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Trip from Knoxville, TN to Gallatin, TN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 12m

Distance

170.9 mi

275 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 1m ★
6 AM
3h 13m
8 AM
3h 37m
10 AM
3h 21m
12 PM
3h 19m
3 PM
3h 22m
5 PM
3h 35m
8 PM
3h 6m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city and county seat of Knox County, State of Tennessee, United States

Knoxville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

city in and the county seat of Sumner County, Tennessee, United States

Gallatin, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 170.9-mile journey from Knoxville, TN, to Gallatin, TN, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 12 minutes. With 98% of the drive on highways, it's a straightforward, efficient route primarily utilizing I-40 and SR-109. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $27, making it an economical option. You'll experience a highway-focused drive across the Southeast region, transitioning within Tennessee. This route is ideal for a quick getaway or a direct transit between these two points, with only one suggested stop along the way.

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

85.4 miles from Knoxville, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 154.4 mi 2h 47m
SR 109 12.7 mi 18m
South Water Avenue 1.7 mi 3m
Western Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
Ailor Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
Henley Street 0.3 mi <1m
West Main Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 154.4 mi, about 2h 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Gallatin, 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

136 mi · 2 hr 26 min · I 40
Toward Nashville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 48 sec
Exit 232 Toward TN 109: Gallatin Use the slight right lane.
9

Turn right onto SR 109

13 mi · 18 min · SR 109
10

Continue on South Water Avenue

1.7 mi · 3 min · South Water Avenue
Use the left lane.
11

Turn left onto TN 25

67 ft · 1 sec · West Main Street
12

Arrive at destination

TN 25

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short 3-hour and 12-minute duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, offering flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave Knoxville in the morning to maximize daylight and arrive in Gallatin with ample time to settle in. With the longest stretch covering 154.4 miles on I-40, plan for a single stop around the halfway point for fuel and a brief break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Gallatin, as the $27 estimated cost is based on consistent highway travel, and unexpected detours could alter this.

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 85.4 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.4 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 38 miles or 43m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 85.4 miles or 1h 34m 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 33m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gallatin, 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 170.9 miles and 3h 12m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 154.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in Putnam County, Tennessee, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Monterey, TN

85 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

Kingston, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Monterey, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 85.4 miles from Knoxville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 154.4 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Coffee Stop

Capybara Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Knoxville, Tennessee

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

Visit website

Capybara Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Knoxville, Tennessee

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

Visit website

Market Square

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour Inexpensiv

Knoxville, Tennessee

+18652154248

Visit website

Marble Springs State Historic Site

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour

Knoxville, Tennessee

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+18655735508

Visit website

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 1.5 and 170.9 — 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.
7
20.1 mi into trip | ~24m in | I 40

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Nashville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Nashville
7
156.1 mi into trip | ~2h 50m in

Take the exit toward TN 109: Gallatin

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 232 Toward TN 109: Gallatin
4
170.9 mi into trip | ~3h 12m in | TN 25 / West Main Street

Turn left onto TN 25 / West Main Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.72 one way

$53.44 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 60 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $29.34 $58.67
premium $4.89 $32.89 $65.78
diesel $5.61 $37.73 $75.47

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 59.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 51.3 0 $17.94 $8.20
Efficient EV 42.7 0 $14.95 $6.84
EV Truck/SUV 68.4 0 $23.93 $10.94

Gas CO2

60 kg

EV CO2

20 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

12:44 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gallatin, TN

Night in Gallatin on Saturday

Local time

11:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

79°F

Monterey, TN

85 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

22 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 12m 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.

Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield

National Battlefield

The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...

22 mi from route ~54 min detour Free near mile 153.2
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 predominantly highway-focused drive for this trip, with 98% of your journey on interstate and state roads. The bulk of the mileage, a significant 154.4 miles, will be on I-40, offering a consistent, fast-paced travel experience. While largely a highway grind, the final leg will involve SR-109 and South Water Avenue, introducing a slight shift in road type as you approach your destination. This means you'll spend most of your time cruising at higher speeds, with the road character remaining fairly uniform for the majority of the drive.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 154.4 mi on I 40.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and SR 109. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 12m drive. You will face about 8 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. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Gallatin, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Nashville along the way.

Nashville

20.1 mi in | ~24m | via I 40

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 3h 12m. Total distance: 170.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 154.4 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. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Gallatin, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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