Traveling from Monterey to Knoxville covers 88 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 23 minutes. Since this is a straightforward trek across the Southeast, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate using East Stratton Avenue, Crossville Highway, and the Convention Center as your primary thoroughfares. Budgeting roughly $13 for fuel should be sufficient to cover the distance comfortably. Because the route is quite short and direct, it serves as an efficient connection between these two Tennessee locations. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick change of scenery, this drive offers a manageable timeframe for any road trip itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44 miles from Monterey, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
85.8 mi
1h 34m
East Stratton Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
South Holly Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Crossville Highway
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 85.8 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monterey, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on SR 84
0.3 mi·30 sec·South Holly Street
2
Turn left onto US 70N
0.4 mi·47 sec·East Stratton Avenue
3
Continue on US 70N
0.2 mi·20 sec·Crossville Highway
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
5
Merge onto I 40
83 mi·1 hr 30 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi·3 min·I 40
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
9
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi·27 sec·Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
11
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
Since the drive is only 1 hour and 23 minutes, you have significant flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops, as the duration is short enough to drive straight through without a break. Given the turn-heavy nature of this route, ensure your GPS or navigation system is set up before you pull away to avoid missing critical turns on the local roads. Keep that $13 fuel budget in mind as you head out, and consider filling up in Monterey if you prefer to avoid stopping once you reach the busier Knoxville area. The lack of highway miles means you should prioritize comfort over cruise control for this specific trek.
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 44 miles from Monterey, TN, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.8 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 19 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44 miles or 49m 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 22m
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 Monterey, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Monterey, TN
This is one driving day of about 88 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Monterey, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 85.8 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 0.9 and 87.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
1 mi into trip|~1m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
84 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
86.9 mi into trip|~1h 36m 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
87.3 mi into trip|~1h 36m 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
$13.76 one way
$27.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.11
$30.21
premium
$4.89
$16.93
$33.87
diesel
$5.61
$19.43
$38.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.4
0
$9.24
$4.22
Efficient EV
22
0
$7.70
$3.52
EV Truck/SUV
35.2
0
$12.32
$5.63
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 13, 2026
Origin
Monterey, TN
Afternoon
in Monterey on Sunday
Local time
4:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Evening
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
5:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Partly Sunny
SW 5 to 15 mph10% 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
2 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
1h 38m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 88-mile trip. With a highway share of 0%, you will spend your time navigating local roads rather than high-speed lanes. The longest stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on East Stratton Avenue, indicating that you will be making frequent turns and adjustments throughout the duration. This setup requires you to stay alert and engaged with the road, as the route avoids the predictability of major freeways. Behind the wheel, you should prepare for a localized driving experience that demands your full attention from start to finish.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and East Stratton Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 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 1h 38m 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 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84 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 85.8 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Knoxville, TN before heading back.
