Mason, TN to Knoxville, TN is 354.3 miles and takes about 6h 33m via I 40, with a fuel budget near $54 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, taking you from the western part of the state to the eastern edge. It's a pretty straightforward drive, mostly on the interstate, making it a convenient option if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss. Plan for a single day of driving, as the duration is manageable.
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
177.1 miles from Mason, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
336.4 mi
6h 5m
US 70
8.2 mi
12m
Stanton Koko Road
3.4 mi
5m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
4m
Dancyville Road
0.7 mi
1m
South Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
West Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 336.4 mi, about 6h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mason, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on Main Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 70; US 79
8.2 mi·12 min·US 70; US 79
3
Turn right onto SR 179
0.2 mi·25 sec·West Main Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto SR 179
0.6 mi·1 min·South Main Street
5
Continue on SR 179
3.4 mi·5 min·Stanton Koko Road
6
Turn right onto SR 179
0.7 mi·1 min·Dancyville Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 47Toward SR 179
8
Merge onto I 40
160 mi·2 hr 51 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 208AToward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, HuntsvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 40
0.5 mi·42 sec·Downtown Loop
Exit 211B; 211AToward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksville, Louisville, Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
174 mi·3 hr 9 min·I 40
Exit 211AToward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi·3 min·I 40
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
16
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi·27 sec·Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 33m estimated drive time, leaving Mason, TN in the morning should allow you to reach Knoxville with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop and a mostly highway profile, you can easily complete this in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch on I 40, as services can sometimes be spread out between exits in rural sections. Budgeting around $54 for fuel should cover the 354.3 miles.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 177.1 miles from Mason, TN, or about 3h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 336.4 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 78 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.1 miles or 3h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 26m
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 Mason, 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 Mason, TN
This is one driving day of about 354.3 miles and 6h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Mason, 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 336.4 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.3 and 353.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
13.3 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the ramp toward SR 179
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Exit 47
Toward SR 179
9
173.3 mi into trip|~3h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsv...
9
176.4 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 211A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattan...
6
353.1 mi into trip|~6h 31m 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
353.5 mi into trip|~6h 32m 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
$52.32 one way
$104.64 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg124 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$57.76
$115.52
premium
$4.72
$65.78
$131.57
diesel
$4.80
$66.90
$133.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
106.3
1
$37.20
$17.01
Efficient EV
88.6
1
$31.00
$14.17
EV Truck/SUV
141.7
1
$49.60
$22.68
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (67% 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Mason, TN
Morning
in Mason on Sunday
Local time
9:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Patchy Fog
0 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Morning
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
10:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph8% chanceLive 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
1 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
6h 33m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 195.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly highway, with 97% of the driving on interstates and major roads. You'll spend most of your time on I 40, covering a substantial stretch of 336.4 miles on this single highway. Expect a consistent driving experience with frequent exits and services along the interstate for much of the way, before transitioning to US 70 and Stanton Koko Road for the final miles.
97% 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: 336.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.3 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 13 significant decision points across 354.3 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 13.3 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 173.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 176.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,877 ft313 ft
Total Climb
2,207 ft
Total Descent
1,620 ft
Highest Point
1,877 ft
~278.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,564 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Mason, TN and Knoxville, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville and Chattanooga.
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 6h 33m. Total distance: 354.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 33m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 336.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 37 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 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. There are 37 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.3 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 173.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 176.4 miles (I 40): 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 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.1 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.
