Knoxville to Lebanon is 150.6 miles and takes about 2 hours 46 minutes via I 40, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region and entirely within Tennessee, offering a straightforward path. Expect a predominantly highway experience with minimal detours, making it a practical choice for a quick trip. It’s a good option if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
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
75.3 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
146.8 mi
2h 39m
Park Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
Western Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Sparta Pike
0.5 mi
<1m
Ailor Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Public Square
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 146.8 mi, about 2h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Lebanon, 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
128 mi·2 hr 18 min·I 40
Toward Nashville
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 70, TN 26: Watertown, Lebanon
9
Keep slight right at fork
416 ft·10 sec
Toward US 70, TN 26: Watertown, Lebanon
10
Turn straight onto US 70
0.5 mi·54 sec·Sparta Pike
11
Turn left onto Park Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·Park Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Turn slight left onto US 70 Business
0.3 mi·36 sec·East Main Street
13
Enter roundabout onto US 231; US 70 Business
67 ft·1 sec·Public Square
14
Arrive at destination
US 231; US 70 Business
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short drive time of under three hours, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Aim to depart Knoxville in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to pull over. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as most of the drive is on the interstate; the estimated fuel cost is around $24. Pay attention to the exit numbers as you get closer to Lebanon, as the final approach involves navigating surface streets.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.3 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 146.8 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 33 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.3 miles or 1h 23m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lebanon, 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 150.6 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 146.8 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 149.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
5
20.1 mi into trip|~24m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Nashville
5
148.5 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward US 70, TN 26: Watertown, Lebanon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 70, TN 26: Watertown, Lebanon
7
148.7 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 70, TN 26: Watertown, Lebanon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 70, TN 26: Watertown, Lebanon
5
149.3 mi into trip|~2h 44m in|Park Avenue
Turn left onto Park Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.54 one way
$47.09 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.85
$51.70
premium
$4.89
$28.98
$57.96
diesel
$5.61
$33.25
$66.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.2
0
$15.81
$7.23
Efficient EV
37.7
0
$13.18
$6.02
EV Truck/SUV
60.2
0
$21.08
$9.64
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Knoxville, TN
Late night
in Knoxville on Tuesday
Local time
5:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lebanon, TN
Late night
in Lebanon on Tuesday
Local time
4:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 46m 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
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...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 150.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 97% of the drive taking place on I 40. You'll cover a significant 146.8 miles on I 40 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a high volume of exits and merging traffic as you approach your destination on Western Avenue and Park Avenue, which make up the final stretch. The driving experience is largely about maintaining highway speeds for the majority of the trip.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 146.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Park Avenue. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort5/10
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 150.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 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; at 148.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Knoxville, TN to Lebanon, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Nashville 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 2h 46m. Total distance: 150.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 146.8 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 1.8 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 148.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. 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 Lebanon, TN before heading back.
