Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Dayton, 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 36m

Distance

79.8 mi

128 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 29m ★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 32m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city ​​and county seat of Montgomery County, Ohio, United States

Dayton, TN

Wikimedia Commons

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

Knoxville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 81.1-mile drive from Dayton, TN, to Knoxville, TN, is a straightforward, local road journey that can be completed in about 1 hour and 20 minutes. It's ideal as a single-day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this route is quite budget-friendly. The drive stays within the Southeast region, offering a consistent feel throughout. Expect a turn-heavy experience on local roads, making it a more engaging drive than a typical interstate cruise.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

39.9 miles from Dayton, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 39.5 mi 44m
US 27 26.2 mi 34m
Roane State Highway 5.4 mi 6m
Spring City Highway 4.1 mi 4m
South Gateway Avenue 2.7 mi 3m
Henley Street 0.3 mi <1m
3rd Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Market Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 39.5 mi, about 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 2nd Avenue

156 ft · 10 sec · 2nd Avenue
2

Turn right onto SR 378

343 ft · 13 sec · Market Street
3

Turn right onto SR 30

0.3 mi · 24 sec · 3rd Avenue
4

Turn left onto US 27

26 mi · 34 min · US 27
Use the left lane.
5

Merge onto US 27

4.1 mi · 4 min · Spring City Highway
6

Continue on US 27; US 70

2.7 mi · 3 min · South Gateway Avenue
7

Continue on US 27; US 70

5.4 mi · 6 min · Roane State Highway
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
9

Merge onto I 40

37 mi · 40 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 388 Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 56 sec
Exit 388 Toward 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

Given the short 1 hour and 20-minute duration, this drive offers a lot of flexibility. You can leave Dayton, TN, at your leisure, perhaps after a relaxed breakfast. Since there are no designated stops mentioned and the drive is under 100 miles, you'll want to ensure you have enough fuel before departing; the estimated cost is around $12. Pay close attention to local speed limits and potential turns, as this route is described as turn-heavy. A good tip for this drive is to check your navigation app for real-time traffic updates, as local roads can sometimes experience unexpected delays.

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 39.9 miles from Dayton, TN, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.5 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 18 miles or 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 39.9 miles or 50m 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 21m

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

Day 1

Settle into the route from Dayton, TN

This is one driving day of about 79.8 miles and 1h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Dayton, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 39.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Midtown, TN, TN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Midtown, TN

40 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

Spring City, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Midtown, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.9 miles from Dayton, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 79.8

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 79.8

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 79.8

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 79.8

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 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 79 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | SR 378 / Market Street

Turn right onto SR 378 / Market Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | SR 30 / 3rd Avenue

Turn right onto SR 30 / 3rd Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
39.1 mi into trip | ~49m in | I 40

Merge onto I 40

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
78.6 mi into trip | ~1h 33m 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
79 mi into trip | ~1h 34m 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

$12.48 one way

$24.95 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.70 $27.40
premium $4.89 $15.36 $30.71
diesel $5.61 $17.62 $35.24

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.9 0 $8.38 $3.83
Efficient EV 20 0 $6.98 $3.19
EV Truck/SUV 31.9 0 $11.17 $5.11

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Dayton, TN

Late night in Dayton on Sunday

Local time

12:40 AM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Knoxville, TN

Late night in Knoxville on Sunday

Local time

12:40 AM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Partly Cloudy

0 mph 1% chance 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

25 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 36m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

You'll be navigating primarily on local roads, with 0% highway share, so expect a turn-heavy profile for the entire 81.1 miles. This means you'll be constantly adjusting your steering and speed as you make your way through towns and along local routes like Market Street, 3rd Avenue, and Spring City Highway. There isn't a longest uninterrupted stretch to note, as the nature of this drive suggests frequent turns and intersections. It's a route where you'll be actively engaged with the road conditions rather than cruising on autopilot.

82% 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: 39.5 mi on I 40.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 27. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 378 / Market Street.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79.8 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: near the start (SR 378 / Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SR 30 / 3rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 39.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

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 36m. Total distance: 79.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 39.5 miles on I 40. 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: near the start (SR 378 / Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SR 30 / 3rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 39.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Knoxville, TN

Troy, TN 367.9 mi · 6h 43m Oakland, TN 363.4 mi · 6h 42m Arlington, TN 362.2 mi · 6h 39m Brighton, TN 362 mi · 6h 53m

More from Dayton, TN

New South Memphis, TN 350.8 mi · 6h 49m Memphis, TN 348.9 mi · 6h 43m Clarksville, TN 188.4 mi · 3h 53m Nashville, TN 142.8 mi · 3h 2m City of Murfreesboro, TN 109 mi · 2h 23m Murfreesboro, TN 107.7 mi · 2h 20m

More trips to Knoxville, TN

Memphis, TN 391.2 mi Germantown, TN 379.9 mi Bartlett, TN 376.4 mi Obion, TN 370.5 mi Munford, TN 367.9 mi Hickory Withe, TN 363.3 mi
Escape planner: Dayton, TN Scenic drives in TN

Explore more options from Dayton, TN or browse trips ending in Knoxville, TN.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.