Origin
Knoxville, TN
Late night in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
12:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Knoxville, TN to Powells Crossroads, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 35m
Distance
130.7 mi
210 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 26m
★
6 AM
2h 36m
8 AM
2h 57m
10 AM
2h 43m
12 PM
2h 41m
3 PM
2h 44m
5 PM
2h 56m
8 PM
2h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Knoxville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Powells Crossroads, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Knoxville, TN to Powells Crossroads, TN is 130.7 miles and takes about 2h 35m via I 75 and I 40, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's easy to complete in a single day. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground without extended travel time.
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
65.3 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 83.1 mi | 1h 31m |
| I 40 | 18.3 mi | 21m |
| Suck Creek Road | 14.5 mi | 21m |
| I 24 | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| US 27 | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Signal Mountain Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Western Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Ailor Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 83.1 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Powells Crossroads, 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 left at fork onto I 75
83 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
·
I 75
Toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 24
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
I 24
Toward Chattanooga, Nashville
10
Take the exit onto US 27
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 27
Exit 178
Toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 27
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 27
Exit 178
Toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 27
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
US 27
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward US 127 North: Signal Mountain
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
15
Turn straight onto US 127
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Signal Mountain Road
16
Turn left onto SR 27
15 mi
·
21 min
·
Suck Creek Road
17
Turn right onto SR 283
58 ft
·
1 sec
·
Alvin C. York Highway
18
Arrive at destination
SR 283
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 35m duration, leaving Knoxville in the morning allows ample time to reach Powells Crossroads without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $20, this is an easy day trip. The longest continuous stretch on I 75 is over 83 miles, so plan for a fuel stop before or after that segment if your tank is low. Since this is a relatively short drive, you have flexibility in your departure time and can easily adjust your schedule.
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 65.3 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.1 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 29 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.3 miles or 1h 14m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Powells Crossroads, 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 130.7 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 75 for about 83.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.3 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 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.1 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 20.1 and 110 — 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 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
7
103.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 55m in
Take the exit toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
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.
Toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
8
109.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m in
|
US 27
Take the exit onto US 27 toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain
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 178
Toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain
10
109.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m in
|
US 27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 27 toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 178
Toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain
6
110 mi into trip
|
~2h 5m in
|
US 27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 27
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.43 one way
$40.87 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.44 | $44.87 |
| premium | $4.89 | $25.15 | $50.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.86 | $57.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.2 | 0 | $13.72 | $6.27 |
| Efficient EV | 32.7 | 0 | $11.44 | $5.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.3 | 0 | $18.30 | $8.36 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Powells Crossroads, TN
Night in Powells Crossroads on Saturday
Local time
11:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
24 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 35m 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?
This is a highway-focused drive for 85% of the trip, covering 130.7 miles. You'll experience a longest stretch of 83.1 miles on I 75 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a significant amount of highway cruising with frequent exits for much of the drive. The final portion of the route will be on surface roads as you approach your destination.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.1 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 40. 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 75.
Driving Effort
8/10
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 130.7 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 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.7 miles (US 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
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 Powells Crossroads, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain.
Nashville
103.2 mi in
|
~1h 55m
Chattanooga
103.9 mi in
|
~1h 56m
|
via I 24
Lookout Mountain
109.7 mi in
|
~2h 4m
|
via US 27
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 2h 35m. Total distance: 130.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.1 miles on I 75. 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 Powells Crossroads, 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 20.1 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.7 miles (US 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Powells Crossroads, TN before heading back.
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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