Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 34m
Distance
407 mi
655 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$63
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bartlett, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Pigeon Forge, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Bartlett, TN to Pigeon Forge, TN is 407 miles and takes about 7h 34m via Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway and I-40, with a fuel budget near $60 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, beginning and ending in Tennessee. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way towards the Great Smoky Mountains. This route is a solid choice for a single-day drive, but be prepared for varying road conditions.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
203.5 miles from Bartlett, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 45m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway | 189.2 mi | 3h 24m |
| I 40 | 176.7 mi | 3h 13m |
| Chapman Highway | 22.1 mi | 26m |
| Stage Road | 5.8 mi | 10m |
| Parkway | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| Downtown Loop | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| West Main Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Henley Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bartlett, TN and Pigeon Forge, TN.
Start on TN 15
Take the exit
Merge onto I 40
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 40; I 65
Continue on I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on US 441
Continue on US 441; SR 33
Continue on US 411; US 441
Turn right onto US 441
Turn right onto Parkway
Take the exit
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, consider departing early in the morning to avoid potential traffic, especially as you get closer to Pigeon Forge. With 2 planned stops, you can break up the 407 miles into manageable segments. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $60, and it's always wise to fill up before entering longer stretches with fewer services. The longest continuous driving segment is 189.2 miles on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway, so plan one of your stops before or after this portion.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 90 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 203.5 miles or 3h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pigeon Forge, TN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Bartlett, 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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bartlett, TN
This is one driving day of about 407 miles and 7h 34m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
204 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.
A short stop after about 90 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 203.5 miles from Bartlett, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 189.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.1 and 375.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
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
Regular Gas
$63.10 one way
$126.20 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $69.19 | $138.38 |
| premium | $4.93 | $78.96 | $157.93 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $89.72 | $179.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$63
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 142.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 122.1 | 1 | $42.74 | $19.54 |
| Efficient EV | 101.8 | 1 | $35.61 | $16.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 162.8 | 2 | $56.98 | $26.05 |
Gas CO2
142 kg
EV CO2
48 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Bartlett on Friday
Local time
2:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Pigeon Forge on Friday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Battlefield
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
About 45% of this 407-mile drive is on highways, with the longest stretch on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway covering 189.2 miles. You'll transition from highway driving to surface roads, so be prepared for more frequent exits and potentially slower speeds as you approach your destination. The profile is mixed highway and surface, meaning you'll experience both types of driving conditions on your way.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.1 miles in near I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 407 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 6.1 miles (I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 195.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.5 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
2,003 ft
Total Descent
1,286 ft
Highest Point
1,894 ft
~290.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,616 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bartlett, TN and Pigeon Forge, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Convention Center and Tennessee History Center - among others.
Huntsville
Louisville
Knoxville
Chattanooga
Convention Center
Tennessee History Center
Museum Of Art
Founded 1829
Bartlett is a city in metropolitan Memphis, Tennessee. It has several buildings of historic interest, and a walkable Historic District". In 2018, the population of Bartlett was almost 60,000. The Trail of Tears runs along Stage Road through the city. It commemorates the forced relocations between 1830 and 1850 of approximately 60,000 Native Americans from their ancestral homelands in the Southeastern U.S. to areas west of the Mississippi River that had been designated as Indian Territory.
Pigeon Forge is a mountain resort city in Sevier County, Tennessee, 5 mi (8.0 km) north of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 34m. Total distance: 407 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 34m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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