Origin
Germantown, TN
Afternoon in Germantown on Sunday
Local time
3:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Germantown, TN to Knoxville, TN
Drive Time
7h 1m
Distance
379.9 mi
611 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$58
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 50m
★
6 AM
7h 2m
8 AM
7h 24m
10 AM
7h 10m
12 PM
7h 7m
3 PM
7h 11m
5 PM
7h 23m
8 PM
6h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Germantown, TN
Kelly
Knoxville, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Spanning 379.9 miles across Tennessee, this trek from Germantown to Knoxville typically takes about 7 hours and 1 minute of pure driving time. While it is feasible to complete this journey in a single day, be prepared for a significant amount of time behind the wheel. You will primarily navigate via I-40, along with segments of the Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway and South Germantown Parkway. Budgeting approximately $58 for fuel is a smart way to prepare for the costs ahead. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent cultural feel throughout your trip, making this a straightforward interstate transit across the state.
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
189.9 miles from Germantown, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition from local roads to major thoroughfares. Approximately 48% of your journey consists of highway travel, which provides a steady rhythm to your day. You will spend a substantial portion of your time on the Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch at 190.6 miles. This long segment requires you to stay focused on the interstate flow, contrasting with the initial navigation through local parkways. The road’s personality shifts from the suburban exits near Germantown to the more expansive, high-speed stretches that define the cross-state transit toward Knoxville.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 190.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near South Germantown Road.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 379.9 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 0.5 miles (South Germantown Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 198.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 202 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South Germantown Road
At end of road, turn right onto South Germantown Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
9
198.9 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
202 mi into trip
|
~3h 46m 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
375.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 56m 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
379.1 mi into trip
|
~7h 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 Along This Route
Between Germantown, TN and Knoxville, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville and Chattanooga.
Huntsville
198.9 mi in
|
~3h 41m
Louisville
201.5 mi in
|
~3h 45m
|
via I 40
Chattanooga
201.5 mi in
|
~3h 45m
|
via I 40
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway | 190.6 mi | 3h 25m |
| I 40 | 176.7 mi | 3h 13m |
| South Germantown Parkway | 5.2 mi | 8m |
| Downtown Loop | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| South Germantown Road | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Henley Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Dogwood Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Southern Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
— 190.6 mi, about 3h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Germantown, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on Southern Avenue
0.1 mi
·
41 sec
·
Southern Avenue
2
Turn left onto Johnny Lane
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
·
Johnny Lane
3
Turn left onto Dogwood Road
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Dogwood Road
4
At end of road, turn right onto South Germantown Road
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
South Germantown Road
Use the none lane.
5
Continue on TN 177
5.2 mi
·
8 min
·
South Germantown Parkway
Use the none lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
7
Merge onto I 40
191 mi
·
3 hr 25 min
·
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Downtown Loop
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 40
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Downtown Loop
Exit 211B; 211A
Toward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksville, Louisville, Knoxville, Chattanooga
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
174 mi
·
3 hr 9 min
·
I 40
Exit 211A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
I 40
Use the none lane.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 388
Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 388
Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
15
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 441
255 ft
·
11 sec
·
Henley Street
17
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
To manage this 7-hour drive effectively, plan for at least 2 scheduled stops to stretch your legs and refresh. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue, especially since you have a substantial 379.9-mile distance to cover. Given the length of the longest stretch, make sure your vehicle is fueled up before hitting the open highway to avoid unnecessary detours. Because this is a single-day trip, having flexibility in your schedule allows you to adjust for traffic or weather conditions along the I-40 corridor. Prioritize keeping your stops efficient, as the duration can easily extend if you linger too long at each break.
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 189.9 miles from Germantown, TN, or about 3h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 190.6 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 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.9 miles or 3h 32m 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 Germantown, 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 Germantown, TN
This is one driving day of about 379.9 miles and 7h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Germantown, 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 Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway for about 190.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 189.9 mi from Germantown, TN · 3h 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
190 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 84 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 189.9 miles from Germantown, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 190.6 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
$57.70 one way
$115.41 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
133 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $63.61 | $127.22 |
| premium | $4.80 | $71.72 | $143.43 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $84.40 | $168.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 114 | 1 | $39.89 | $18.24 |
| Efficient EV | 95 | 1 | $33.24 | $15.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 152 | 1 | $53.19 | $24.31 |
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Afternoon in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
4:50 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
4 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
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 Germantown, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 379.9 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 Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, I 40, South Germantown Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 189.9 miles from Germantown, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $57.70 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 11 significant decision points across 379.9 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 0.5 miles (South Germantown Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 198.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 202 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Germantown, TN and Knoxville, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville and Chattanooga.
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