Spanning 301.3 miles across Tennessee, this trek from Clifton to Knoxville typically takes about 5 hours and 33 minutes of pure driving time. Because the journey is relatively straightforward, you can easily complete it in a single day, though you should budget approximately $46 for fuel to cover the distance. Most of your time will be spent navigating the major corridors of the Southeast, transitioning from the quiet surroundings of Clifton toward the more bustling atmosphere of Knoxville. Since 93% of the trip is highway-based, the drive is highly efficient for those looking to reach their destination without unnecessary detours. It functions best as a direct transit route, providing a reliable connection between these two points in the state.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
150.7 miles from Clifton, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
258.1 mi
4h 40m
US 641
22 mi
25m
Billy Nance Boulevard
15.2 mi
17m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
4m
West Pillow Street
1.1 mi
2m
West Water Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Walnut Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 258.1 mi, about 4h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on SR 128
0.3 mi·31 sec·West Water Street
2
Turn slight left onto SR 128
463 ft·10 sec·Walnut Street
3
Turn right onto TN 128
1.1 mi·2 min·West Pillow Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 641; SR 128
15 mi·17 min·Billy Nance Boulevard
5
Continue on US 641; SR 202
22 mi·25 min·US 641; SR 202
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
7
Merge onto I 40
81 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 40
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 208AToward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, HuntsvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 40
0.5 mi·42 sec·Downtown Loop
Exit 211B; 211AToward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksville, Louisville, Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
174 mi·3 hr 9 min·I 40
Exit 211AToward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi·3 min·I 40
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
15
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi·27 sec·Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
17
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour and 33-minute drive, try to time your departure to avoid peak traffic hours near Knoxville, which can add unexpected time to your arrival. Since you only have one planned stop along the way, use that break to refuel and stretch your legs before tackling the final leg of the 301.3-mile journey. Keeping your fuel budget of $46 in mind, you may want to monitor your efficiency during the long 258.1-mile interstate stint. Because the route is so highway-dependent, check for road construction on I-40 before you head out to ensure your travel time remains consistent. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, allowing you to easily adjust your pace to suit your personal comfort level.
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 150.7 miles from Clifton, TN, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 258.1 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 66 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.7 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 32m
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 Clifton, 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 Clifton, TN
This is one driving day of about 301.3 miles and 5h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Clifton, 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 258.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 38.9 and 300.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
38.9 mi into trip|~45m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
9
120.3 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
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
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsv...
9
123.5 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|I 40
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
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 211A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattan...
6
300.2 mi into trip|~5h 31m 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
300.6 mi into trip|~5h 31m 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
$47.10 one way
$94.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$51.72
$103.44
premium
$4.89
$57.98
$115.96
diesel
$5.61
$66.52
$133.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.4
1
$31.64
$14.46
Efficient EV
75.3
0
$26.36
$12.05
EV Truck/SUV
120.5
1
$42.18
$19.28
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Clifton, TN
Late night
in Clifton on Sunday
Local time
5:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Morning
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
6:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
77°F
Lebanon, TN
151 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
6 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
5h 33m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 highway-focused experience where you will rely heavily on I-40, which accounts for the vast majority of your time behind the wheel. You will spend a significant 258.1 miles on this single interstate, making it the longest uninterrupted stretch of your journey. The route begins with smaller connections via US 641 and Billy Nance Boulevard before merging onto the primary artery that carries you across the region. While the road is consistent and fast-paced, the sheer dominance of interstate travel means you should prepare for a steady, high-speed experience. The character of the drive is defined by its practicality and focus on efficiency rather than winding, technical backroads.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 258.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 641. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 38.9 miles in near I 40.
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 11 significant decision points across 301.3 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 38.9 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 120.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 123.5 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clifton, TN and Knoxville, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville and Chattanooga.
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 5h 33m. Total distance: 301.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 258.1 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 38.9 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 120.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 123.5 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Knoxville, TN before the return drive.
