Origin
Columbia, TN
Late night in Columbia on Wednesday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, TN to Knoxville, TN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 16m
Distance
221.3 mi
356 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 4m
★
6 AM
3h 16m
8 AM
3h 40m
10 AM
3h 24m
12 PM
3h 22m
3 PM
3h 26m
5 PM
3h 39m
8 PM
3h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Knoxville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Columbia, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 221.3 miles and takes about 3h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Garden Street, Nashville Highway, Bear Creek Pike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.60 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
110.7 miles from Columbia, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 16m drive with frequent turns across 221.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Garden Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 16m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbia, TN to Knoxville, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Garden Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nashville Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bear Creek Pike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 840 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 840 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Convention Center | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Garden Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on West 7th Street
79 ft
·
6 sec
·
West 7th Street
2
Turn right onto North Garden Street
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Garden Street
3
Continue on Nashville Highway
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Nashville Highway
4
Turn right onto Bear Creek Pike
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Bear Creek Pike
5
Take the exit left
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
6
Merge slight left
12 mi
·
12 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 840: Memphis, Knoxville
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 840: Memphis, Knoxville
8
Keep slight right to continue on 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro
9
Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway
45 mi
·
48 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
10
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
11
Merge slight left
149 mi
·
2 hr 42 min
12
Keep slight left
2.9 mi
·
3 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
14
Keep slight left to continue on Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
15
Continue on Henley Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Henley Street
16
Continue on Henley Street
256 ft
·
12 sec
·
Henley Street
17
Arrive at your destination
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 110.7 miles from Columbia, TN, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
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 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.7 miles or 1h 38m 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 40m
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 Columbia, 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 Columbia, TN
This is one driving day of about 221.3 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Columbia, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 110.7 mi from Columbia, TN · 1h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
111 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 110.7 miles from Columbia, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.60 one way
$69.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
77 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $37.99 | $75.97 |
| premium | $4.89 | $42.59 | $85.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $48.86 | $97.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.4 | 0 | $23.24 | $10.62 |
| Efficient EV | 55.3 | 0 | $19.36 | $8.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 88.5 | 1 | $30.98 | $14.16 |
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Morning in Knoxville on Wednesday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
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 16m 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 Columbia, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 221.3 miles and takes about 3h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Garden Street, Nashville Highway, Bear Creek Pike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 110.7 miles from Columbia, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.60 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 straightforward 3h 16m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbia, TN to Knoxville, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Columbia, TN to Knoxville, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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