Trip from Midtown, TN to Knoxville, TN

Q: What are the main roads on this route?

The main roads are I 40, Roane State Highway, Henley Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Q: Is this a good same-day trip?

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Q: Where should I stop halfway?

The midpoint is about 19.8 miles from Midtown, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

Q: How much does gas cost for this trip?

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.19 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Q: What is the best time to leave?

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Q: What towns show up on signs driving from Midtown, TN to Knoxville, TN?

The route from Midtown, TN to Knoxville, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

46m

Distance

39.6 mi

64 km

Drive Score

5/10

Practical drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min

4 AM

0h 42m ★

6 AM

0h 46m

8 AM

0h 54m

10 AM

0h 49m

12 PM

0h 48m

3 PM

0h 49m

5 PM

0h 54m

8 PM

0h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Midtown, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 39.6 miles and takes about 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 40, Roane State Highway, Henley Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.7 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.19 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 39.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

46m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 46m highway drive covering 39.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and Roane State Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 36.7 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 11 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 36.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Roane State Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near SR 29 / Pine Ridge Road.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 46m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles (SR 29 / Pine Ridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4

1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in | SR 29 / Pine Ridge Road

Turn right onto SR 29 / Pine Ridge Road

Navigation decision point

5

1.8 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 40

Merge onto I 40

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

4

35.6 mi into trip | ~40m in | I 40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

6

38.5 mi into trip | ~44m in

Take the exit toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 388 Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee Histor...

7

38.9 mi into trip | ~44m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 388 Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee Histor...

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 40	36.7 mi	41m
Roane State Highway	1.4 mi	2m
Henley Street	0.3 mi	<1m
Pine Ridge Road	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 40 — 36.7 mi, about 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Midtown, TN and Knoxville, TN.

1

Start on US 70

1.4 mi · 2 min · Roane State Highway

2

Turn left

54 ft · 4 sec

3

Turn right onto SR 29

470 ft · 9 sec · Pine Ridge Road

4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 39 sec

5

Merge onto I 40

34 mi · 37 min · I 40

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

2.9 mi · 3 min · I 40

7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 27 sec

Exit 388 Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art

8

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 56 sec

Exit 388 Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art

9

Continue on US 441

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Henley Street

Use the straight lane.

10

Continue on US 441

255 ft · 11 sec · Henley Street

11

Arrive at destination

US 441

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 19.8 mi from Midtown, TN · 23m into the drive

city in Loudon County, Tennessee, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lenoir City, TN

20 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

Brentwood, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lenoir City, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19.8 miles from Midtown, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Knoxville, TN

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Knoxville, 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

$6.19 one way

$12.38 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$6.80	$13.59
premium	$4.89	$7.62	$15.24
diesel	$5.61	$8.74	$17.49

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	11.9	$4.16	$1.90
Efficient EV	9.9	$3.47	$1.58
EV Truck/SUV	15.8	$5.54	$2.53

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Midtown, TN

Afternoon in Midtown on Thursday

Local time

2:01 PM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Knoxville, TN

Afternoon in Knoxville on Thursday

Local time

2:01 PM

EDT

Current temp

74°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

27 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

46m 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 Midtown, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 39.6 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.