Origin
Knoxville, TN
Afternoon in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
4:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Knoxville, TN to Clarksville, TN
Drive Time
4h 12m
Distance
225 mi
362 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 59m
★
6 AM
4h 12m
8 AM
4h 38m
10 AM
4h 21m
12 PM
4h 19m
3 PM
4h 23m
5 PM
4h 37m
8 PM
4h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Knoxville, TN
Kelly
Clarksville, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Traveling from Knoxville to Clarksville spans 225 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 12 minutes of active driving time. Because this route relies on a turn-heavy local road profile rather than major interstates, it is best approached as a dedicated one-day trip. Budget approximately $34 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Tennessee cities. Since both locations are situated within the Southeast, the transit remains entirely regional. Whether you are commuting or exploring, this trip is manageable in a single stretch, though you should plan for at least one stop to break up the navigation through the local corridors.
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
112.5 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a significantly different experience than a standard interstate commute, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate primarily via Henley Street, Western Avenue, and Ailor Avenue, resulting in a turn-heavy drive that requires your full attention. Because the path avoids major high-speed thoroughfares, the road feel is consistently technical rather than monotonous. You will spend the entire 225-mile journey on local roads, making the drive feel intimate and grounded in the landscape. Prepare for frequent adjustments to your speed and direction throughout the duration of the trip.
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 175.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20.1 miles in near I 40.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 225 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 20.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 177.1 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
20.1 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Nashville
9
174.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 10m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
9
177.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 14m in
|
I 24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24 toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 211
Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
7
181.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 20m in
|
I 24
Take the exit onto I 24 toward I 24 West: Clarksville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 88
Toward I 24 West: Clarksville
6
219.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 2m in
|
US 41A / Madison Street
Turn right onto US 41A / Madison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Towns Along This Route
Between Knoxville, TN and Clarksville, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Louisville.
Nashville
20.1 mi in
|
~24m
|
via I 40
Louisville
177.1 mi in
|
~3h 14m
|
via I 24
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 175.3 mi | 3h 11m |
| I 24 | 36.4 mi | 40m |
| Madison Street | 4.7 mi | 8m |
| TN 76 | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| Downtown Loop | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Western Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Ailor Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| University Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 175.3 mi, about 3h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Clarksville, TN.
1
Start on US 441
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Henley Street
2
Continue on US 441
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Henley Street
3
Turn slight left onto SR 62
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Western Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto Ailor Avenue
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Ailor Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 40 West, I 75 South
6
Merge onto I 40
18 mi
·
21 min
·
I 40
Use the none lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
155 mi
·
2 hr 46 min
·
I 40
Toward Nashville
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
I 40
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 24
Exit 211
Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 24
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Downtown Loop
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 24
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 24
Exit 46A
Toward I 24 West, I 65 North: Clarksville, Louisville
Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
12
Take the exit onto I 24
34 mi
·
36 min
·
I 24
Exit 88
Toward I 24 West: Clarksville
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward TN 76
14
Keep slight left at fork
283 ft
·
9 sec
15
Continue on TN 76
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
TN 76
16
Turn right onto US 41A
4.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Madison Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto US 41A
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
University Avenue
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 41A; SR 48
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
College Street
19
Turn left onto North 2nd Street
134 ft
·
2 sec
·
North 2nd Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Arrive at destination
North 2nd Street
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 4-hour and 12-minute drive, prioritize departing during daylight hours to maintain better visibility on local roads. You should plan for at least one scheduled stop to stretch your legs and reset, as the constant navigation demands more focus than a highway cruise. Keep your $34 fuel budget in mind when planning your refueling points, as local road driving can sometimes affect your vehicle's efficiency differently than steady highway cruising. Since this is a single-day journey, take advantage of the route's flexibility to pace yourself comfortably. A key tip for this specific drive is to carefully map your turns on Henley, Western, and Ailor ahead of time, as the high concentration of turns makes constant GPS monitoring essential.
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 112.5 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 175.3 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.5 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarksville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 225 miles and 4h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Knoxville, 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 175.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 112.5 mi from Knoxville, TN · 2h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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 112.5 miles from Knoxville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 175.3 miles.
Arriving in Clarksville, TN
The final approach into Clarksville, 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 Clarksville, 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
$34.18 one way
$68.35 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $37.67 | $75.35 |
| premium | $4.80 | $42.48 | $84.95 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $49.99 | $99.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.5 | 0 | $23.63 | $10.80 |
| Efficient EV | 56.3 | 0 | $19.69 | $9.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90 | 1 | $31.50 | $14.40 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% 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
Clarksville, TN
Afternoon in Clarksville on Sunday
Local time
3:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
2 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
4h 12m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Knoxville, TN to Clarksville, TN covers 225 miles and takes about 4h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 24, Madison Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 112.5 miles from Knoxville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.18 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 225 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 20.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 177.1 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Knoxville, TN and Clarksville, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Louisville.
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