Origin
Blountville, TN
Morning in Blountville on Sunday
Local time
8:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Blountville, TN to Knoxville, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 56m
Distance
104.5 mi
168 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 48m
★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 13m
10 AM
2h 2m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 3m
5 PM
2h 12m
8 PM
1h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blountville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Knoxville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 104.5-mile drive from Blountville, TN to Knoxville, TN is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in under two hours. With 98% of the route on main roads like I-81 and I-40, it's ideal for a single-day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost is around $16, making it an economical option. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region for the entire trip. This route offers a practical and efficient way to get between these two Tennessee locations, perfect for those prioritizing speed and simplicity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.3 miles from Blountville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 69.2 mi | 1h 14m |
| I 40 | 31.5 mi | 34m |
| Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway | 1 mi | 1m |
| James White Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Cumberland Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Neyland Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Henley Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Bristol Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 69.2 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blountville, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on this road
98 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto SR 126
179 ft
·
7 sec
·
Bristol Highway
3
Turn right onto TN 394; I 81 Alt
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 81 South
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 81
68 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
I 81
6
Continue on I 81
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 81
Exit 1B
Toward I 40 West: Knoxville
7
Merge onto I 40
32 mi
·
34 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 388A; 389
Toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of Tennessee
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White Parkway, Downtown, University of Tennessee
10
Continue on TN 158
0.4 mi
·
23 sec
·
James White Parkway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 158
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Neyland Drive
Toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University of Tennessee
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue
13
Continue on Cumberland Avenue
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Cumberland Avenue
14
Turn left onto US 441
393 ft
·
16 sec
·
Henley Street
15
Continue on US 441
255 ft
·
11 sec
·
Henley Street
16
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 56-minute duration for this 104.5-mile trip, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. You can easily tackle this drive in one go without needing to break it up. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 69.2-mile stretch on I-81, as services might be less frequent. The total fuel cost is estimated at $16. Consider leaving in the mid-morning to avoid potential rush hour traffic in and around Knoxville, ensuring a smoother arrival.
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 52.3 miles from Blountville, TN, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.2 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 23 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.3 miles or 57m 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 Blountville, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Blountville, TN
This is one driving day of about 104.5 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Blountville, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 69.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.3 miles from Blountville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 69.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 103.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left toward I 81 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 81 South
8
102.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of Tennessee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 388A; 389
Toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of Ten...
6
102.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White Parkway, Downtown, University of Tennessee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White P...
6
103.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
|
TN 158 / Neyland Drive
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 158 / Neyland Drive toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University of Tennessee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University o...
6
103.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.34 one way
$32.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.94 | $35.88 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.11 | $40.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.07 | $46.14 |
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: 36.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.3 | 0 | $10.97 | $5.02 |
| Efficient EV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.14 | $4.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.8 | 0 | $14.63 | $6.69 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Morning in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
8:06 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 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 56m 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.
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...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 82.9
Park Closure: Abrams Falls Trail Closed
Park Closure: Seasonal road closures
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this trip, with 98% of your journey taking place on major interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 69.2 miles on I-81, meaning you can settle in for a good amount of time on that section. The route is characterized as a highway-focused drive, so you'll likely experience consistent speeds and straightforward navigation. While it's primarily an interstate experience, the transition onto Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway near Knoxville might offer a slight change in scenery as you approach your destination.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.2 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 40. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 104.5 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 102.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 102.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Knoxville, TN
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 104.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.2 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 102.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 102.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Knoxville, TN before heading back.
How this page is built
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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