Origin
East Ridge, TN
Afternoon in East Ridge on Sunday
Local time
12:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Ridge, 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 3m
Distance
50.7 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Ridge, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Knoxville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 50.7-mile drive from East Ridge, TN to Knoxville, TN is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 3 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. Primarily utilizing I-40 and I-81, with a brief segment on Davy Crockett Parkway, this route offers a highway-focused experience across the Southeast region. With a fuel cost estimated at $8, it's an economical option for a quick transition between these Tennessee cities. You won't need to break this journey into multiple days, offering flexibility in your travel schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 31.5 mi | 34m |
| I 81 | 7.8 mi | 8m |
| Davy Crockett Parkway | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Morelock Road | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Elgin Drive | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| James White Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Cumberland Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Neyland Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 31.5 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Ridge, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on Rosa Circle
286 ft
·
13 sec
·
Rosa Circle
2
Turn right onto Elgin Drive
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Elgin Drive
3
At end of road, turn right onto Reeds Chapel Road
249 ft
·
11 sec
·
Reeds Chapel Road
4
Turn left onto Morelock Road
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Morelock Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 25E; SR 32
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Davy Crockett Parkway
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
7
Merge onto I 81
7.1 mi
·
7 min
·
I 81
8
Continue on I 81
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 81
Exit 1B
Toward I 40 West: Knoxville
9
Merge onto I 40
32 mi
·
34 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 388A; 389
Toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of Tennessee
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White Parkway, Downtown, University of Tennessee
12
Continue on TN 158
0.4 mi
·
23 sec
·
James White Parkway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 158
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Neyland Drive
Toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University of Tennessee
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue
15
Continue on Cumberland Avenue
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Cumberland Avenue
16
Turn left onto US 441
393 ft
·
16 sec
·
Henley Street
17
Continue on US 441
255 ft
·
11 sec
·
Henley Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 441
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.4 miles from East Ridge, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 16.8 and 50 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
16.8 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
48.3 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of Tennessee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 388A; 389
Toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of Ten...
6
48.6 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Keep slight left at fork toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White Parkway, Downtown, University of Tennessee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White P...
6
49.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
TN 158 / Neyland Drive
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 158 / Neyland Drive toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University of Tennessee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University o...
6
50 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.93 one way
$15.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.70 | $17.41 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.76 | $19.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.19 | $22.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
| Efficient EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.44 | $2.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.10 | $3.24 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Afternoon in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
12:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
8 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 3m 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 predominantly highway-focused drive, with 92% of the journey on major interstates like I-40 and I-81. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 31.5 miles on I-40, so be prepared for sustained highway speeds. While the profile is largely interstate, the inclusion of Davy Crockett Parkway may offer a slight variation in scenery before you reach your destination. This route is designed for efficient travel, minimizing local road navigation.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.8 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.7 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 16.8 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 3m. Total distance: 50.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.5 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: at 16.8 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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