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Trip from Dunlap, 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

2h 19m

Distance

114.7 mi

185 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 9m ★
6 AM
2h 19m
8 AM
2h 38m
10 AM
2h 26m
12 PM
2h 24m
3 PM
2h 27m
5 PM
2h 37m
8 PM
2h 13m

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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Downtown Dunlap, TN, TN

Dunlap, TN

Kelly

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

Knoxville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 116-mile drive from Dunlap, TN to Knoxville, TN is a manageable one-day trip, taking just under two hours to complete. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with a 0% highway share, making it a more direct, turn-heavy experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $18, which is quite economical for a trip of this length. Given the relatively short duration and distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing for a relaxed pace without the need for an overnight stop. Both Dunlap and Knoxville are situated within the Southeast region, so you'll be staying within familiar territory throughout your travels.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

57.3 miles from Dunlap, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 27 41.9 mi 52m
I 40 39.5 mi 44m
SR 111 11.1 mi 13m
Roane State Highway 5.4 mi 6m
TN 111 5.3 mi 6m
Spring City Highway 4.1 mi 4m
South Gateway Avenue 2.7 mi 3m
Rankin Avenue 1.8 mi 2m
Longest stretch: US 27 — 41.9 mi, about 52m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 127

1.8 mi · 2 min · Rankin Avenue
2

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 56 sec
3

Merge onto SR 111

11 mi · 13 min · SR 111
4

Continue on TN 111

5.3 mi · 6 min · TN 111
5

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
6

Merge onto US 27

42 mi · 52 min · US 27
7

Merge onto US 27

4.1 mi · 4 min · Spring City Highway
8

Continue on US 27; US 70

2.7 mi · 3 min · South Gateway Avenue
9

Continue on US 27; US 70

5.4 mi · 6 min · Roane State Highway
10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
11

Merge onto I 40

37 mi · 40 min · I 40
Use the straight / 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 388 Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 56 sec
Exit 388 Toward 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

For this 116-mile drive, consider departing in the morning to maximize your daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. Since the total duration is only about 1 hour and 58 minutes and there are no designated stops, you have the flexibility to take short breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $18, and plan to refuel before leaving Dunlap or upon arrival in Knoxville. A good tip for this specific route is to familiarize yourself with the local road names like Spring City Highway and Roane State Highway beforehand, as they form the backbone of this turn-heavy journey.

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 57.3 miles from Dunlap, TN, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.9 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 25 miles or 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 57.3 miles or 1h 12m 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 55m

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 Dunlap, 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 Dunlap, TN

This is one driving day of about 114.7 miles and 2h 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Dunlap, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 27 for about 41.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

human settlement in Rhea County, Tennessee, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Spring City, TN

57 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

Spring City, TN to Knoxville, TN

63.1 mi · 1h 12m

Pacing Suggestions

Dayton, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Spring City, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 57.3 miles from Dunlap, 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 114.7

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 114.7

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 114.7

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 114.7

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 2.2 and 113.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3
2.2 mi into trip | ~3m in | SR 111

Merge onto SR 111

Merge point - match speed before joining

5
74 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in | I 40

Merge onto I 40

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
110.6 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in | I 40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

6
113.5 mi into trip | ~2h 16m 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
113.9 mi into trip | ~2h 17m 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

$17.93 one way

$35.86 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $19.69 $39.38
premium $4.89 $22.07 $44.15
diesel $5.61 $25.32 $50.65

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 34.4 0 $12.04 $5.51
Efficient EV 28.7 0 $10.04 $4.59
EV Truck/SUV 45.9 0 $16.06 $7.34

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 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 15, 2026

Origin

Dunlap, TN

Late night in Dunlap on Sunday

Local time

2:31 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Knoxville, TN

Late night in Knoxville on Sunday

Local time

3:31 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

75°F

Spring City, TN

57 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

1 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

2h 19m 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 turn-heavy local drive on this route, characterized by your use of Spring City Highway, South Gateway Avenue, and Roane State Highway. With a 0% highway share, this isn't a journey for high-speed cruising; instead, prepare for a more engaged driving experience with frequent changes in direction and speed. There's no longest uninterrupted stretch mentioned, suggesting a continuous series of local roads and intersections. The profile indicates a route that requires your attention, offering a different kind of engagement than a typical interstate commute.

85% 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: 41.9 mi on US 27.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 27 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near SR 111.

Driving Effort 7/10

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 114.7 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 2.2 miles (SR 111): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 74 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 110.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

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 2h 19m. Total distance: 114.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 41.9 miles on US 27. 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.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles (SR 111): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 74 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 110.6 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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