This 115-mile drive from Elizabethton, TN to Knoxville, TN is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 14 minutes. With 90% of the route on highways, it's a very efficient trip, making it perfect for a single-day excursion. Budget around $18 for fuel, and you'll find this drive offers a practical way to travel between two points in the Southeast region. There are no designated stops in the data, so you can be flexible with your schedule. This route is ideal if you're looking for a quick and uncomplicated connection between these Tennessee cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.5 miles from Elizabethton, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 115 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 115-mile trip, with I-81, I-40, and the James H. Quillen Parkway forming the backbone. With 90% of the drive on highways, you'll experience predominantly fast-paced travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 57.1 miles on I-81, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. While primarily interstate, the inclusion of the James H. Quillen Parkway might introduce some variation in scenery or road type before you reach your destination. This is a drive built for efficiency rather than winding backroads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 57.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Riverside Drive.
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 13 significant decision points across 115 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 0.1 miles (North Riverside Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 112.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 112.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North Riverside Drive
Turn right onto North Riverside Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
112.7 mi into trip|~2h 9m 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
112.9 mi into trip|~2h 10m 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
114.2 mi into trip|~2h 12m 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
114.4 mi into trip|~2h 12m 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 81
57.1 mi
1h 1m
I 40
31.5 mi
34m
James H. Quillen Parkway
15.1 mi
18m
West Elk Avenue
7.4 mi
12m
Broad Street
0.6 mi
1m
James White Parkway
0.4 mi
<1m
Cumberland Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
North Sycamore Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 57.1 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabethton, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on this road
32 ft·1 sec·this road
2
Continue on East Elk Avenue
0.1 mi·13 sec·East Elk Avenue
3
Turn right onto North Riverside Drive
286 ft·12 sec·North Riverside Drive
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on East E Street
445 ft·23 sec·East E Street
5
Turn right onto North Sycamore Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·North Sycamore Street
6
Turn left onto US 321; SR 67
0.6 mi·1 min·Broad Street
7
Continue on US 321; SR 67
7.4 mi·12 min·West Elk Avenue
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
9
Merge onto I 26; US 19W; US 23
15 mi·18 min·James H. Quillen Parkway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Exit 8AToward I 81 South: Knoxville
11
Merge onto I 81
56 mi·1 hr·I 81
12
Continue on I 81
0.7 mi·45 sec·I 81
Exit 1BToward I 40 West: Knoxville
13
Merge onto I 40
32 mi·34 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·26 sec
Exit 388A; 389Toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of TennesseeUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·2 min
Toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White Parkway, Downtown, University of Tennessee
16
Continue on TN 158
0.4 mi·23 sec·James White Parkway
17
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 158
0.1 mi·14 sec·Neyland Drive
Toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University of Tennessee
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue
19
Continue on Cumberland Avenue
0.3 mi·37 sec·Cumberland Avenue
20
Turn left onto US 441
393 ft·16 sec·Henley Street
21
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
22
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
Given the short 2-hour and 14-minute duration for this 115-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility. Consider leaving Elizabethton in the morning to arrive in Knoxville with ample time for your day. With a fuel cost estimate of $18, planning your gas stops is straightforward. Since there are no suggested stops, you can make spontaneous breaks as needed. A key tip for this route is to stay aware of potential traffic on I-40 as you approach Knoxville, especially during peak commuting hours. This highway-focused drive means you can cover ground quickly, so keep an eye on your watch if you have onward plans.
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 57.5 miles from Elizabethton, TN, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.1 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 25 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.5 miles or 1h 10m 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 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 Elizabethton, 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 Elizabethton, TN
This is one driving day of about 115 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Elizabethton, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 57.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.5 mi from Elizabethton, TN
· 1h 10m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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 95.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.98 one way
$35.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.74
$39.48
premium
$4.89
$22.13
$44.26
diesel
$5.61
$25.39
$50.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
2 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
Mercedes-Benz Charging Station
Kodak, Tennessee
Other
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Kodak, Tennessee
Tesla
1 DCFC
Other: 1
Tesla: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.5
0
$12.08
$5.52
Efficient EV
28.8
0
$10.06
$4.60
EV Truck/SUV
46
0
$16.10
$7.36
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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 as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Elizabethton, TN
Afternoon
in Elizabethton on Friday
Local time
2:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Afternoon
in Knoxville on Friday
Local time
2:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
0 mph1% 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
15 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
2h 14m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Elizabethton, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 115 miles and takes about 2h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, I 40, James H. Quillen Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.5 miles from Elizabethton, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.98 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 is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 115 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 0.1 miles (North Riverside Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 112.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 112.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Elizabethton, TN to Knoxville, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
