This straightforward 102.5-mile drive from Knoxville, TN, to Bloomingdale, TN, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 54 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. With 86% of the journey on highways, you'll primarily be on I-81 and I-40, with a brief section on South John B Dennis Highway. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $16, which is quite budget-friendly for a single day's adventure. Given its relatively short distance and efficient route, this drive offers a convenient way to travel within the Southeast region without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.2 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
50.5 mi
54m
I 40
33.2 mi
36m
South John B Dennis Highway
7.5 mi
8m
Sullivan Gardens Drive
3.1 mi
3m
TN 93
2.4 mi
2m
South Wilcox Drive
1.5 mi
1m
Sullivan Gardens Parkway
1.4 mi
1m
Bloomingdale Pike
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 50.5 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Bloomingdale, TN.
1
Start on US 441
0.2 mi·19 sec·Henley Street
2
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 40, I 275 North: Nashville, Asheville, Lexington
3
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I 40 East: Asheville
4
Merge onto I 40
33 mi·36 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
51 mi·54 min·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 50Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
7
Keep slight right at fork
509 ft·14 sec
Exit 50Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
8
Merge onto SR 93
0.6 mi·38 sec·SR 93
9
Continue on TN 93
2.4 mi·2 min·TN 93
10
Continue on SR 93
3.1 mi·3 min·Sullivan Gardens Drive
11
Continue on SR 93
1.5 mi·1 min·South Wilcox Drive
12
Continue on SR 93
1.4 mi·1 min·Sullivan Gardens Parkway
13
Continue on TN 93
7.5 mi·8 min·South John B Dennis Highway
14
Turn right onto Bloomingdale Pike
1.2 mi·2 min·Bloomingdale Pike
15
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
62 ft·2 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Pennsylvania Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 1-hour-and-54-minute drive, you have the flexibility to leave whenever it suits you best, as it's well-suited for a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the 50.5-mile stretch on I-81, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination without needing an unplanned stop. Given the $16 fuel cost estimate, it's an economical trip, but it's always wise to factor in a buffer. The main roads, I-81 and I-40, are generally well-maintained, but be prepared for potential traffic, especially during peak commuting hours.
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 51.2 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.5 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 23 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.2 miles or 56m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bloomingdale, 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 102.5 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Knoxville, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 50.5 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 84.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the exit toward I 40, I 275 North: Nashville, Asheville, Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40, I 275 North: Nashville, Asheville,...
5
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Asheville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 40 East: Asheville
6
34.1 mi into trip|~38m in|I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 North: Bristol
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
6
84.6 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 50
Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
8
84.8 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 50
Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.02 one way
$32.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.59
$35.19
premium
$4.89
$19.73
$39.45
diesel
$5.61
$22.63
$45.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.8
0
$10.76
$4.92
Efficient EV
25.6
0
$8.97
$4.10
EV Truck/SUV
41
0
$14.35
$6.56
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 15, 2026
Origin
Knoxville, TN
Late night
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bloomingdale, TN
Late night
in Bloomingdale on Sunday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
7 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
1h 54m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 21.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 102.5-mile trip, with 86% of it spent on interstates like I-81 and I-40. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 50.5 miles on I-81, offering a good opportunity to maintain a steady pace. While primarily interstate driving, the inclusion of South John B Dennis Highway provides a slight variation in the road profile as you approach your destination. This route is designed for efficient travel, minimizing time on slower local roads.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.5 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 40. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 102.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 34.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Knoxville, TN to Bloomingdale, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Fall Branch along the way.
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 54m. Total distance: 102.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.5 miles on I 81. 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 Bloomingdale, 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 0.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 34.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bloomingdale, TN before heading back.
