Knoxville, TN to Pleasant View, TN is 138.5 miles and takes about 2h 57m via I 40 and Sparta Highway, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route, entirely within Tennessee, offers a straightforward journey through the Southeast region. It's a manageable drive, ideal for a single-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace. You'll experience a mix of highway and local road driving, making it a practical choice for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently.
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
69.2 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
64.2 mi
1h 10m
Sparta Highway
29.1 mi
42m
Nashville Highway
9.8 mi
11m
Bone Cave Parkway
9.4 mi
10m
Memorial Highway
7.9 mi
9m
Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway
3.1 mi
3m
Spencer Highway
2.6 mi
3m
US 70
2.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 64.2 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Pleasant View, 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
3.1 mi·3 min·Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway
24
Take the exit onto US 70S
0.3 mi·48 sec·US 70S
25
Keep slight left at fork
422 ft·12 sec
26
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.3 mi·18 sec·West Main Street
27
Continue on US 70S
9.8 mi·11 min·Nashville Highway
28
Turn left onto Prater Town Road
0.2 mi·46 sec·Prater Town Road
29
At end of road, turn right onto Old Nashville Highway
0.4 mi·43 sec·Old Nashville Highway
30
Continue on Old McMinnville Highway
0.1 mi·19 sec·Old McMinnville Highway
31
Turn left onto Pleasant View Road
1.8 mi·6 min·Pleasant View Road
32
Arrive at destination
Pleasant View Road
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 57m estimated duration, this is a perfect one-day trip, so leaving in the morning will give you ample time. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $22, planning is minimal. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 64.2 miles on I-40, so ensure you have enough fuel before heading out on that segment. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition from I-40 to Sparta Highway and then Nashville Highway, as these changes mark the shift from faster highway driving to more local roads.
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 69.2 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 1h 20m 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 30 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.2 miles or 1h 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 2h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pleasant View, 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 138.5 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 70.6 — 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.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.65 one way
$43.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.77
$47.55
premium
$4.89
$26.65
$53.31
diesel
$5.61
$30.58
$61.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.6
0
$14.54
$6.65
Efficient EV
34.6
0
$12.12
$5.54
EV Truck/SUV
55.4
0
$19.39
$8.86
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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 18, 2026
Origin
Knoxville, TN
Late night
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
3:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pleasant View, TN
Late night
in Pleasant View on Sunday
Local time
2:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°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
16 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
2h 57m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 138.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is a mixed bag, with 57% of it on highways, primarily I-40. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 64.2 miles on I-40, which means a good portion of the trip involves consistent highway speeds. As you transition off the interstate onto roads like Sparta Highway and Nashville Highway, expect the character to change, offering a more local driving experience. This blend means you get both the efficiency of the interstate and the feel of navigating through smaller communities.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 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?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
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 19 significant decision points across 138.5 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 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.
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 Pleasant View, 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 57m. Total distance: 138.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
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 Pleasant View, 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 1.5 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.
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 Pleasant View, TN before heading back.
