This 256-mile drive from New Johnsonville, TN, to Knoxville, TN, is a straightforward 4-hour and 58-minute journey. Primarily utilizing I-40, this route is well-suited for a single day trip, making it an easy option for a quick transition between locations within the Southeast region. With an estimated fuel cost of around $40, you can anticipate a budget-friendly excursion. The drive offers a consistent, highway-focused experience, allowing you to cover significant ground efficiently. Plan for one main stop along the way to break up the drive and stretch your legs.
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
128 miles from New Johnsonville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 37m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 58m. Total distance: 256 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The character of this drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 84% of the route on major roadways like I-40. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 211.5 miles on I-40, which means long periods of consistent speed. While the majority of the journey is on the interstate, you will navigate through local roads like Broadway Street and SR 46 at the beginning and end of your trip. Expect a smooth, predictable driving experience for most of this 256-mile trip, characterized by the efficiency of interstate travel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 211.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Broadway Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35.3 miles in near SR 46.
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 10 significant decision points across 256 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 35.3 miles (SR 46): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
35.3 mi into trip|~53m in|SR 46
Turn right onto SR 46
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
39.9 mi into trip|~1h in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
9
74.9 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsv...
9
78.1 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 211A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattan...
7
255.2 mi into trip|~4h 56m 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...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between New Johnsonville, TN and Knoxville, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville and Chattanooga.
Huntsville
74.9 mi in|~1h 38m
Louisville
77.6 mi in|~1h 41m|via I 40
Chattanooga
77.6 mi in|~1h 41m|via I 40
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
211.5 mi
3h 50m
Broadway Street
32.1 mi
47m
SR 46
4.6 mi
6m
West College Street
3.2 mi
5m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
4m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 211.5 mi, about 3h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Johnsonville, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on US 70
32 mi·47 min·Broadway Street
2
Continue on US 70
1.7 mi·2 min·West College Street
3
Continue on US 70 Business
1.5 mi·2 min·West College Street
4
Turn right onto SR 46
4.6 mi·6 min·SR 46
Use the left lane.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 40
35 mi·37 min·I 40
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 208AToward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, HuntsvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 40
0.5 mi·42 sec·Downtown Loop
Exit 211B; 211AToward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksville, Louisville, Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
174 mi·3 hr 9 min·I 40
Exit 211AToward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi·3 min·I 40
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
14
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi·27 sec·Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
16
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 58-minute duration, starting your drive in the morning will allow you ample time to reach Knoxville without feeling rushed. The longest stretch on I-40 is over 200 miles, so plan for a comfortable stop about halfway through to refuel and refresh. With a fuel cost estimated at $40, it's wise to ensure your tank is full before departing New Johnsonville, as fuel prices can fluctuate. Since this is a manageable day trip, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, but an early start maximizes your time upon arrival in Knoxville.
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 128 miles from New Johnsonville, TN, or about 2h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 211.5 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 56 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128 miles or 2h 37m 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 6m
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 New Johnsonville, 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 New Johnsonville, TN
This is one driving day of about 256 miles and 4h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from New Johnsonville, 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 211.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 128 mi from New Johnsonville, TN
· 2h 37m 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
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 97.2
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...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 8.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.02 one way
$80.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$43.94
$87.89
premium
$4.89
$49.26
$98.53
diesel
$5.61
$56.52
$113.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.8
0
$26.88
$12.29
Efficient EV
64
0
$22.40
$10.24
EV Truck/SUV
102.4
1
$35.84
$16.38
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
New Johnsonville, TN
Evening
in New Johnsonville on Friday
Local time
7:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Evening
in Knoxville on Friday
Local time
8:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Alexandria, TN
128 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
22 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 58m 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 New Johnsonville, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 256 miles and takes about 4h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Broadway Street, SR 46. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 128 miles from New Johnsonville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.02 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 10 significant decision points across 256 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 35.3 miles (SR 46): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between New Johnsonville, TN and Knoxville, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville and Chattanooga.
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.
