This 131.5-mile drive from Gordonsville, TN to Knoxville, TN is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 26 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $21, making it an economical choice. Primarily utilizing I-40, this route offers a highway-focused experience through the Southeast region of Tennessee. Given its efficiency, it's an ideal option for a quick transition between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
65.8 miles from Gordonsville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
128.8 mi
2h 21m
Main Street
0.9 mi
2m
Gordonsville Highway
0.4 mi
<1m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Maple Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 128.8 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gordonsville, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on Maple Street
38 ft·6 sec·Maple Street
2
Turn left onto SR 141; SR 264
0.9 mi·2 min·Main Street
3
Turn right onto SR 53
0.4 mi·53 sec·Gordonsville Highway
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
5
Merge onto I 40
126 mi·2 hr 17 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi·3 min·I 40
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
9
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi·27 sec·Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
11
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under 2.5 hours, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart whenever suits you best, but consider an early start to avoid any potential traffic entering Knoxville. Since the longest stretch is over 128 miles on I-40, plan for your fuel and rest stops accordingly, even though the overall drive is short. The primary road is I-40, so keep an eye on the mileage markers as you approach Knoxville for your specific exit. With minimal stops required and a low fuel cost of $21, this drive is designed for efficiency.
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 65.8 miles from Gordonsville, TN, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.8 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 29 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.8 miles or 1h 13m 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 59m
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 Gordonsville, 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 Gordonsville, TN
This is one driving day of about 131.5 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Gordonsville, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 128.8 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 130.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
127.5 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
130.4 mi into trip|~2h 24m 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
130.8 mi into trip|~2h 25m 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
$20.56 one way
$41.12 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.57
$45.14
premium
$4.89
$25.31
$50.61
diesel
$5.61
$29.03
$58.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.4
0
$13.81
$6.31
Efficient EV
32.9
0
$11.51
$5.26
EV Truck/SUV
52.6
0
$18.41
$8.42
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Gordonsville, TN
Morning
in Gordonsville on Tuesday
Local time
6:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Morning
in Knoxville on Tuesday
Local time
7:48 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
21 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
2h 26m 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?
Expect a highly highway-oriented experience on this route, with a 98% highway share. You'll be on I-40 for the vast majority of the trip, including an impressive uninterrupted stretch of 128.8 miles. This means the drive is characterized by consistent speeds and minimal deviations from the main interstate. While there's a brief segment on Main Street and Gordonsville Highway at the start, the bulk of your time will be spent cruising on the interstate, offering a predictable and efficient journey.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 128.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Main Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 26m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.5 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
The longest stretch is about 128.8 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.5 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.
