Traveling from Knoxville to Altamont covers a total distance of 143.3 miles, making for a straightforward journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 1 minute. You can easily complete this trek in a single day, as it functions perfectly as a one-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $22 on fuel for the round trip. The path takes you across the Southeast region, transitioning from the Knoxville area toward the plateau landscapes of Altamont. Because the drive is relatively short and manageable, it offers a great deal of flexibility for your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
71.7 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
38.5 mi
43m
Rhea County Highway
31.9 mi
39m
SR 111
11.5 mi
13m
Dayton Pike
9.8 mi
11m
TN 8
8.4 mi
11m
SR 108
7.2 mi
10m
Rifle Range Road
6.9 mi
12m
North Gateway Avenue
6.2 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 38.5 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Altamont, TN.
1
Start on US 441
0.2 mi·19 sec·Henley Street
2
Continue on US 441
0.1 mi·14 sec·Henley Street
3
Turn slight left onto SR 62
0.7 mi·1 min·Western Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto Ailor Avenue
0.4 mi·43 sec·Ailor Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 40 West, I 75 South
6
Merge onto I 40
18 mi·21 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
20 mi·21 min·I 40
Toward Nashville
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 27, TN 61: Harriman, Rockwood
9
Turn left onto US 27
2.3 mi·2 min·South Roane Street
10
Continue on US 27
6.2 mi·7 min·North Gateway Avenue
11
Continue on US 27
4.4 mi·4 min·Spring City Highway
12
Continue on US 27
32 mi·39 min·Rhea County Highway
13
Continue on US 27
9.8 mi·11 min·Dayton Pike
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
15
Merge onto TN 111
5.4 mi·6 min·TN 111
16
Continue on SR 111
11 mi·13 min·SR 111
17
Continue on TN 8; TN 111
8.4 mi·11 min·TN 8; TN 111
18
Turn left onto SR 399
1.6 mi·2 min·Rifle Range Road
19
Continue on SR 399
3.8 mi·6 min·Artillery Road
20
Continue on SR 399
5.3 mi·9 min·Rifle Range Road
21
At end of road, turn right onto SR 108
7.2 mi·10 min·SR 108
22
Turn right onto SR 56
4.6 mi·6 min·SR 56
23
Turn right onto Cumberland Street
526 ft·23 sec·Cumberland Street
24
Arrive at destination
Cumberland Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a roughly three-hour drive, try to depart early in the morning to maximize your time once you arrive in Altamont. You only need to plan for one major stop along the way, which keeps your momentum steady throughout the trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge when you transition off I-40, as services may become less frequent once you hit the local highways. Because the route is compact, you have the advantage of being able to adjust your arrival time based on traffic conditions without feeling rushed. A helpful tip for this specific route is to prioritize your single planned stop during the transition from the interstate to the state highways to ensure you are fully fueled for the final leg.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.7 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.5 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 32 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.7 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altamont, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Knoxville, 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 Knoxville, TN
This is one driving day of about 143.3 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Knoxville, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 38.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 131.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.5 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 40 West, I 75 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40 West, I 75 South
5
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
20.1 mi into trip|~24m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Nashville
5
40.3 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit toward US 27, TN 61: Harriman, Rockwood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 27, TN 61: Harriman, Rockwood
4
131.4 mi into trip|~2h 43m in|SR 108
At end of road, turn right onto SR 108
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.40 one way
$44.81 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.60
$49.20
premium
$4.89
$27.58
$55.15
diesel
$5.61
$31.64
$63.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43
0
$15.05
$6.88
Efficient EV
35.8
0
$12.54
$5.73
EV Truck/SUV
57.3
0
$20.06
$9.17
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Knoxville, TN
Morning
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
6:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Altamont, TN
Late night
in Altamont on Sunday
Local time
5:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Dayton, TN
72 mi in
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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
24 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
3h 1m 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 mixed driving experience as you navigate this 143.3-mile route. You will start with high-speed travel, as highway driving accounts for 53% of the journey, including a notable 38.5-mile stretch on I-40. As you move off the interstate and transition onto Rhea County Highway and SR 111, the road personality shifts from the monotony of major thoroughfares to more localized transit. This change in road type requires you to stay alert as you move between high-capacity lanes and smaller corridors. Overall, the drive balances quick, efficient interstate miles with the slower, more technical pace of state-level highways.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 1m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,191 ft714 ft
Total Climb
2,802 ft
Total Descent
1,847 ft
Highest Point
2,191 ft
~122.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,477 ft
Notable High Points
1,859 ft at ~102.4 miles+1,088 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Knoxville, TN and Altamont, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Rockwood.
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 38.5 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 1.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Altamont, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
