The drive from Collierville, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 381.5 miles and takes about 7h 1m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway, Downtown Loop for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 358.4 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $59.64 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
190.7 miles from Collierville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 30m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 1m. Total distance: 381.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 7h 1m highway drive covering 381.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 358.4 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 21 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 358.4 miles.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,976 ft305 ft
Total Climb
2,111 ft
Total Descent
1,594 ft
Highest Point
1,976 ft
~299.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,671 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 381.5 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 0.4 miles (TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 200.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
9
200.5 mi into trip|~3h 41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsv...
9
203.6 mi into trip|~3h 45m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 211A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattan...
6
380.3 mi into trip|~6h 59m in
Take the exit toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 388
Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee Histor...
7
380.7 mi into trip|~6h 59m 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...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Collierville, TN and Knoxville, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville and Chattanooga.
Huntsville
200.5 mi in|~3h 41m
Louisville
203.1 mi in|~3h 45m|via I 40
Chattanooga
203.1 mi in|~3h 45m|via I 40
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
358.4 mi
6h 28m
Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway
15.1 mi
17m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
4m
East Poplar Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
North Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
TN 57
0.2 mi
<1m
East Mulberry Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 358.4 mi, about 6h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Collierville, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on North Rowlett Street
321 ft·19 sec·North Rowlett Street
2
Turn right onto North Center Street
246 ft·12 sec·North Center Street
3
Turn right onto East Mulberry Street
382 ft·21 sec·East Mulberry Street
4
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North Main Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto TN 57
1.3 mi·2 min·East Poplar Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on TN 57
0.2 mi·19 sec·TN 57
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
8
Merge onto I 269
15 mi·17 min·Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 East: Nashville
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 East: Nashville
11
Merge onto I 40
182 mi·3 hr 15 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 208AToward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, HuntsvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 40
0.5 mi·42 sec·Downtown Loop
Exit 211B; 211AToward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksville, Louisville, Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
174 mi·3 hr 9 min·I 40
Exit 211AToward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi·3 min·I 40
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
19
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi·27 sec·Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
21
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 190.7 miles from Collierville, TN, or about 3h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 358.4 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 84 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 190.7 miles or 3h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 54m
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 Collierville, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Collierville, TN
This is one driving day of about 381.5 miles and 7h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Collierville, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 358.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 190.7 mi from Collierville, TN
· 3h 30m into the drive
The midpoint is around 190.7 miles from Collierville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 358.4 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Stones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 223.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.64 one way
$119.29 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg134 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$65.49
$130.97
premium
$4.89
$73.42
$146.83
diesel
$5.61
$84.23
$168.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 133.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
114.5
1
$40.06
$18.31
Efficient EV
95.4
1
$33.38
$15.26
EV Truck/SUV
152.6
1
$53.41
$24.42
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
45 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Collierville, TN
Afternoon
in Collierville on Friday
Local time
2:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Afternoon
in Knoxville on Friday
Local time
3:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Partly Sunny
SW 5 to 15 mph10% chanceLive 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
26 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 1m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Collierville, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 381.5 miles and takes about 7h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway, Downtown Loop. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 190.7 miles from Collierville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $59.64 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 381.5 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 0.4 miles (TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 200.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Collierville, TN and Knoxville, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville and Chattanooga.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 305 ft to 1,976 ft elevation with about 2,111 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Stones River National Battlefield.
