Origin
Knoxville, TN
Evening in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
6:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
56m
Distance
47.7 mi
77 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Knoxville, TN
Kelly
Bean Station, TN
Haberdoedas Photography
If you are planning to head from Knoxville to Bean Station, you are looking at a manageable 47.7-mile journey that typically takes about 56 minutes. This route serves as a straightforward day trip, requiring only a single day to complete comfortably without the need for an overnight stay. You will navigate the transition from the city using a combination of I-40 East and US 11W. With an estimated fuel cost of just $7, it is an economical trip for those looking to reach their destination quickly. Since both locations are situated within the Southeast, the drive maintains a consistent regional feel throughout the transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
23.9 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you start your journey on I-40, the route quickly transitions into a more technical driving experience as you navigate toward Bean Station. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a drive that relies on local roads rather than high-speed, limited-access corridors. This setup requires you to stay alert behind the wheel as the road conditions shift from the initial highway segments into the more winding local sections. You will find that the lack of long, uninterrupted stretches keeps the drive engaging from start to finish.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.7 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward I 40, I 275 North: Nashville, Asheville, Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Asheville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward US 11W: Knoxville Zoo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight right at fork toward US 11W: Mascot, Blaine, Rutledge, Bean Station
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto Old US 11W / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Between Knoxville, TN and Bean Station, TN, road signs point toward Blaine and Rutledge.
Blaine
Rutledge
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Rutledge Pike | 28.5 mi | 32m |
| Lee Highway | 11.5 mi | 13m |
| I 40 | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Appalachian Highway | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Henley Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Bean Station, TN.
Start on US 441
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 40
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on US 11W
Continue on US 11W; SR 1
Merge onto US 11W; US 25E; SR 1; SR 32; ADHS S
Turn left onto Old US 11W
Arrive at destination
Because this is a short 56-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. You won't need to worry about complex refueling strategies or long-haul rest stops, as the $7 fuel budget covers the entire distance easily. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, try to avoid traveling during peak congestion hours to ensure a smoother experience on the local roads. Since there are no designated stops required, you can focus on a steady pace that gets you to Bean Station efficiently. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition from the interstate to US 11W to ensure you maintain your heading without unnecessary detours.
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.
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 47.7 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 23.9 miles or 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bean Station, TN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Knoxville, 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 Knoxville, TN
This is one driving day of about 47.7 miles and 56m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.9 mi from Knoxville, TN · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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.
A short stop after about 47.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 23.9 miles from Knoxville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Bean Station, 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 Bean Station, TN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$7.25 one way
$14.49 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $7.99 | $15.97 |
| premium | $4.80 | $9.00 | $18.01 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.60 | $21.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.68 | $3.05 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
6:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Bean Station on Sunday
Local time
6:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Along the Route
61°F
Johnson, TN
24 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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