Knoxville, TN to Smithville, TN is 127.9 miles and takes about 2h 27m via I 40 and Cookeville Highway, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region, primarily within Tennessee, offering a straightforward trip. It's a good option for a single-day excursion when you want to get from point A to point B efficiently. With no scheduled stops, you can adjust your timing as needed, making it a flexible choice for your travel plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
64 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
112.9 mi
2h 3m
Cookeville Highway
11.7 mi
17m
Western Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Smithville Highway
0.6 mi
<1m
Congress Boulevard
0.5 mi
<1m
Ailor Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East Walnut Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 112.9 mi, about 2h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Smithville, 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
95 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 40
Toward Nashville
8
Take the exit onto SR 56
0.2 mi·33 sec·SR 56
Toward TN 56 South: Smithville, McMinnville
9
Turn left onto SR 56
0.6 mi·55 sec·Smithville Highway
10
Continue on SR 56
12 mi·17 min·Cookeville Highway
11
Continue on SR 56
0.5 mi·47 sec·Congress Boulevard
12
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
0.2 mi·55 sec·East Walnut Street
13
Turn left onto North College Street
300 ft·18 sec·North College Street
14
Turn left onto West Market Street
199 ft·8 sec·West Market Street
15
Arrive at destination
West Market Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 27 minutes, you can easily complete this trip within a single day. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unforeseen delays. While the route doesn't include designated stops, keep an eye out for services along I 40, especially before you get too far into the longest stretch of 112.9 miles. Fuel costs are estimated at $20, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before you set off to avoid needing to search for stations on less-trafficked sections.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 64 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.9 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 28 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64 miles or 1h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Smithville, 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 127.9 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Knoxville, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 112.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 114.8 — 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
114.6 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|SR 56
Take the exit onto SR 56 toward TN 56 South: Smithville, McMinnville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TN 56 South: Smithville, McMinnville
4
114.8 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|SR 56 / Smithville Highway
Turn left onto SR 56 / Smithville Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.00 one way
$39.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.95
$43.91
premium
$4.89
$24.61
$49.23
diesel
$5.61
$28.24
$56.48
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: 44.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.4
0
$13.43
$6.14
Efficient EV
32
0
$11.19
$5.12
EV Truck/SUV
51.2
0
$17.91
$8.19
Gas CO2
45 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Knoxville, TN
Morning
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
7:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Smithville, TN
Morning
in Smithville on Sunday
Local time
6:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 27m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 88% of the route utilizing major roads like I 40. You'll experience an uninterrupted stretch of 112.9 miles on I 40, which means consistent speed and minimal traffic disruptions for most of the journey. As you transition to Cookeville Highway and Western Avenue, expect a slight shift in pace, though the overall feel remains geared towards efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. The profile suggests a drive that prioritizes getting you to your destination promptly.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 112.9 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Cookeville Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 27m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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.
Between Knoxville, TN and Smithville, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Mcminnville.
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.
The longest stretch is about 112.9 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Smithville, TN before heading back.
