This 124.2-mile journey from Knoxville, TN to Fairmount, TN is a straightforward drive, taking approximately 2 hours and 28 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day trip, with a projected fuel cost of around $19. The route primarily utilizes major interstates, making it a highly efficient way to travel within the Southeast region. Expect a highway-focused experience that gets you to your destination without much fuss. Given its manageable distance and duration, you'll have plenty of flexibility for departure times and potential brief pauses along the way.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
62.1 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
83.1 mi
1h 31m
I 40
18.3 mi
21m
I 24
5.8 mi
7m
US 27
4.4 mi
5m
Taft Highway
4.4 mi
6m
Signal Mountain Boulevard
3 mi
4m
Signal Mountain Road
1.6 mi
2m
Western Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 83.1 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Fairmount, 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
83 mi·1 hr 31 min·I 75
Toward I 75 South: ChattanoogaUse the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·56 sec
Toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 24
5.8 mi·7 min·I 24
Toward Chattanooga, Nashville
10
Take the exit onto US 27
0.2 mi·15 sec·US 27
Exit 178Toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout MountainUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 27
0.2 mi·16 sec·US 27
Exit 178Toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout MountainUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 27
4.0 mi·5 min·US 27
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward US 127 North: Signal Mountain
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·12 sec
15
Turn straight onto US 127
1.6 mi·2 min·Signal Mountain Road
16
Continue on US 127
3.0 mi·4 min·Signal Mountain Boulevard
17
Continue on US 127
4.4 mi·6 min·Taft Highway
18
Turn right onto Gahagan Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Gahagan Road
19
At end of road, turn left onto Fairmount Pike
0.3 mi·1 min·Fairmount Pike
20
Turn right onto North Fairmount Road
52 ft·2 sec·North Fairmount Road
21
Arrive at destination
North Fairmount Road
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 28-minute drive, you have the advantage of flexibility. Consider an early morning departure to avoid any potential traffic, especially as you leave Knoxville. Since it's a relatively short trip with no designated stops in the data, you can easily complete it in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly before starting the 83.1-mile stretch on I-75, to ensure you have enough to reach Fairmount or a convenient upcoming exit. The straightforward nature of this route means planning for extensive rest breaks isn't necessary, allowing you to arrive refreshed.
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 62.1 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.1 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 27 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.1 miles or 1h 10m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairmount, 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 124.2 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 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 83.1 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 20.1 and 110 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
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. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
7
103.2 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Take the exit toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
8
109.7 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|US 27
Take the exit onto US 27 toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 178
Toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain
10
109.9 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|US 27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 27 toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 178
Toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain
6
110 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|US 27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 27
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.42 one way
$38.83 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.32
$42.64
premium
$4.89
$23.90
$47.80
diesel
$5.61
$27.42
$54.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.3
0
$13.04
$5.96
Efficient EV
31.1
0
$10.87
$4.97
EV Truck/SUV
49.7
0
$17.39
$7.95
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (65% 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
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fairmount, TN
Late night
in Fairmount on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°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
11 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
2h 28m 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?
The bulk of this drive, 90% to be exact, is on major highways, offering a consistent and fast-paced travel experience. You'll encounter an 83.1-mile stretch on I-75, which will be the longest uninterrupted segment. This profile means you'll be spending most of your time on the interstate, with minimal time on local roads. The drive is designed for efficiency, so don't expect many winding scenic byways; instead, anticipate a clear path marked by the familiar signs of interstate travel.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.1 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 20.1 miles in near I 75.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 124.2 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 20.1 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.7 miles (US 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Fairmount, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain.
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 2h 28m. Total distance: 124.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.1 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 Fairmount, 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 20.1 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.7 miles (US 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fairmount, TN before heading back.
