Origin
Knoxville, TN
Afternoon in Knoxville on Wednesday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Knoxville, TN to Oak Ridge, TN
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
31m
Distance
24.2 mi
39 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Knoxville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Oak Ridge, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Knoxville, TN to Oak Ridge, TN covers 24.2 miles and takes about 31m 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 $3.78 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
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
12.1 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 31m drive with frequent turns across 24.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Henley Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Knoxville, TN to Oak Ridge, TN is easy. At 31m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Knoxville, TN to Oak Ridge, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Henley Street | — | — |
| Western Avenue | — | — |
| Ailor Avenue | — | — |
| I 40 West | — | — |
| I 140 East | — | — |
| SR 162 North | — | — |
| Pellissippi Parkway | — | — |
| Oak Ridge Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Henley Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Oak Ridge, TN.
1
Start on Henley Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Henley Street
2
Continue on Henley Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Henley Street
3
Turn slight left onto Western Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Western Avenue
4
Turn left onto Ailor Avenue
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Ailor Avenue
5
Take the ramp straight toward I 40 West, I 75 South
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 40 West, I 75 South
6
Merge slight left
9.8 mi
·
11 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 140 East, SR 162 North: Maryville, Oak Ridge
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
I 140 East, SR 162 North: Maryville, Oak Ridge
8
Keep slight right to continue on SR 162 North: Oak Ridge
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
SR 162 North: Oak Ridge
9
Merge slight left onto Pellissippi Parkway
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Pellissippi Parkway
10
Continue on Oak Ridge Highway
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Oak Ridge Highway
11
Continue on South Illinois Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Illinois Avenue
12
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 12.1 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 15m into the drive.
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 24 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 12.1 miles or 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oak Ridge, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Knoxville, TN.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Knoxville, TN
This is one driving day of about 24.2 miles and 31m.
At 24.2 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 12.1 mi from Knoxville, TN · 15m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 12.1 miles from Knoxville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Oak Ridge, TN
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Oak Ridge, TN if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.78 one way
$7.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.15 | $8.31 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.66 | $9.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.34 | $10.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.54 | $1.16 |
| Efficient EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.12 | $0.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.39 | $1.55 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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.
Destination
Oak Ridge, TN
Afternoon in Oak Ridge on Wednesday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
25 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
31m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Knoxville, TN to Oak Ridge, TN covers 24.2 miles and takes about 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Henley Street, Western Avenue, Ailor Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.1 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 $3.78 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Knoxville, TN to Oak Ridge, TN is easy. At 31m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Knoxville, TN to Oak Ridge, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Knoxville, TN to Oak Ridge, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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