Knoxville, TN to Benton, TN is 81.4 miles and takes about 1h 39m via I-75 and I-40, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, starting in the Southeast region and ending in the same area. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey, making it an easy choice for a quick trip or a segment of a larger adventure. Plan for around $13 in fuel costs for this relatively short, efficient route.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.7 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
32.5 mi
34m
I 40
18.3 mi
21m
Tennessee Avenue
14.3 mi
17m
David W Lillard Memorial Highway
7.6 mi
10m
Ingleside Avenue
2.9 mi
5m
Highway 305
2.1 mi
3m
South White Street
1.2 mi
1m
Western Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 32.5 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Benton, 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 left at fork onto I 75
33 mi·34 min·I 75
Toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward TN 305: Athens
9
Keep slight left at fork
149 ft·5 sec
10
Turn straight onto SR 305
2.1 mi·3 min·Highway 305
11
Continue on SR 305
2.9 mi·5 min·Ingleside Avenue
12
Turn slight left onto SR 30; SR 39
0.3 mi·29 sec·Green Street
13
Continue on SR 30; SR 39
1.2 mi·1 min·South White Street
14
Continue on SR 30
7.5 mi·10 min·David W Lillard Memorial Highway
15
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 30
524 ft·8 sec·David W Lillard Memorial Highway
16
Merge onto US 411; SR 30
14 mi·17 min·Tennessee Avenue
17
Turn right onto Main Street
446 ft·20 sec·Main Street
18
At end of road, turn right onto Town Creek Road
74 ft·2 sec·Town Creek Road
19
Arrive at destination
Town Creek Road
Trip Plan
Given the short 1h 39m duration, this trip offers significant flexibility. You can depart anytime, but an early start will give you more daylight for activities upon arrival in Benton. With only 81.4 miles, you won't need extensive stops, but be aware that the longest stretch without a major exit is 32.5 miles on I-75. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Benton, as there are no planned stops on this route, and fuel stations can be more spaced out between exits on the interstate.
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 40.7 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.5 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 18 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.7 miles or 46m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benton, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Knoxville, TN
This is one driving day of about 81.4 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Knoxville, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 32.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 81.3 — 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 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
5
52.9 mi into trip|~59m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
81.3 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|Town Creek Road
At end of road, turn right onto Town Creek Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.73 one way
$25.45 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.97
$27.95
premium
$4.89
$15.66
$31.33
diesel
$5.61
$17.97
$35.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 64% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.4
0
$8.55
$3.91
Efficient EV
20.4
0
$7.12
$3.26
EV Truck/SUV
32.6
0
$11.40
$5.21
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (64% 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
Late night
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Benton, TN
Late night
in Benton on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Athens, TN
41 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 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
1h 39m 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?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 65% of the journey on major interstates. You'll experience stretches of smooth, fast travel, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 32.5 miles on I-75. The route primarily utilizes I-75 and I-40, offering a direct path. While predominantly interstate, you will transition to Tennessee Avenue as you approach Benton, offering a slight change of pace before reaching your destination.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.5 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 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 75): 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 81.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.5 miles on I 75. 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 Benton, 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 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 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Benton, TN before heading back.
