If you are looking to get from Baxter to Knoxville, this 110-mile trek is a straightforward journey through the Southeast that typically takes about 2 hours and 5 minutes. Because the distance is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a simple day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $17 for fuel to complete the transit. The path relies heavily on major thoroughfares, making it a utilitarian choice for travelers prioritizing efficiency over scenic detours. Since you are traveling within Tennessee, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish. This route is an ideal candidate for those who prefer to keep their travel plans flexible and uncomplicated.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55 miles from Baxter, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
107.2 mi
1h 57m
1st Avenue South
1.3 mi
4m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Gundy Quarels Memorial Highway
0.1 mi
<1m
Gainesboro Highway
0.1 mi
<1m
Old Baxter Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 107.2 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Baxter, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on SR 141
92 ft·3 sec·Old Baxter Road
2
Turn right onto 1st Avenue South
1.3 mi·4 min·1st Avenue South
3
Turn right onto SR 56
0.1 mi·10 sec·Gundy Quarels Memorial Highway
4
Continue on SR 56
0.1 mi·15 sec·Gainesboro Highway
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
6
Merge onto I 40
104 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi·3 min·I 40
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
10
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi·27 sec·Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
12
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 2-hour drive, you have the advantage of scheduling your departure to avoid peak congestion times in Knoxville. While no formal stops are required for a trip of this length, keeping a close eye on your fuel gauge is wise, as the $17 estimate is based on the 110-mile total distance. You can easily manage the entire stretch in one go, but if you prefer to break up the monotony of the 107.2-mile interstate segment, plan your intervals accordingly. Pay close attention to signage as you exit the interstate to navigate the final local transition onto Henley Street. Staying flexible with your timing will ensure you arrive in Knoxville refreshed and ready for your next stop.
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 55 miles from Baxter, TN, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.2 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 24 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55 miles or 1h 4m 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 42m
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 Baxter, 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 Baxter, TN
This is one driving day of about 110 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Baxter, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 107.2 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 109.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.5 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip|~5m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
106 mi into trip|~2h in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
108.9 mi into trip|~2h 3m 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
109.3 mi into trip|~2h 4m 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
$17.20 one way
$34.39 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.88
$37.76
premium
$4.89
$21.17
$42.34
diesel
$5.61
$24.29
$48.57
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33
0
$11.55
$5.28
Efficient EV
27.5
0
$9.63
$4.40
EV Truck/SUV
44
0
$15.40
$7.04
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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 15, 2026
Origin
Baxter, TN
Night
in Baxter on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Late night
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 5m 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?
Expect a focused, highway-heavy experience, as 97 percent of your time will be spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a long, uninterrupted 107.2-mile stretch on I-40, which dominates the vast majority of your travel time. Once you approach the Knoxville area, the character of the drive shifts slightly as you transition onto 1st Avenue South and Henley Street to reach your final destination. Because the route is almost entirely interstate-based, you should prepare for a consistent, high-speed pace rather than a winding or technical backroads experience. It is a no-nonsense drive that rewards drivers who appreciate steady, predictable traffic flow across the state.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.2 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and 1st Avenue South. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 5m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 106 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 107.2 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 106 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Knoxville, TN before heading back.
