Origin
Loretto, TN
Evening in Loretto on Wednesday
Local time
5:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Loretto, TN to Knoxville, TN
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
4h 22m
Distance
270.8 mi
436 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 9m
★
6 AM
4h 23m
8 AM
4h 49m
10 AM
4h 32m
12 PM
4h 29m
3 PM
4h 33m
5 PM
4h 48m
8 PM
4h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Loretto, TN
Kelly
Knoxville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Loretto, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 270.8 miles and takes about 4h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Church Street, South Military Street, Andrew Jackson Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.34 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
135.4 miles from Loretto, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 22m drive with frequent turns across 270.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Church 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 22m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Loretto, TN to Knoxville, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Church Street | — | — |
| South Military Street | — | — |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | — | — |
| South Locust Avenue | — | — |
| Lawrenceburg Highway | — | — |
| I 840 | — | — |
| 840 | — | — |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Church Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Loretto, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn left onto Church Street
505 ft
·
25 sec
·
Church Street
3
Turn left onto South Military Street
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
South Military Street
4
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
5
Continue on South Locust Avenue
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
South Locust Avenue
6
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
7
Continue on Lawrenceburg Highway
31 mi
·
35 min
·
Lawrenceburg Highway
8
Take the exit left
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
9
Merge slight left
12 mi
·
12 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 840: Memphis, Knoxville
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 840: Memphis, Knoxville
11
Keep slight right to continue on 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro
12
Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway
45 mi
·
48 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
13
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
14
Merge slight left
149 mi
·
2 hr 42 min
15
Keep slight left
2.9 mi
·
3 min
16
Take the exit slight right toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
17
Keep slight left to continue on Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
18
Continue on Henley Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Henley Street
19
Continue on Henley Street
256 ft
·
12 sec
·
Henley Street
20
Arrive at your destination
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 135.4 miles from Loretto, TN, or about 2h 11m 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 60 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.4 miles or 2h 11m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Knoxville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Loretto, 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 Loretto, TN
This is one driving day of about 270.8 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Loretto, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 135.4 mi from Loretto, TN · 2h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
135 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 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 135.4 miles from Loretto, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Knoxville, TN
The final approach into Knoxville, 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 Knoxville, TN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.34 one way
$84.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
95 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $46.48 | $92.97 |
| premium | $4.89 | $52.11 | $104.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $59.79 | $119.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.2 | 1 | $28.43 | $13.00 |
| Efficient EV | 67.7 | 0 | $23.70 | $10.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 108.3 | 1 | $37.91 | $17.33 |
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Evening in Knoxville on Wednesday
Local time
6:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Lebanon, TN
135 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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
12 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 22m 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 Loretto, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 270.8 miles and takes about 4h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Church Street, South Military Street, Andrew Jackson Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 135.4 miles from Loretto, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.34 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 straightforward 4h 22m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Loretto, TN to Knoxville, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Loretto, TN to Knoxville, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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