Keep slight right at fork onto TN 158

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Neyland Drive
Toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University of Tennessee
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue
12

Continue on Cumberland Avenue

0.3 mi · 37 sec · Cumberland Avenue
13

Turn left onto US 441

393 ft · 16 sec · Henley Street
14

Continue on US 441

255 ft · 11 sec · Henley Street
15

Arrive at destination

US 441

Trip Plan

Given the short 1 hour and 33-minute duration, you have a lot of flexibility with this 79.4-mile trip from Chuckey to Knoxville. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid the earliest rush hour traffic. The estimated fuel cost is around $12, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you leave, as there are no designated stops mentioned. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is 31.5 miles on I-40, so plan your immediate needs before embarking on that segment. This route is straightforward enough that you can easily manage it in one go.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.7 miles from Chuckey, TN, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.5 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 79.4 miles or 1h 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 39.7 miles or 48m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 18m

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 Chuckey, 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 Chuckey, TN

This is one driving day of about 79.4 miles and 1h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chuckey, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 31.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 39.7 mi from Chuckey, TN · 48m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kingsport, TN

40 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.

Popular next leg

Kingsport, TN to Knoxville, TN

96.8 mi · 1h 51m

Pacing Suggestions

Johnson, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 79.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kingsport, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.7 miles from Chuckey, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

National Park

Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour Free near mile 57.5
Park Closure: Abrams Falls Trail Closed
Park Closure: Seasonal road closures
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.41 one way

$24.83 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.63 $27.26
premium $4.89 $15.28 $30.56
diesel $5.61 $17.53 $35.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.8 0 $8.34 $3.81
Efficient EV 19.9 0 $6.95 $3.18
EV Truck/SUV 31.8 0 $11.12 $5.08

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (68% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Chuckey, TN

Night in Chuckey on Tuesday

Local time

10:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Knoxville, TN

Night in Knoxville on Tuesday

Local time

10:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

23 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

1h 33m 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 Chuckey, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 79.4 miles and takes about 1h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 81, East Andrew Johnson Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.7 miles from Chuckey, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.41 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79.4 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 45.5 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Chuckey, TN to Knoxville, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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