Apison, TN to Knoxville, TN is 99.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 54 minutes via I-75 and I-40, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a straightforward highway-focused trip, perfect for a single-day journey. Plan for approximately $16 in fuel costs to cover the 99.5 miles. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it an efficient way to get from point A to point B.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.7 miles from Apison, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
89.1 mi
1h 37m
Apison Pike
3.8 mi
6m
I 40
2.9 mi
3m
Main Street
1.7 mi
3m
Lee Highway
0.5 mi
1m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 89.1 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Apison, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on SR 317
3.8 mi·6 min·Apison Pike
2
Turn right onto SR 321
1.7 mi·3 min·Main Street
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left onto US 11; US 64
0.5 mi·1 min·Lee Highway
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 75
89 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 75
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi·3 min·I 40
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
9
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi·27 sec·Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
11
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 54 minutes, this trip offers flexibility for departure time. You can easily complete this drive in a single day, so consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush hour. With only 99.5 miles, you won't need many stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge as the longest stretch on I-75 is 89.1 miles. The estimated fuel cost is around $16, so plan accordingly before you depart. A practical tip for this route is to ensure you have your preferred navigation readily available, as the highway transitions might require focused attention.
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 49.7 miles from Apison, TN, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.1 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 22 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.7 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 33m
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 Apison, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Apison, TN
This is one driving day of about 99.5 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Apison, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 89.1 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 98.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.8 mi into trip|~6m in|SR 321 / Main Street
Turn right onto SR 321 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
6 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
6.3 mi into trip|~11m in|I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
98.3 mi into trip|~1h 52m 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
98.8 mi into trip|~1h 53m 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
$15.56 one way
$31.11 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.08
$34.16
premium
$4.89
$19.15
$38.30
diesel
$5.61
$21.97
$43.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.8
0
$10.45
$4.78
Efficient EV
24.9
0
$8.71
$3.98
EV Truck/SUV
39.8
0
$13.93
$6.37
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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
Apison, TN
Morning
in Apison on Tuesday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Morning
in Knoxville on Tuesday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Athens, TN
50 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
8 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
1h 54m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the journey on major roads like I-75 and I-40. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 89.1 miles on I-75, indicating long periods of consistent speed. Expect a steady pace for the majority of your trip, as this profile suggests minimal time on slower, local roads. The drive progresses primarily through interstate corridors, offering a predictable and efficient travel experience.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.1 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Apison Pike. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in near SR 321 / Main Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 54m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles (SR 321 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 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.
The longest stretch is about 89.1 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles (SR 321 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 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.
