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Trip from Cookeville, 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 55m

Distance

102.2 mi

164 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 47m ★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 2m
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.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Tennessee, United States

Cookeville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

city and county seat of Knox County, State of Tennessee, United States

Knoxville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 102.2-mile drive from Cookeville, TN, to Knoxville, TN, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes. With 95% of the journey on major highways, it's a practical option for getting between these two Southeast Tennessee cities. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $16, making it an economical choice. You'll primarily be navigating I-40, so expect a focused highway experience rather than a leisurely exploration. This route is best suited for travelers prioritizing efficiency to reach their destination quickly.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

51.1 miles from Cookeville, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 97.1 mi 1h 46m
East Spring Street 3.7 mi 5m
Henley Street 0.3 mi <1m
South Dixie Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 97.1 mi, about 1h 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cookeville, TN and Knoxville, TN.

1

Start on South Dixie Avenue

270 ft · 19 sec · South Dixie Avenue
2

Turn left onto US 70N

3.7 mi · 5 min · East Spring Street
3

Turn left

0.2 mi · 28 sec
4

Merge onto I 40

94 mi · 1 hr 43 min · I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

2.9 mi · 3 min · I 40
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 27 sec
Exit 388 Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 56 sec
Exit 388 Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
8

Continue on US 441

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
9

Continue on US 441

255 ft · 11 sec · Henley Street
10

Arrive at destination

US 441

Trip Plan

Given its short duration of under two hours, this route offers great flexibility for departure times. You can easily leave Cookeville in the morning and arrive in Knoxville with plenty of daylight remaining. There are no mandatory stops suggested, but plan for a brief fuel or rest break if needed, especially during the 97.1-mile stretch on I-40. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $16 estimated cost suggests a straightforward fuel consumption pattern. Since it's a quick trip, you can adjust your schedule on the fly based on traffic or your personal pace.

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 51.1 miles from Cookeville, TN, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.1 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 22 miles or 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 51.1 miles or 58m 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 34m

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 Cookeville, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Cookeville, TN

This is one driving day of about 102.2 miles and 1h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Cookeville, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 97.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Roane County, Tennessee, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockwood, TN

51 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.

Popular next leg

Rockwood, TN to Knoxville, TN

47.4 mi · 54m

Pacing Suggestions

Monterey, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockwood, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 51.1 miles from Cookeville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.1 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Coffee Stop

Capybara Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Knoxville, Tennessee

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 102.2

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

Visit website

Capybara Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 102.2

Knoxville, Tennessee

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

Visit website

Market Square

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour Inexpensiv mile 102.2

Knoxville, Tennessee

+18652154248

Visit website

Marble Springs State Historic Site

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 102.2

Knoxville, Tennessee

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+18655735508

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 6

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 101.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 70N / East Spring Street

Turn left onto US 70N / East Spring Street

Navigation decision point

5
4 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 40

Merge onto I 40

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
4
98.1 mi into trip | ~1h 50m in | I 40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

6
101 mi into trip | ~1h 53m 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
101.4 mi into trip | ~1h 53m 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

$15.98 one way

$31.96 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $17.54 $35.09
premium $4.89 $19.67 $39.33
diesel $5.61 $22.56 $45.13

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: 35.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.7 0 $10.73 $4.91
Efficient EV 25.6 0 $8.94 $4.09
EV Truck/SUV 40.9 0 $14.31 $6.54

Gas CO2

36 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (67% 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

Cookeville, TN

Morning in Cookeville on Sunday

Local time

9:55 AM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Knoxville, TN

Morning in Knoxville on Sunday

Local time

10:55 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

24 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

1h 55m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a heavily highway-focused drive, with 95% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-40. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 97.1 miles on I-40, which forms the backbone of this journey. While the focus is on efficient travel, the transition from East Spring Street to Henley Street in Knoxville marks the final approach to the city. This drive is characterized by its directness and speed, minimizing time spent on slower, local roads.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.1 mi on I 40.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and East Spring Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 70N / East Spring Street.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 55m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 70N / East Spring Street): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

About the Cities

Starting in Cookeville, TN

Full guide →

Cookeville is a small city in north central Tennessee and home of Tennessee Tech University. Cookeville is the largest city in the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee.

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 55m. Total distance: 102.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 97.1 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 0.1 miles (US 70N / East Spring Street): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.1 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.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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