Origin
Knoxville, TN
Morning in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Knoxville, TN to Central, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 4m
Distance
109 mi
175 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 56m
★
6 AM
2h 5m
8 AM
2h 22m
10 AM
2h 11m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 12m
5 PM
2h 22m
8 PM
1h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Knoxville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Central, TN
Diego Girón
Trip Overview
This 109-mile drive from Knoxville, TN, to Central, TN, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 4 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-81 and I-40, with a brief segment on James H. Quillen Parkway, this route is almost entirely highway, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip. You're looking at an estimated fuel cost of around $17 for this relatively short distance. Given its efficiency and manageable length, this drive is perfect for a quick excursion within the Southeast region, requiring no overnight stops.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.5 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 56.6 mi | 1h |
| I 40 | 33.2 mi | 36m |
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 14 mi | 16m |
| King Springs Road | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| Elizabethton Highway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Legion Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Henley Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 56.6 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Central, 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
57 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 81
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 57A
Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
7
Merge onto I 26; US 23
14 mi
·
16 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 23
Toward TN 91
9
Turn slight left onto SR 91
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Main Street
10
Turn straight onto SR 91
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Legion Street
11
Turn left onto King Springs Road
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
King Springs Road
12
Turn slight right onto SR 91
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Elizabethton Highway
13
Arrive at destination
SR 91
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour drive, departing in the morning will allow you to arrive with ample time for any activities at your destination. With only 109 miles, you have the flexibility to leave when you're ready. The estimated fuel cost is $17, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you set off, as the longest stretch without a major exit is over 56 miles on I-81. Consider a brief stop around the halfway mark if you prefer to break up the driving, though it's not strictly necessary for this short trip.
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 54.5 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.6 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 24 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.5 miles or 1h 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Central, 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 109 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 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 56.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 54.5 miles from Knoxville, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 90.7 — 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
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
90.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 57A
Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, As...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.04 one way
$34.08 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.71 | $37.42 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.98 | $41.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.07 | $48.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.7 | 0 | $11.44 | $5.23 |
| Efficient EV | 27.3 | 0 | $9.54 | $4.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.6 | 0 | $15.26 | $6.98 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
Central, TN
Morning in Central on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°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
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
2h 4m 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
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 22.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for 95% of this 109-mile trip. You'll spend a good portion of your time on I-81, experiencing a longest uninterrupted stretch of 56.6 miles on this interstate. The route is designed for efficiency, meaning you'll likely encounter consistent highway speeds for most of the journey. While the roads are predominantly interstate, the transition onto James H. Quillen Parkway may offer a slight change in pace before rejoining the main highway corridors.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.6 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 109 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 0.8 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,810 ft
818 ft
Total Climb
1,354 ft
Total Descent
592 ft
Highest Point
1,810 ft
~85.6 mi in
Elevation Range
992 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.
On the drive from Knoxville, TN to Central, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.
Asheville
90.7 mi in
|
~1h 38m
About the Cities
Starting 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 2h 4m. Total distance: 109 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.6 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 Central, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 0.8 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Central, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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