Origin
Rockwood, TN
Night in Rockwood on Sunday
Local time
10:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rockwood, TN to Knoxville, TN
Drive Time
47m
Distance
47.4 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rockwood, TN
Kelly
Knoxville, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Rockwood to Knoxville, you are looking at a straightforward 47.4-mile journey that typically takes about 47 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a quick day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics or mid-trip hotel bookings. With a fuel budget of roughly $7, it is an incredibly affordable way to move between these two Southeast Tennessee locations. Since the entire trip is located within the Southeast region, you will find a consistent atmosphere throughout the drive. It is a practical, no-fuss connection that allows you to easily manage your time and expenses.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
23.7 miles from Rockwood, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate experience, as this route features zero percent highway driving. You will navigate via East Rockwood Street, North Gateway Avenue, and Roane State Highway, keeping your focus on local roads for the entire 47.4-mile duration. Because the longest stretch is essentially zero miles on East Rockwood Street, you should be prepared for constant changes in direction rather than long, monotonous highway cruises. This drive requires your full attention behind the wheel as you transition through the local road network. The personality of this trip is defined by its technical, winding nature through the Southeast landscape.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Rockwood 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Rockwood, TN to Knoxville, TN is easy. At 47m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Rockwood, TN to Knoxville, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Rockwood Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Gateway Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Roane State Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Convention Center | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Henley Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Rockwood Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rockwood, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on North Kingston Avenue
200 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Kingston Avenue
2
Turn right onto East Rockwood Street
348 ft
·
18 sec
·
East Rockwood Street
3
Turn right onto North Gateway Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Gateway Avenue
4
Continue on Roane State Highway
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Roane State Highway
5
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
6
Merge slight left
37 mi
·
40 min
7
Keep slight left
2.9 mi
·
3 min
8
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
9
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
10
Continue on Henley Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Henley Street
11
Continue on Henley Street
256 ft
·
12 sec
·
Henley Street
12
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Because this is a short, 47-minute drive, you have significant flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak local traffic. You don't need to worry about planning for rest stops, as the duration is brief enough to complete in one go without a break. Keep your fuel budget around $7 in mind when planning your total travel costs for the day. Since the route is entirely comprised of local roads like North Gateway Avenue and Roane State Highway, stay alert for frequent turns and intersections. My top tip is to utilize a reliable navigation app to help manage the turn-heavy nature of this specific road sequence.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 23.7 miles from Rockwood, TN, or about 23m 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 47.4 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 23.7 miles or 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 40m
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 Rockwood, 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 Rockwood, TN
This is one driving day of about 47.4 miles and 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Rockwood, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.7 mi from Rockwood, TN · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 47.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Rockwood, 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
$7.20 one way
$14.40 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $7.94 | $15.87 |
| premium | $4.80 | $8.95 | $17.90 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.53 | $21.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.98 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.15 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.64 | $3.03 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Night in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
10:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
61°F
Johnson, TN
24 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 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
47m 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 Rockwood, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 47.4 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Rockwood Street, North Gateway Avenue, Roane State Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.7 miles from Rockwood, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.20 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.
The drive from Rockwood, TN to Knoxville, TN is easy. At 47m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Rockwood, TN to Knoxville, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Rockwood, TN to Knoxville, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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