Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
70.5 mi
113 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Greeneville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Knoxville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Greeneville to Knoxville covers approximately 70.5 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 21 minutes. This Southeast corridor is a straightforward journey that functions perfectly as a quick day trip, making an overnight stay unnecessary. You can expect to spend around $11 on fuel for the one-way transit. The route relies heavily on West Andrew Johnson Highway, I-81, and I-40 to connect these two Tennessee cities. Because the drive is relatively short, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, whether you are heading out for business or leisure.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 31.5 mi | 34m |
| I 81 | 22.7 mi | 24m |
| West Andrew Johnson Highway | 12.5 mi | 14m |
| West Church Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| James White Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Cumberland Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Neyland Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Henley Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Greeneville, TN and Knoxville, TN.
Start on US 11E Business; US 321 Business
Turn left onto West Church Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 11E; US 321
Turn left
Merge onto I 81
Continue on I 81
Merge onto I 40
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on TN 158
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 158
Take the exit
Continue on Cumberland Avenue
Turn left onto US 441
Continue on US 441
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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.
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 35.3 miles from Greeneville, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 36.6 and 69.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
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
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
Take the exit toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$11.02 one way
$22.04 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.10 | $24.20 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.57 | $27.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.57 | $31.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.40 | $3.38 |
| Efficient EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.17 | $2.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.2 | 0 | $9.87 | $4.51 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Greeneville on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 77% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will begin on local roads before transitioning to the interstate system, where the pace picks up significantly. The longest uninterrupted segment occurs on I-40, spanning 31.5 miles of the journey. While the route lacks technical, winding mountain roads, the transition from smaller highways to the high-speed interstate environment defines the experience. Expect a consistent, efficient commute that prioritizes speed and directness over secondary road exploration.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 36.6 miles in near I 40.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.5 miles you will encounter 9 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 36.6 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 68.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
297 ft
Total Descent
863 ft
Highest Point
1,526 ft
Elevation Range
581 ft
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 70.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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