The drive from Ridgely, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 370.7 miles and takes about 6h 55m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, US 412, State Route 78 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 176.7 miles on I 40.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $57.95 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
185.3 miles from Ridgely, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 31m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 55m. Total distance: 370.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 55m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 55m highway drive covering 370.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and US 412. The longest continuous stretch is about 176.7 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 22 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 176.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 412. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.2 miles in near US 412.
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 15 significant decision points across 370.7 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 18.2 miles (US 412): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.2 miles (US 412): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 189.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
18.2 mi into trip|~25m in|US 412
Take the exit onto US 412 toward US 51 South, US 412 East: Dyersburg, Jackson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 15
Toward US 51 South, US 412 East: Dyersburg, Jac...
6
61.2 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|US 412
Turn left onto US 412 toward I-40 East, US 412 East: Nashville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I-40 East, US 412 East: Nashville
9
189.6 mi into trip|~3h 35m 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
192.8 mi into trip|~3h 40m 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
369.9 mi into trip|~6h 54m 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 Ridgely, TN and Knoxville, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville and Chattanooga.
Huntsville
189.6 mi in|~3h 35m
Louisville
192.3 mi in|~3h 39m|via I 40
Chattanooga
192.3 mi in|~3h 39m|via I 40
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
176.7 mi
3h 13m
US 412
171.5 mi
3h 9m
State Route 78
14.1 mi
19m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
4m
I 155
2.3 mi
2m
Poplar Street
0.5 mi
1m
Lake Road
0.5 mi
1m
South Headden Drive
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 176.7 mi, about 3h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ridgely, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on this road
61 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Depot Street
155 ft·6 sec·Depot Street
3
Turn right onto South Main Street
211 ft·11 sec·South Main Street
4
Turn left onto Poplar Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Poplar Street
5
Turn right onto TN 78
0.3 mi·26 sec·South Headden Drive
6
Continue on TN 78
14 mi·19 min·State Route 78
7
Continue on TN 78
0.5 mi·1 min·Lake Road
8
Turn left
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Union City
9
Merge onto I 155; US 412
2.3 mi·2 min·I 155; US 412
10
Take the exit onto US 412
14 mi·16 min·US 412
Exit 15Toward US 51 South, US 412 East: Dyersburg, Jackson
11
Continue on US 412
29 mi·34 min·US 412
12
Turn left onto US 412
128 mi·2 hr 18 min·US 412
Toward I-40 East, US 412 East: NashvilleUse the straight / right lanes.
13
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.
14
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
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.
16
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.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi·3 min·I 40
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
20
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi·27 sec·Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
22
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 185.3 miles from Ridgely, TN, or about 3h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.7 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 82 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 185.3 miles or 3h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 48m
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 Ridgely, 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 Ridgely, TN
This is one driving day of about 370.7 miles and 6h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Ridgely, 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 176.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 185.3 mi from Ridgely, TN
· 3h 31m 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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 217.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.95 one way
$115.91 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg130 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$63.63
$127.26
premium
$4.89
$71.34
$142.68
diesel
$5.61
$81.85
$163.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
111.2
1
$38.92
$17.79
Efficient EV
92.7
1
$32.44
$14.83
EV Truck/SUV
148.3
1
$51.90
$23.72
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Ridgely, TN
Afternoon
in Ridgely on Thursday
Local time
4:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Evening
in Knoxville on Thursday
Local time
5:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
18 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
6h 55m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ridgely, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 370.7 miles and takes about 6h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, US 412, State Route 78. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 185.3 miles from Ridgely, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $57.95 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 15 significant decision points across 370.7 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 18.2 miles (US 412): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.2 miles (US 412): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 189.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Ridgely, TN and Knoxville, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville and Chattanooga.
