Connecting the Nashville area to Knoxville, this 185.2-mile journey is a straightforward trek across Tennessee. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 27 minutes behind the wheel, making it a very manageable day trip that doesn't strictly require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-40, supplemented by stretches on the Debra K. Johnson Memorial Parkway and Hillsboro Pike. With a projected fuel cost of $28, the trip remains budget-friendly for solo drivers and groups alike. Because both cities are located within the Southeast, you will enjoy a consistent regional feel throughout the transit.
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
92.6 miles from Belle Meade, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
174.1 mi
3h 9m
Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway
4.1 mi
5m
Hillsboro Pike
2.5 mi
4m
Harding Place
1.7 mi
3m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
I 24
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 174.1 mi, about 3h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belle Meade, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on Harding Place
1.7 mi·3 min·Harding Place
Use the left lane.
2
Turn left onto US 431
2.5 mi·4 min·Hillsboro Pike
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 440 East: KnoxvilleUse the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 440
4.1 mi·5 min·Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·48 sec
Toward I 24 West: Nashville, KnoxvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 24 West, I 40 East: Nashville, KnoxvilleUse the slight left lane.
7
Merge onto I 24
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 24
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 52BToward I 40 East: KnoxvilleUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 40
171 mi·3 hr 6 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi·3 min·I 40
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
13
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi·27 sec·Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
15
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
Since this is a single-day commitment with only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule. Aim to depart outside of peak morning or evening rush hours to ensure your 3-hour and 27-minute travel time stays consistent. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the long 174.1-mile stretch of I-40, as services can vary along the interstate. Given the heavy highway reliance, staying alert during the long interstate haul is key to a safe arrival. Use your single planned stop to stretch your legs halfway through the drive, which will help you stay fresh for the final leg into Knoxville.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 92.6 miles from Belle Meade, TN, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 174.1 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 41 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.6 miles or 1h 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 2h 49m
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 Belle Meade, 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 Belle Meade, TN
This is one driving day of about 185.2 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Belle Meade, 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 40 for about 174.1 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.6 and 184.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
8.6 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 24 West: Nashville, Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 24 West: Nashville, Knoxville
8
9.1 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 24 West, I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 24 West, I 40 East: Nashville, Knoxvil...
8
9.6 mi into trip|~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52B
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville
6
184 mi into trip|~3h 25m 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
184.4 mi into trip|~3h 25m 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
$28.95 one way
$57.91 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.79
$63.58
premium
$4.89
$35.64
$71.28
diesel
$5.61
$40.89
$81.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.6
0
$19.45
$8.89
Efficient EV
46.3
0
$16.21
$7.41
EV Truck/SUV
74.1
0
$25.93
$11.85
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Belle Meade, TN
Morning
in Belle Meade on Sunday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Morning
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
8:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Monterey, TN
93 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
20 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 27m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Stones River National Battlefield
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 25.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 96% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You should prepare for a primary interstate experience, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 174.1 miles on I-40. While the initial departure involves local navigation on Hillsboro Pike, the route quickly transitions into a sustained interstate grind. The personality of the drive is efficient and functional rather than winding or technical, prioritizing speed and directness over scenic detours. Expect a steady, predictable pace once you clear the initial urban exits.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 174.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Debra K Johnson Memorial Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.6 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 185.2 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 8.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 3h 27m. Total distance: 185.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 174.1 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: at 8.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Knoxville, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
