South Pittsburg to Knoxville is 139.7 miles and takes about 2h 38m via I-75, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays within Tennessee, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a straightforward, highway-focused drive for most of the journey, making it a convenient option for a quick transit or a travel day. With 98% of the route on highways, this is a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
69.9 miles from South Pittsburg, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
99.2 mi
1h 49m
I 24
33.1 mi
38m
I 40
2.9 mi
3m
US 72
2.1 mi
2m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
3rd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 99.2 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Pittsburg, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on this road
97 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto 3rd Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·3rd Street
3
Turn left onto US 72
2.1 mi·2 min·US 72
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I-24 East: Chattanooga
5
Merge onto I 24
33 mi·38 min·I 24
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 185 BToward I 75 North: KnoxvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 75
99 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi·3 min·I 40
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
11
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi·27 sec·Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
13
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 38 minutes, this trip is easily completed in a single day. You can depart at your leisure, but consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush hour traffic. The longest stretch without a major exit is 99.2 miles on I-75, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before you begin this segment. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey and can easily reach Knoxville with plenty of daylight to spare.
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 69.9 miles from South Pittsburg, TN, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.2 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 31 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.9 miles or 1h 20m 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 9m
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 South Pittsburg, 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 South Pittsburg, TN
This is one driving day of about 139.7 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from South Pittsburg, 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 75 for about 99.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 139 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|3rd Street
Turn left onto 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
8
35.6 mi into trip|~42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 185 B
Toward I 75 North: Knoxville
5
36.5 mi into trip|~43m in|I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
138.6 mi into trip|~2h 36m 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
139 mi into trip|~2h 37m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.84 one way
$43.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.98
$47.96
premium
$4.89
$26.88
$53.77
diesel
$5.61
$30.84
$61.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.9
0
$14.67
$6.71
Efficient EV
34.9
0
$12.22
$5.59
EV Truck/SUV
55.9
0
$19.56
$8.94
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 18, 2026
Origin
South Pittsburg, TN
Afternoon
in South Pittsburg on Saturday
Local time
1:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Afternoon
in Knoxville on Saturday
Local time
2:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph1% chanceLive 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
24 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 38m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 98% of the journey on major interstates. You'll experience long stretches of consistent travel, including a significant 99.2-mile segment on I-75. The character of the drive is consistent, meaning you won't encounter many transitions to slower local roads. This makes for a predictable driving experience, ideal if you prefer steady progress without frequent changes in speed or road type.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.2 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 3rd Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 139.7 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: near the start (3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.5 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Knoxville, in Knox County, is the third-largest city in Tennessee. It is the home of the University of Tennessee's primary campus (UTK) and site of the 1982 World's Fair.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 139.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.2 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Knoxville, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.5 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Knoxville, TN before heading back.
