Knoxville, TN to Lewisburg, TN is 219 miles and takes about 4h 11m via I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region, specifically within Tennessee. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey, making it a practical choice for a single-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, so expect a consistent pace. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without a lot of detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
109.5 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
151 mi
2h 44m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
34.1 mi
36m
Horton Highway
15.5 mi
23m
Nashville Highway
13.4 mi
19m
North Horton Parkway
0.7 mi
1m
Western Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
North 2nd Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Ailor Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 151 mi, about 2h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Lewisburg, 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
133 mi·2 hr 22 min·I 40
Toward NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Exit 235Toward I 840 West: Memphis, MurfreesboroUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 840
34 mi·36 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·48 sec
Exit 42Toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, LewisburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 31A; US 41A
2.8 mi·4 min·Horton Highway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 31A
13 mi·18 min·Horton Highway
13
Continue on US 31A; SR 99
0.7 mi·1 min·North Horton Parkway
14
Continue on US 31A; SR 99
13 mi·19 min·Nashville Highway
15
Continue on US 31A Business; US 431 Business
0.4 mi·42 sec·Verona Avenue
16
Continue on US 31A Business; US 431 Business
0.5 mi·56 sec·North 2nd Avenue
17
Enter roundabout onto US 31A Business; US 431 Business
247 ft·5 sec·North 2nd Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just over 4 hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. It's generally best to leave in the morning to maximize daylight and avoid potential rush hour congestion, though this route doesn't have major urban centers directly on its path. You'll encounter one significant stretch of 151 miles on I 40, so plan a fuel and rest stop before you hit that segment to ensure you're comfortable. With only one recommended stop, you can easily break up the drive as needed.
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 109.5 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151 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 48 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.5 miles or 2h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lewisburg, 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 219 miles and 4h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 151 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 188 — 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
8
152.8 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
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 235
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
8
188 mi into trip|~3h 24m in
Take the exit toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, Lewisburg
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 42
Toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, Lewisburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.24 one way
$68.48 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$37.59
$75.18
premium
$4.89
$42.14
$84.29
diesel
$5.61
$48.35
$96.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.7
0
$23.00
$10.51
Efficient EV
54.8
0
$19.16
$8.76
EV Truck/SUV
87.6
1
$30.66
$14.02
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Morning
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
6:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lewisburg, TN
Late night
in Lewisburg on Sunday
Local time
5:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Carthage, TN
110 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
9 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
4h 11m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 173.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily focused on highway driving, with 85% of the journey on major roads like I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 151 miles on I 40, so settle in for some sustained travel. The character of the drive is primarily high-speed and direct, with Horton Highway offering a slight change of pace in certain sections. Expect a consistent driving experience for the majority of the trip, characterized by efficient travel on well-maintained highways.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 151 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 219 miles you will encounter 10 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 1.5 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.
Between Knoxville, TN and Lewisburg, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Murfreesboro.
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 4h 11m. Total distance: 219 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Knoxville, TN to Lewisburg, TN covers 219 miles and takes about 4h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, Tennessee National Guard Parkway, Horton Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 109.5 miles from Knoxville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.24 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 219 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
Between Knoxville, TN and Lewisburg, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Murfreesboro.
