Trip from Roan Mountain, TN to Knoxville, TN

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

2h 36m

Distance

130 mi

209 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min

4 AM

2h 26m ★

6 AM

2h 36m

8 AM

2h 57m

10 AM

2h 44m

12 PM

2h 42m

3 PM

2h 45m

5 PM

2h 56m

8 PM

2h 30m

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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Roan Mountain, TN

Beth Fitzpatrick

city and county seat of Knox County, State of Tennessee, United States

Knoxville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Roan Mountain, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 130 miles and takes about 2h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 81, I 40, James H. Quillen Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57.1 miles on I 81. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.32 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

65 miles from Roan Mountain, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 36m. Total distance: 130 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 36m highway drive covering 130 miles, with most of the trip on I 81 and I 40. The longest continuous stretch is about 57.1 miles on I 81.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 57.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 38.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 130 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 38.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 127.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

38.8 mi into trip | ~55m in

Take the exit toward I 81 South: Knoxville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 8A Toward I 81 South: Knoxville

127.6 mi into trip | ~2h 31m in

Take the exit toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of Tennessee

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 388A; 389 Toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of Ten...

127.9 mi into trip | ~2h 32m in

Keep slight left at fork toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White Parkway, Downtown, University of Tennessee

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

Toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White P...

129.2 mi into trip | ~2h 34m in | TN 158 / Neyland Drive

Keep slight right at fork onto TN 158 / Neyland Drive toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University of Tennessee

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

Toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University o...

129.3 mi into trip | ~2h 34m in

Take the exit toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue

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

Toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 81	57.1 mi	1h 1m
I 40	31.5 mi	34m
James H. Quillen Parkway	15.1 mi	18m
US 19E	10.4 mi	14m
Mary Patton Highway	4.5 mi	7m
US 321	4.3 mi	6m
Gap Creek Road	3.6 mi	6m
James White Parkway	0.4 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: I 81 — 57.1 mi, about 1h 1m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Main Street

0.2 mi · 51 sec · Main Street

At end of road, turn left onto US 19E

10 mi · 14 min · US 19E

Turn left onto SR 361

3.6 mi · 6 min · Gap Creek Road

Turn straight onto SR 362

4.5 mi · 7 min · Mary Patton Highway

Turn left onto West G Street

0.4 mi · 51 sec · West G Street

Turn left onto US 321; SR 67

4.3 mi · 6 min · US 321; SR 67

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Merge onto I 26; US 19W; US 23

15 mi · 18 min · James H. Quillen Parkway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 37 sec

Exit 8A Toward I 81 South: Knoxville

Merge onto I 81

56 mi · 1 hr · I 81

Continue on I 81

0.7 mi · 45 sec · I 81

Exit 1B Toward I 40 West: Knoxville

Merge onto I 40

32 mi · 34 min · I 40

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 26 sec

Exit 388A; 389 Toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of Tennessee Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 2 min

Toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White Parkway, Downtown, University of Tennessee

Continue on TN 158

0.4 mi · 23 sec · James White Parkway

Keep slight right at fork onto TN 158

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Neyland Drive

Toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University of Tennessee

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue

Continue on Cumberland Avenue

0.3 mi · 37 sec · Cumberland Avenue

Turn left onto US 441

393 ft · 16 sec · Henley Street

Continue on US 441

255 ft · 11 sec · Henley Street

Arrive at destination

US 441

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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 65 miles from Roan Mountain, TN, or about 1h 24m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.1 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 29 miles or 43m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 65 miles or 1h 24m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 8m

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 Roan Mountain, 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 Roan Mountain, TN

This is one driving day of about 130 miles and 2h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Roan Mountain, 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 81 for about 57.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 65 mi from Roan Mountain, TN · 1h 24m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kingsport, TN

65 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.

Popular next leg

Kingsport, TN to Knoxville, TN

96.8 mi · 1h 51m

Pacing Suggestions

Johnson City, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Greeneville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 65 miles from Roan Mountain, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

National Park

Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour Free near mile 107.6

Park Closure: Abrams Falls Trail Closed

Park Closure: Seasonal road closures

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.32 one way

$40.65 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 46 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$22.31	$44.63
premium	$4.89	$25.02	$50.03
diesel	$5.61	$28.70	$57.40

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 45.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	39	$13.65	$6.24
Efficient EV	32.5	$11.38	$5.20
EV Truck/SUV	52	$18.20	$8.32

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 kg (67% 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

Roan Mountain, TN

Late night in Roan Mountain on Friday

Local time

2:49 AM

EDT

Current temp

Unavailable

Destination

Knoxville, TN

Late night in Knoxville on Friday

Local time

2:49 AM

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Road read

2h 36m 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 Roan Mountain, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 130 miles and takes about 2h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 81, I 40, James H. Quillen Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 65 miles from Roan Mountain, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.32 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

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

Yes. Nearby national parks include Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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Trip from Roan Mountain, TN to Knoxville, TN

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Knoxville, TN

National Parks Near This Route

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Roan Mountain, TN

Knoxville, TN

Same local time

2h 36m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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