Trip from Watertown, TN to Knoxville, TN

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

46m

Distance

26.2 mi

42 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min

4 AM

0h 42m ★

6 AM

0h 46m

8 AM

0h 54m

10 AM

0h 49m

12 PM

0h 48m

3 PM

0h 49m

5 PM

0h 54m

8 PM

0h 44m

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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Trip Overview

This quick 26.2-mile drive from Watertown to Knoxville, Tennessee, will take you about 46 minutes to complete, making it a perfect single-day trip. You'll be navigating a mix of roads, with 31% of the journey on highways. With a fuel cost estimated at $4, this is a very budget-friendly excursion. The drive offers a straightforward passage through the Southeast region, connecting two points within Tennessee. It's ideal for a short journey where you can easily manage the entire trip in one go, leaving plenty of time for activities at your destination.

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

13.1 miles from Watertown, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .

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Drive Character

The character of this drive is a mixed one, blending highway speeds with more local road driving. You'll experience 31% of the route on highways, offering a chance to pick up the pace. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 8.1 miles along East Lamar Alexander Parkway, giving you a solid block of consistent driving. As you progress, expect the road to transition, offering a varied driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate journey. This blend means you'll be engaged behind the wheel without feeling rushed.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

East Lamar Alexander Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 8.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Millers Cove Road.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 46m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Millers Cove Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (Old Walland Highway): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles (Wilcox Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

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

4

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Millers Cove Road

Turn left onto East Millers Cove Road

Navigation decision point

5

1.9 mi into trip | ~4m in | Old Walland Highway

At end of road, turn right onto Old Walland Highway

Navigation decision point

4

10.3 mi into trip | ~17m in | Wilcox Street

Turn right onto Wilcox Street

Navigation decision point

4

11.6 mi into trip | ~20m in | SR 33 / East Broadway Avenue

Enter roundabout onto SR 33 / East Broadway Avenue

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5

24.8 mi into trip | ~44m in | US 441; SR 33 / Chapman Highway

Turn left onto US 441; SR 33 / Chapman Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
East Lamar Alexander Parkway	8.1 mi	11m
Old Knoxville Highway	5.2 mi	9m
Maryville Pike	4.7 mi	8m
East Broadway Avenue	2.3 mi	4m
East Millers Cove Road	1.9 mi	4m
Chapman Highway	1 mi	1m
South Everett High Road	0.8 mi	1m
West Martin Mill Pike	0.7 mi	1m

Longest stretch: East Lamar Alexander Parkway — 8.1 mi, about 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

33 ft · 9 sec · this road

2

Turn left onto East Millers Cove Road

1.9 mi · 4 min · East Millers Cove Road

3

At end of road, turn right onto Old Walland Highway

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Old Walland Highway

4

Turn right onto US 321

8.1 mi · 11 min · East Lamar Alexander Parkway

5

Turn right onto Wilcox Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Wilcox Street

6

Continue on South Everett High Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Everett High Road

7

Enter roundabout onto SR 33

26 ft · 0 sec · East Broadway Avenue

8

Continue on SR 33

2.3 mi · 4 min · East Broadway Avenue

9

Continue on SR 33

0.6 mi · 1 min · Old Knoxville Highway

10

Turn slight right onto SR 33

4.6 mi · 8 min · Old Knoxville Highway

11

Continue on SR 33

4.7 mi · 8 min · Maryville Pike

12

Turn right onto SR 33

0.4 mi · 43 sec · Ogle Avenue

13

At end of road, turn left onto SR 33

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Martin Mill Pike

14

Turn left onto US 441; SR 33

1.0 mi · 1 min · Chapman Highway

Use the left / straight lanes.

15

Continue on US 441; SR 33

0.5 mi · 53 sec · Henley Street

Use the straight lane.

16

Arrive at destination

US 441

Trip Plan

Given the short 46-minute duration and 26.2-mile distance, this trip offers significant flexibility. You can leave Watertown at your leisure, perhaps after a leisurely breakfast, and still arrive in Knoxville with ample daylight. There are no designated stops mentioned, so you can choose to make spontaneous stops if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is low at $4, but it's always wise to ensure you have enough for the journey. A specific tip for this route: be prepared for the transition from East Lamar Alexander Parkway onto Old Knoxville Highway, as this can be a point where traffic patterns change.

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 13.1 miles from Watertown, TN, or about 23m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.1 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 26.2 miles or 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 13.1 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 39m

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 Watertown, 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 Watertown, TN

This is one driving day of about 26.2 miles and 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Watertown, 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.

The longest stretch is on East Lamar Alexander Parkway for about 8.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 13.1 mi from Watertown, TN · 23m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Johnson, TN

13 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

Johnson, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Johnson, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 13.1 miles from Watertown, 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...

18 mi from route ~46 min detour Free

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

$4.10 one way

$8.19 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$4.50	$8.99
premium	$4.89	$5.04	$10.08
diesel	$5.61	$5.78	$11.57

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	7.9	$2.75	$1.26
Efficient EV	6.6	$2.29	$1.05
EV Truck/SUV	10.5	$3.67	$1.68

Gas CO2

9 kg

EV CO2

3 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 data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Watertown, TN

Night in Watertown on Tuesday

Local time

11:58 PM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Knoxville, TN

Night in Knoxville on Tuesday

Local time

11:58 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

61°F

Johnson, TN

13 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

16 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

46m 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 Watertown, TN to Knoxville, TN covers 26.2 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Old Knoxville Highway, Maryville Pike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 13.1 miles from Watertown, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.10 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.

This is a straightforward 46m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Millers Cove Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (Old Walland Highway): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles (Wilcox Street): Navigation decision point.

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

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Trip from Watertown, TN to Knoxville, TN

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

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

Watertown, TN

Knoxville, TN

Same local time

16 degrees cooler at arrival

46m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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