Decherd, TN to Knoxville, TN is 175 miles and takes about 3h 21m via I 75 and I 40, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region, traversing Tennessee for its entirety. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on interstates, making it a practical option for a single-day journey. You'll find the drive is about 59% highway, offering a good balance for getting to your destination efficiently.
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
87.5 miles from Decherd, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
99.2 mi
1h 49m
Veterans Memorial Drive
10.4 mi
11m
I 40
2.9 mi
3m
Nissan Powertrain Drive
0.9 mi
1m
Old Alto Highway
0.9 mi
1m
West Main Street
0.8 mi
1m
SR 50
0.3 mi
<1m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 99.2 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Decherd, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on this road
330 ft·20 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto SR 50
0.8 mi·1 min·West Main Street
3
Continue on SR 50
0.9 mi·1 min·Old Alto Highway
4
Turn right onto SR 50
0.9 mi·1 min·Nissan Powertrain Drive
5
Take the ramp onto SR 50
0.3 mi·47 sec·SR 50
6
Merge onto US 64; SR 50
10 mi·11 min·Veterans Memorial Drive
7
Take the exit
58 mi·1 hr 8 min
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 185 BToward I 75 North: KnoxvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 75
99 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
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
Given the 3-hour 21-minute estimated duration, this trip is easily manageable as a same-day adventure. Aiming for an early morning departure will give you plenty of daylight and flexibility to reach Knoxville without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, plan your break strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or where you see convenient services along I-75. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 99.2-mile stretch on I-75, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably.
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 87.5 miles from Decherd, TN, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.2 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 39 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.5 miles or 1h 43m 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 45m
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 Decherd, 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 Decherd, TN
This is one driving day of about 175 miles and 3h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Decherd, 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 75 for about 99.2 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 174.3 — 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|SR 50 / West Main Street
Turn left onto SR 50 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
8
70.9 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 185 B
Toward I 75 North: Knoxville
5
71.8 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
173.9 mi into trip|~3h 19m 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
174.3 mi into trip|~3h 20m 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
$27.36 one way
$54.72 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.04
$60.08
premium
$4.89
$33.68
$67.35
diesel
$5.61
$38.64
$77.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.5
0
$18.38
$8.40
Efficient EV
43.8
0
$15.31
$7.00
EV Truck/SUV
70
0
$24.50
$11.20
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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 20, 2026
Origin
Decherd, TN
Morning
in Decherd on Tuesday
Local time
6:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Morning
in Knoxville on Tuesday
Local time
7:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 21m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a mixed drive, with a significant portion, 59%, on major highways like I-75 and I-40. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 99.2 miles on I-75, which means extended periods of consistent driving. While primarily interstate, the route offers a practical flow that should keep you moving steadily toward Knoxville. Expect a profile that transitions between faster highway speeds and potentially some local road segments as you navigate Veterans Memorial Drive.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.2 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near SR 50 / West Main Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 175 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 0.1 miles (SR 50 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 70.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.8 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 21m. Total distance: 175 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.2 miles on I 75. 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 0.1 miles (SR 50 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 70.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.8 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Knoxville, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
