Lebanon, TN to Knoxville, TN is 151.1 miles and takes about 2h 47m via I 40, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward highway-focused drive, making it ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on I-40, so expect a consistent pace for the majority of the journey. Plan for a relatively quick transit with minimal detours.
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
75.5 miles from Lebanon, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
147.7 mi
2h 41m
Park Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
Sparta Pike
0.7 mi
1m
East Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East Baddour Parkway
<0.1 mi
<1m
Public Square
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 147.7 mi, about 2h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lebanon, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on US 231; US 70 Business
270 ft·4 sec·Public Square
2
Continue on US 70 Business
0.3 mi·36 sec·East Main Street
3
Turn slight right onto Park Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·Park Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 70
283 ft·4 sec·East Baddour Parkway
5
Continue on US 70
0.7 mi·1 min·Sparta Pike
6
Turn left
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville
7
Merge onto I 40
145 mi·2 hr 37 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi·3 min·I 40
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
11
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi·27 sec·Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
13
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day trip covering 151.1 miles and taking under 3 hours, you have plenty of flexibility. Leaving Lebanon, TN in the morning should get you to Knoxville with ample time to spare. The longest stretch is nearly the entire route on I-40, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before you embark or at the start of that long segment. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $24, this is an economical and efficient drive. Consider a mid-morning departure to avoid peak rush hour traffic in either city.
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 75.5 miles from Lebanon, TN, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 147.7 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 33 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.5 miles or 1h 24m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Knoxville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lebanon, 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 Lebanon, TN
This is one driving day of about 151.1 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Lebanon, 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 147.7 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 150.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in
Turn left toward I 40 East: Knoxville
Navigation decision point
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville
5
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
147.1 mi into trip|~2h 42m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
149.9 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Take the exit toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 388
Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee Histor...
7
150.3 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 388
Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee Histor...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.62 one way
$47.25 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.94
$51.87
premium
$4.89
$29.08
$58.16
diesel
$5.61
$33.36
$66.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.3
0
$15.87
$7.25
Efficient EV
37.8
0
$13.22
$6.04
EV Truck/SUV
60.4
0
$21.15
$9.67
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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
Lebanon, TN
Late night
in Lebanon on Sunday
Local time
5:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Partly Cloudy
S 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Morning
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
6:21 AM
EDT
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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
9 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 47m 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?
This is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with a substantial 98% of the route utilizing major highways. The vast majority of your time will be spent on I-40, including one uninterrupted stretch of 147.7 miles. You'll also encounter segments on Park Avenue and Sparta Pike, which might offer a slight change of scenery but remain integrated into the main thoroughfare. Expect a consistent driving experience with limited variation in road type, maintaining a steady speed for the duration.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 147.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Park Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 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 47m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 147.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 147.7 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 2.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 147.1 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 Knoxville, TN before heading back.
