This 207.7-mile drive from Knoxville, TN to Spring Hill, TN is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend around 3 hours and 49 minutes on the road, with a projected fuel cost of approximately $32. The route is predominantly highway, making it efficient for covering ground. As both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, you'll stay within familiar territory throughout. This trip is well-suited for a day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
103.8 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
151 mi
2h 44m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
47.7 mi
51m
Columbia Pike
5.1 mi
7m
Western Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Main Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Ailor Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 151 mi, about 2h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Spring Hill, 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
133 mi·2 hr 22 min·I 40
Toward NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Exit 235Toward I 840 West: Memphis, MurfreesboroUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 840
48 mi·51 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 28Toward US 31: Franklin, ColumbiaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
272 ft·8 sec
Toward US 31 South: Thompson's Station, Spring Hill, ColumbiaUse the left lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
130 ft·3 sec
Toward US 31 South: Thompson's Station, Spring Hill, Columbia
13
Turn straight onto US 31
5.1 mi·7 min·Columbia Pike
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 31
0.5 mi·48 sec·Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
US 31
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 49 minute estimated duration, departing Knoxville in the morning will allow you to reach Spring Hill with plenty of daylight remaining. The longest stretch on I-40 is over 150 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you embark on that significant segment. With only one primary stop recommended, you have flexibility in choosing where to break up your journey. Consider making your single stop around the halfway point to refresh before continuing on the main roads.
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 103.8 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151 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 46 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.8 miles or 1h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spring Hill, 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 207.7 miles and 3h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 151 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 20.1 and 202 — 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
8
152.8 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
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 235
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
8
201.6 mi into trip|~3h 39m in
Take the exit toward US 31: Franklin, Columbia
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 28
Toward US 31: Franklin, Columbia
8
202 mi into trip|~3h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 31 South: Thompson's Station, Spring Hill, Columbia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 31 South: Thompson's Station, Spring...
7
202 mi into trip|~3h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 31 South: Thompson's Station, Spring Hill, Columbia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 31 South: Thompson's Station, Spring...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.67 one way
$61.35 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$33.86
$67.72
premium
$4.72
$38.56
$77.13
diesel
$4.80
$39.22
$78.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.3
0
$21.81
$9.97
Efficient EV
51.9
0
$18.17
$8.31
EV Truck/SUV
83.1
1
$29.08
$13.29
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Knoxville, TN
Morning
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
7:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 0 to 5 mph39% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 7:58PM CDT until July 18 at 8:30PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 7:55PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Spring Hill, TN
Morning
in Spring Hill on Sunday
Local time
6:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Patchy Fog
0 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 7:58PM CDT until July 18 at 8:30PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 7:55PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
86°F
Baxter, TN
104 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
1 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
3h 49m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With a 96% highway share, this drive is largely focused on efficient travel. You'll spend most of your time on I-40 and other main roads like Tennessee National Guard Parkway and Columbia Pike. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 151 miles on I-40, meaning fewer opportunities for spontaneous stops during that segment. While primarily a highway-focused experience, the inclusion of parkway and pike sections suggests a slight shift in scenery and speed as you get closer to your destination, though the overall character remains that of a swift transit.
96% 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: 151 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 207.7 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 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 152.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 201.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,910 ft539 ft
Total Climb
1,284 ft
Total Descent
1,433 ft
Highest Point
1,910 ft
~74.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,371 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 Spring Hill, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Murfreesboro.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 49m. Total distance: 207.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 151 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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 Spring Hill, 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 18 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 152.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 201.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Spring Hill, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
