Traveling from Knoxville to Jonesborough covers 93.3 miles of Tennessee landscape, typically taking about 1 hour and 48 minutes of driving time. Because this is a relatively short trip, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via I-40 East and I-81 North to reach your destination. With an estimated fuel cost of only $14, it is an economical choice for a quick getaway. Whether you are heading out for business or leisure, this route remains entirely within the Southeast region, ensuring a consistent feel throughout your journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.6 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West Andrew Johnson Highway
35 mi
42m
I 40
33.2 mi
36m
I 81
22.7 mi
24m
West Jackson Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
West Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Henley Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Washington Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
North Cherokee Street
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Andrew Johnson Highway
— 35 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Jonesborough, 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
23 mi·24 min·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward US 11E: Mosheim, Greeneville, Bulls Gap
7
Turn right onto US 11E
35 mi·42 min·West Andrew Johnson Highway
8
Continue on US 11E; US 321
0.7 mi·1 min·West Jackson Boulevard
9
Turn right onto Washington Drive
0.2 mi·47 sec·Washington Drive
10
At end of road, turn left onto West Main Street
0.3 mi·33 sec·West Main Street
11
Turn left onto North Cherokee Street
33 ft·0 sec·North Cherokee Street
12
Arrive at destination
North Cherokee Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 48 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around local traffic patterns. Since there are no mandatory stops included in this 93.3-mile trip, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to refuel mid-journey. Keep your $14 fuel budget in mind when planning your total travel costs for the day. Because the route features significant turns, try to avoid driving during heavy rain or low-visibility conditions to ensure a smoother experience. Take advantage of the short distance by leaving early in the morning to maximize your time in Jonesborough.
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 46.6 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35 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 21 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.6 miles or 51m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jonesborough, 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 93.3 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Knoxville, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on West Andrew Johnson Highway for about 35 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 93 — 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
93 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|West Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto West Main Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.59 one way
$29.17 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.02
$32.03
premium
$4.89
$17.95
$35.91
diesel
$5.61
$20.60
$41.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28
0
$9.80
$4.48
Efficient EV
23.3
0
$8.16
$3.73
EV Truck/SUV
37.3
0
$13.06
$5.97
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jonesborough, TN
Late night
in Jonesborough on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
28 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 48m 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?
Expect a mix of interstate efficiency and more technical driving as you transition toward Jonesborough. While the initial segments utilize major corridors like I-40 and I-81, the overall profile is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive. You won't find monotonous stretches of long, straight highway here; instead, be prepared for more engaged steering as you exit the main arteries. The route requires your full attention as the roads shift from high-speed transit to winding local paths. It is an active driving experience rather than a mindless cruise, demanding steady focus as you navigate the curves.
60% 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: 35 mi on West Andrew Johnson Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 48m 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 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.
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 Jonesborough, TN, road signs point toward Greeneville and Bulls Gap.
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.
The longest stretch is about 35 miles on West Andrew Johnson Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.8 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jonesborough, TN before heading back.
