Origin
Jefferson City, TN
Morning in Jefferson City on Sunday
Local time
9:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jefferson City, 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
35m
Distance
28.7 mi
46 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jefferson City, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Knoxville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Jefferson City to Knoxville, this 28.7-mile trip is a quick, straightforward journey that typically takes about 34 minutes to complete. Because of the short distance, you can easily handle this as a single-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via West Broadway Boulevard, Andrew Johnson Highway, and Asheville Highway as you travel through the Southeast. Budgeting approximately $4 for fuel should be plenty for this direct commute. It is an ideal route for those looking for a practical, no-fuss connection between these two Tennessee locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Johnson Highway | 13.9 mi | 15m |
| Asheville Highway | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| I 40 | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| West Broadway Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Russell Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| James White Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Cumberland Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Neyland Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Andrew Johnson Highway
— 13.9 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson City, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on Russell Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Russell Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 11E
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway Boulevard
3
Continue on US 11E
14 mi
·
15 min
·
Andrew Johnson Highway
4
Continue on US 11E; US 25W; US 70
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Asheville Highway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward US 25W North, I 40 West
6
Merge onto I 40; US 25W
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
I 40; US 25W
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 388A; 389
Toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of Tennessee
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White Parkway, Downtown, University of Tennessee
9
Continue on TN 158
0.4 mi
·
23 sec
·
James White Parkway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 158
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Neyland Drive
Toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University of Tennessee
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue
12
Continue on Cumberland Avenue
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Cumberland Avenue
13
Turn left onto US 441
393 ft
·
16 sec
·
Henley Street
14
Continue on US 441
255 ft
·
11 sec
·
Henley Street
15
Arrive at destination
US 441
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 21.7 and 28 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
21.7 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward US 25W North, I 40 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 25W North, I 40 West
8
26.3 mi into trip
|
~31m 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
26.6 mi into trip
|
~31m 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
27.9 mi into trip
|
~34m 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
28 mi into trip
|
~34m 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
$4.49 one way
$8.97 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.93 | $9.85 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.52 | $11.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.34 | $12.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.01 | $1.38 |
| Efficient EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.51 | $1.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
9:42 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
28 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
35m 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-focused experience rather than a high-speed interstate haul. Since the highway share is 0%, you will spend your time navigating local surface roads rather than cruising on major freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on West Broadway Boulevard, meaning you should be prepared for frequent stops and transitions throughout the drive. This profile makes for a more engaged driving experience that requires your full attention compared to a standard highway trek. As you transition from Jefferson City toward Knoxville, the road character remains consistent as a local connector.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.9 mi on Andrew Johnson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 21.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 28.7 miles you will encounter 7 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 21.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,201 ft
868 ft
Total Climb
146 ft
Total Descent
446 ft
Highest Point
1,201 ft
Elevation Range
333 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jefferson City, TN and Knoxville, TN, road signs point toward University Of Tennessee and Downtown.
University Of Tennessee
26.3 mi in
|
~31m
Downtown
26.6 mi in
|
~31m
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 35m. Total distance: 28.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.9 miles on Andrew Johnson Highway. 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 21.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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