Origin
Gatlinburg, TN
Morning in Gatlinburg on Sunday
Local time
6:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gatlinburg, 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
54m
Distance
37.5 mi
60 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gatlinburg, TN
Kelly
Knoxville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling between Gatlinburg and Knoxville covers a short 38.4-mile stretch that typically takes about 58 minutes to complete. Because of the quick transit time, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to easily move between the mountain atmosphere and the city. You will navigate via the Parkway, the Gatlinburg Spur Road, and US 411 North to reach your destination. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, this is an incredibly economical drive for your Southeast travel plans. Since both locations are situated within Tennessee, you will remain in the same region for the duration of your journey. It is a straightforward, practical connection that avoids the need for any overnight stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chapman Highway | 22.1 mi | 26m |
| Parkway | 8.3 mi | 15m |
| Gatlinburg Spur Road | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| West Main Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Forks of the River Parkway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Henley Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Chapman Highway
— 22.1 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gatlinburg, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on this road
53 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Turn slight right
355 ft
·
32 sec
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 441
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Parkway
4
Continue on US 321; US 441
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Gatlinburg Spur Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 321; US 441
7.1 mi
·
12 min
·
Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
125 ft
·
6 sec
Toward US 411 North
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto US 441
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
Forks of the River Parkway
8
Turn left onto US 411; US 441
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Continue on US 411; US 441
22 mi
·
26 min
·
Chapman Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on US 441; SR 33
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Arrive at destination
US 441
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.8 miles from Gatlinburg, 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
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 13.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 441 / Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto US 441 / Parkway
Navigation decision point
6
12.5 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward US 411 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 411 North
3
12.6 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
US 441 / Forks of the River Parkway
Turn left onto US 441 / Forks of the River Parkway
Navigation decision point
5
13.2 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
US 411; US 441 / West Main Street
Turn left onto US 411; US 441 / West Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.86 one way
$11.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.44 | $12.87 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.22 | $14.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.28 | $16.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.94 | $1.80 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.28 | $1.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Morning in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
6:32 AM
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
17 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
54m 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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate through changing road conditions as you transition from the Gatlinburg area toward Knoxville. Because the longest stretch on the Parkway is zero miles, you should be prepared for a drive that requires your full attention on local roads. The character of the trip is defined by its technical nature, moving away from high-speed transit and into a more constant, winding pace. You will feel the shift in road dynamics as you progress through the 38.4-mile path.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.1 mi on Chapman Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 441 / Parkway.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 54m drive. You will face about 4 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 441 / Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 12.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.6 miles (US 441 / Forks of the River Parkway): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,281 ft
900 ft
Total Climb
199 ft
Total Descent
580 ft
Highest Point
1,281 ft
Elevation Range
381 ft
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 54m. Total distance: 37.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (24%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.1 miles on Chapman Highway. 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 441 / Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 12.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.6 miles (US 441 / Forks of the River Parkway): Navigation decision point.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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