The drive from Jackson, TN to Newport, TN covers 355.8 miles and takes about 6h 33m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, Whitehall Street, US 25W for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 341.3 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.63 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
177.9 miles from Jackson, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 15m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 33m. Total distance: 355.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 33m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 33m highway drive covering 355.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Whitehall Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 341.3 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 20 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 341.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Whitehall Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.8 miles in near I 40.
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 17 significant decision points across 355.8 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 6.8 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.6 miles (I 40; I 65 / Downtown Loop): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
6.8 mi into trip|~10m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
9
127.3 mi into trip|~2h 19m 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...
5
127.6 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|I 40; I 65 / Downtown Loop
Merge onto I 40; I 65 / Downtown Loop
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
130.5 mi into trip|~2h 24m 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
304.3 mi into trip|~5h 33m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jackson, TN and Newport, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Huntsville
127.3 mi in|~2h 19m
Louisville
130 mi in|~2h 23m|via I 40
Knoxville
130 mi in|~2h 23m|via I 40
Chattanooga
130 mi in|~2h 23m|via I 40
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
341.3 mi
6h 11m
Whitehall Street
4 mi
6m
US 25W
4 mi
6m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
4m
US 70
1.8 mi
2m
East Main Street
1 mi
1m
North Cosby Highway
<0.1 mi
<1m
McMahan Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 341.3 mi, about 6h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, TN and Newport, TN.
1
Start on East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 70
1.8 mi·2 min·US 70
3
Turn right onto US 70
4.0 mi·6 min·Whitehall Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
5
Merge onto I 40
121 mi·2 hr 9 min·I 40
Use the straight lane.
6
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.
7
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
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.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·40 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
10 mi·11 min·I 40
Toward I 40 East: Asheville
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward US 411 South: Sevierville
13
Keep slight left at fork
261 ft·8 sec
14
Turn left onto US 25W; US 70; US 411
0.3 mi·28 sec·US 25W; US 70; US 411
15
Turn straight onto US 25W; US 70
3.7 mi·5 min·US 25W; US 70
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto North Cosby Highway
402 ft·6 sec·North Cosby Highway
Use the left lane.
17
At end of road, turn right onto East Main Street
0.3 mi·22 sec·East Main Street
18
Turn right onto US 321
235 ft·6 sec·McMahan Avenue
19
Turn right
56 ft·4 sec
20
Arrive at destination
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 177.9 miles from Jackson, TN, or about 3h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 341.3 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 78 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.9 miles or 3h 15m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Newport, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jackson, 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 Jackson, TN
This is one driving day of about 355.8 miles and 6h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Jackson, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 341.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 177.9 mi from Jackson, TN
· 3h 15m 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.
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
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 147.2
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...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 331.3
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
106.7
1
$37.36
$17.08
Efficient EV
89
1
$31.13
$14.23
EV Truck/SUV
142.3
1
$49.81
$22.77
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
42 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 17, 2026
Origin
Jackson, TN
Afternoon
in Jackson on Friday
Local time
12:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny
S 0 to 10 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Newport, TN
Afternoon
in Newport on Friday
Local time
1:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Sparta, TN
178 mi in
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
44 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
6h 33m 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 Jackson, TN to Newport, TN covers 355.8 miles and takes about 6h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Whitehall Street, US 25W. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 177.9 miles from Jackson, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $55.63 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 1 meaningful break 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 17 significant decision points across 355.8 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 6.8 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.6 miles (I 40; I 65 / Downtown Loop): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Jackson, TN and Newport, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
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.
