This 270.6-mile drive from Loretto, TN to Knoxville, TN will take you approximately 5 hours to complete. It's a solid day trip, perfect for getting from one side of Tennessee to the other without needing an overnight stay. The route is heavily focused on highways, with about 77% of the journey on major roads like I-40 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. Expect a fuel cost of around $42 for this trip. Both your starting and ending points are within the Southeast region, keeping the scenery and feel consistent throughout your travels.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
135.3 miles from Loretto, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
152 mi
2h 45m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
45 mi
48m
Lawrenceburg Highway
30.5 mi
35m
Andrew Jackson Highway
19 mi
21m
I 65
12.1 mi
12m
South Locust Avenue
5.5 mi
6m
South Military Street
3.4 mi
3m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 152 mi, about 2h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Loretto, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn left onto Church Street
504 ft·24 sec·Church Street
3
Turn left onto US 43
3.4 mi·3 min·South Military Street
4
Continue on US 43
8.2 mi·9 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
5
Continue on US 43
5.5 mi·6 min·South Locust Avenue
6
Continue on US 43
11 mi·12 min·Andrew Jackson Highway
7
Continue on US 43
31 mi·35 min·Lawrenceburg Highway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
9
Merge onto I 65
12 mi·12 min·I 65
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 59A-BToward I 840: Memphis, KnoxvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·41 sec
Exit 59AToward 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro
12
Merge onto I 840
45 mi·48 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 76AToward I 40 East: Knoxville, LebanonUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 40
149 mi·2 hr 42 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi·3 min·I 40
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
18
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi·27 sec·Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
20
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
With a 5-hour estimated duration for this 270.6-mile trip, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Knoxville without feeling rushed. You'll want to plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs, especially considering the longest stretch on I-40 is 152 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $42. Since this is a manageable day trip, you have flexibility; however, be aware that traffic can build up on I-40 as you approach Knoxville, so factoring in potential slowdowns is a good idea.
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 135.3 miles from Loretto, TN, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 152 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 60 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135.3 miles or 2h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 5m
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 Loretto, 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 Loretto, TN
This is one driving day of about 270.6 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Loretto, 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 152 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 71 and 269.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
71 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward I 840: Memphis, Knoxville
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 59A-B
Toward I 840: Memphis, Knoxville
7
71.2 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 59A
Toward 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro
9
116.8 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 76A
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
6
269.5 mi into trip|~4h 58m 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
269.9 mi into trip|~4h 58m 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
$42.31 one way
$84.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$46.45
$92.90
premium
$4.89
$52.07
$104.15
diesel
$5.61
$59.75
$119.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.2
1
$28.41
$12.99
Efficient EV
67.7
0
$23.68
$10.82
EV Truck/SUV
108.2
1
$37.88
$17.32
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Loretto, TN
Late night
in Loretto on Sunday
Local time
2:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Late night
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
3:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Lebanon, TN
135 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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
4 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
5h on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 270.6-mile journey. With 77% of the route utilizing major roadways, you'll spend a good portion of your time on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 152 miles on I-40, meaning you can cover ground efficiently. While primarily highway, you will experience segments on Lawrenceburg Highway and Tennessee National Guard Parkway, offering a slight variation from the constant interstate pace. This profile suggests a drive focused on covering distance rather than winding scenic byways.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 152 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 71 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 12 significant decision points across 270.6 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 71 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Loretto, TN and Knoxville, TN, road signs point toward 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro and Lebanon.
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 5h. Total distance: 270.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 152 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Knoxville, 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 71 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Knoxville, TN before the return drive.
