Origin
Knoxville, TN
Afternoon in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
1:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Knoxville, TN to Lynchburg, 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 39m
Distance
173.7 mi
279 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 27m
★
6 AM
3h 40m
8 AM
4h 5m
10 AM
3h 49m
12 PM
3h 46m
3 PM
3h 50m
5 PM
4h 4m
8 PM
3h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Knoxville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Lynchburg, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
This 173.7-mile drive from Knoxville, TN to Lynchburg, TN is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 39 minutes. You'll primarily travel on I-40, Sparta Highway, and Manchester Highway, with about 48% of the journey on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of $27, it's an economical choice for a quick getaway within the Southeast region. The mixed drive profile suggests a varied experience, making it suitable for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. Plan for one main stop along the way to break up the drive.
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
86.8 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 64.2 mi | 1h 10m |
| Sparta Highway | 29.1 mi | 42m |
| Manchester Highway | 11.7 mi | 13m |
| Lynchburg Highway | 9.8 mi | 14m |
| Bone Cave Parkway | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| Memorial Highway | 7.9 mi | 9m |
| McMinnville Highway | 7.6 mi | 9m |
| Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 64.2 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Lynchburg, 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
46 mi
·
49 min
·
I 40
Toward Nashville
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Toward TN 101: Crossville
9
Turn left onto SR 101
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Peavine Road
10
Enter roundabout onto US 70; SR 101
48 ft
·
1 sec
·
US 70; SR 101
11
Continue on US 70; SR 101
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
US 70; SR 101
12
Turn right onto US 70
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Avenue
13
Turn left onto US 70
26 mi
·
38 min
·
Sparta Highway
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on US 70
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Bockman Way
15
Turn left onto TN 1
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Mayberry Street
16
Continue on TN 1
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Broadway of America
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
18
Merge onto US 70S; SR 111
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Spencer Highway
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70S
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Memorial Highway
20
Continue on US 70S
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Bone Cave Parkway
21
Continue on US 70S
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Sparta Highway
22
Continue on US 70S
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Sparta Street
23
Continue on US 70S
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway
24
Continue on SR 55
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
H T Pelham Memorial Parkway
25
Continue on SR 55
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Manchester Highway
26
Merge onto SR 55
7.6 mi
·
9 min
·
McMinnville Highway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on SR 55
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
McArthur Street
28
Continue on SR 55
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
New Tullahoma Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Continue on SR 55
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
New Manchester Highway
30
Continue on SR 55
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East Carroll Street
31
Turn right onto US 41A; SR 55; SR 130
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jackson Street
32
Turn left onto SR 55; SR 130
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Wilson Avenue
33
Continue on SR 55
9.8 mi
·
14 min
·
Lynchburg Highway
34
Turn left onto Hiles Street
77 ft
·
2 sec
·
Hiles Street
35
Arrive at destination
Hiles Street
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 39-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Knoxville to maximize your time in Lynchburg. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short distance, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before heading into the longer 64.2-mile stretch on I-40, as services can be more spread out on interstates. The estimated fuel cost of $27 makes this an affordable day trip, so you can focus on enjoying the journey rather than worrying about expenses. A practical tip is to fill up in Knoxville before you leave to ensure you start with a full tank.
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 86.8 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.2 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 86.8 miles or 1h 46m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lynchburg, 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 173.7 miles and 3h 39m.
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 64.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 86.8 miles from Knoxville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 141.6 — 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
66.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
US 70; SR 101
Enter roundabout onto US 70; SR 101
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
70.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
US 70 / Sparta Highway
Turn left onto US 70 / Sparta Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
141.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 54m in
|
SR 55 / McMinnville Highway
Merge onto SR 55 / McMinnville Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.16 one way
$54.31 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.82 | $59.63 |
| premium | $4.89 | $33.43 | $66.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.35 | $76.70 |
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: 60.8 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 | 52.1 | 0 | $18.24 | $8.34 |
| Efficient EV | 43.4 | 0 | $15.20 | $6.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.5 | 0 | $24.32 | $11.12 |
Gas CO2
61 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.
Destination
Lynchburg, TN
Afternoon in Lynchburg on Sunday
Local time
12:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Monterey, TN
87 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
3h 39m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this drive is a mixed bag, offering a blend of highway speeds and more local road cruising. With 48% of the route on highways, you'll experience stretches of faster travel, including a significant 64.2-mile segment on I-40. As you transition to roads like Sparta Highway and Manchester Highway, expect the pace to slow and the scenery to potentially become more varied. This progression from interstate to more direct routes provides a dynamic driving experience, keeping things interesting as you cover the 173.7 miles.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.2 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 17 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 Effort
6/10
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 173.7 miles you will encounter 17 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 66.7 miles (US 70; SR 101): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Lynchburg, 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 39m. Total distance: 173.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.2 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.
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 Lynchburg, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 66.7 miles (US 70; SR 101): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Lynchburg, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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