Drive Time
2h 40m
Distance
180.4 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
Photo: MINEIA MARTINS
The drive from Knoxville, TN to Nashville, TN covers 180.4 miles and takes about 2h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Henley Street, Western Avenue, Ailor Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.78 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
90.2 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 40m drive with frequent turns across 180.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Henley Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Western Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ailor Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nashville | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 24 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Downtown Loop | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| James Robertson Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Nashville, TN.
Start on Henley Street
Continue on Henley Street
Turn slight left onto Western Avenue
Turn left onto Ailor Avenue
Take the ramp straight toward I 40 West, I 75 South
Merge slight left
Keep slight right to continue on Nashville
Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop
Take the exit straight toward James Robertson Parkway, State Capitol
Turn straight onto James Robertson Parkway
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue North
Turn right onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard
Turn right onto 7th Avenue North
Arrive at your destination
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 80 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.2 miles or 1h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nashville, 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 180.4 miles and 2h 40m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 90.2 mi from Knoxville, TN · 1h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 90.2 miles from Knoxville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Nashville, 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 Nashville, TN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$26.78 one way
$53.57 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $30.21 | $60.41 |
| premium | $4.65 | $33.05 | $66.11 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $37.67 | $75.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.1 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.1 | 0 | $18.94 | $8.66 |
| Efficient EV | 45.1 | 0 | $15.79 | $7.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72.2 | 0 | $25.26 | $11.55 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Knoxville on Saturday
Local time
7:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Nashville on Saturday
Local time
6:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
61°F
Johnson, TN
90 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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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.
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