The drive from Knoxville, TN to Paris, TN covers 299.6 miles and takes about 5h 37m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, US 641, Downtown Loop for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 257.4 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.84 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
149.8 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 43m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 37m. Total distance: 299.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 37m highway drive covering 299.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and US 641. The longest continuous stretch is about 257.4 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 21 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 257.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 641. 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.
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 16 significant decision points across 299.6 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 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These 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 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 straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
8
177.1 mi into trip|~3h 14m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
7
180.4 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 West: Memphis
6
262.1 mi into trip|~4h 47m in
Take the exit toward US 641: Camden, Paris, Parsons
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 126
Toward US 641: Camden, Paris, Parsons
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Knoxville, TN and Paris, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Memphis, Louisville and Parsons.
Nashville
20.1 mi in|~24m|via I 40
Memphis
177.1 mi in|~3h 14m|via I 40
Louisville
178.2 mi in|~3h 15m|via I 40
Parsons
262.1 mi in|~4h 47m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
257.4 mi
4h 40m
US 641
34.9 mi
45m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
3m
Veterans Drive
0.9 mi
1m
Mineral Wells Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Western Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Memorial Drive
0.6 mi
<1m
Ailor Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 257.4 mi, about 4h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Paris, 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 straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
155 mi·2 hr 46 min·I 40
Toward NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·3 min·I 40
Exit 213BToward I 24 West, I 40 West: NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
0.4 mi·42 sec·I 40
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, MemphisUse the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 40
0.6 mi·52 sec·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 40
2.3 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Exit 210AToward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, LouisvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
82 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 40
Toward I 40 West: MemphisUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 126Toward US 641: Camden, Paris, Parsons
14
Keep slight right at fork
192 ft·4 sec
15
Merge onto US 641
35 mi·45 min·US 641
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 641
0.6 mi·59 sec·Memorial Drive
17
Turn right onto US 641
0.8 mi·1 min·Mineral Wells Avenue
18
Continue on US 641
0.9 mi·1 min·Veterans Drive
19
Turn straight onto US 641
0.1 mi·17 sec·South Market Street
20
Turn left onto SR 54; SR 69
96 ft·1 sec·West Wood Street
21
Arrive at destination
SR 54; SR 69
Trip Plan
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 149.8 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 2h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 257.4 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 66 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.8 miles or 2h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paris, 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 299.6 miles and 5h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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 257.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 149.8 mi from Knoxville, TN
· 2h 43m 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
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 155
Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donels...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 289.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.84 one way
$93.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$51.43
$102.85
premium
$4.89
$57.66
$115.31
diesel
$5.61
$66.15
$132.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.9
1
$31.46
$14.38
Efficient EV
74.9
0
$26.22
$11.98
EV Truck/SUV
119.8
1
$41.94
$19.17
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Knoxville, TN
Night
in Knoxville on Friday
Local time
9:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Paris, TN
Evening
in Paris on Friday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Lebanon, TN
150 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
3 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
5h 37m 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 Paris, TN covers 299.6 miles and takes about 5h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, US 641, Downtown Loop. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 149.8 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 $46.84 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 299.6 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 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Knoxville, TN and Paris, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Memphis, Louisville and Parsons.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Stones River National Battlefield and Fort Donelson National Battlefield.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
