This 363.4-mile drive from Knoxville, TN to Oakland, TN is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can comfortably be completed in a single day, with an estimated duration of 6 hours and 42 minutes. You'll spend nearly all of your time on major highways, making it an efficient trip. With a projected fuel cost of around $57, it's an affordable option for covering ground across Tennessee. The route is primarily on I-40, with brief transitions onto TN-194 and the Downtown Loop. This drive is ideal for those prioritizing speed and simplicity in the Southeast region.
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
181.7 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
347.9 mi
6h 17m
TN 194
8.3 mi
14m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
3m
TN 59
2.3 mi
3m
Western Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Ailor Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Church Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 347.9 mi, about 6h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Oakland, 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
155 mi·2 hr 46 min·I 40
Toward NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·3 min·I 40
Exit 213BToward I 24 West, I 40 West: NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
0.4 mi·42 sec·I 40
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, MemphisUse the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 40
0.6 mi·52 sec·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 40
2.3 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Exit 210AToward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, LouisvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
172 mi·3 hr 5 min·I 40
Toward I 40 West: MemphisUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 35Toward Primary SR 59: Covington, Somerville
14
Turn sharp left onto TN 59
2.3 mi·3 min·TN 59
15
Turn right onto TN 194
8.3 mi·14 min·TN 194
16
Arrive at destination
SR 194
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour and 42-minute journey, consider an early morning departure from Knoxville to avoid potential traffic. With a longest uninterrupted stretch of 347.9 miles on I-40, plan for one significant fuel and rest stop around the halfway point. Given the single-day feasibility and consistent highway profile, you'll have flexibility in timing your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach your destination in Oakland, TN, as services can sometimes be more spread out on interstates.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 181.7 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 3h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 347.9 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 181.7 miles or 3h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oakland, 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 363.4 miles and 6h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 347.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 20.1 and 352.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
9
174.9 mi into trip|~3h 10m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
8
177.1 mi into trip|~3h 14m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
7
180.4 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 West: Memphis
6
352.6 mi into trip|~6h 24m in
Take the exit toward Primary SR 59: Covington, Somerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 35
Toward Primary SR 59: Covington, Somerville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.42 one way
$120.84 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$65.81
$131.63
premium
$5.18
$74.15
$148.31
diesel
$5.35
$76.54
$153.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
109
1
$38.16
$17.44
Efficient EV
90.9
1
$31.80
$14.54
EV Truck/SUV
145.4
1
$50.88
$23.26
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Knoxville, TN
Afternoon
in Knoxville on Wednesday
Local time
3:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 0 to 5 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Oakland, TN
Afternoon
in Oakland on Wednesday
Local time
2:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph12% chanceLive 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
6 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
6h 42m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 162.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for 99% of this route. The vast majority of your travel, a continuous stretch of 347.9 miles, will be on I-40, offering a consistent driving pace. While the profile is predominantly highway, you will encounter brief segments on TN-194 and the Downtown Loop, which may offer a slight change of scenery and pace before rejoining the main interstate. This drive is designed for efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 347.9 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and TN 194. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20.1 miles in near I 40.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 363.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 20.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 177.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,995 ft325 ft
Total Climb
1,538 ft
Total Descent
2,058 ft
Highest Point
1,995 ft
~77.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,670 ft
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 Oakland, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Memphis and Louisville.
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.
Top landmarks
•Sunsphere — observation tower in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
•Andrew Johnson Building — historic high-rise in Knoxville, Tennessee
•Ayres Hall — historic academic building at the University of Tennessee, USA
Oakland is a port city in the Bay Area of California in the United States. Once an industrial area overshadowed by San Francisco, its larger neighbor to the west, this city of 440,000 people (2020) has begun to step out from under San Francisco's shadow with its notable natural and architectural features and its rise as the multicultural "hipster" city of the Bay Area.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 42m. Total distance: 363.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 42m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 347.9 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 39 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.
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 Oakland, 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. There are 39 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 20.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 177.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.7 hours each way, a round trip means 13.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Oakland, TN before the return drive.
