Origin
Newport, TN
Night in Newport on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Newport, TN to Knoxville, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
50 mi
81 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Newport, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Knoxville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition from Newport to Knoxville, this 50-mile trip is a straightforward journey through Tennessee. You can comfortably complete the drive in about 57 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting around $8 for fuel should cover your travel costs, keeping the trip highly economical. By utilizing I-40, Cosby Highway, and James White Parkway, you will navigate the Southeast region efficiently. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a change of scenery, the brevity of this route offers great flexibility for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 45.7 mi | 50m |
| Cosby Highway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| James White Parkway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Cumberland Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Broadway Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Neyland Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Henley Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| McMahan Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 45.7 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newport, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on this road
56 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto US 321
94 ft
·
5 sec
·
McMahan Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 25; US 70; US 321
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Broadway Street
4
Turn left onto US 321; SR 32
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Cosby Highway
Use the left lane.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
6
Merge onto I 40
46 mi
·
50 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 388A; 389
Toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of Tennessee
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White Parkway, Downtown, University of Tennessee
9
Continue on TN 158
0.4 mi
·
23 sec
·
James White Parkway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 158
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Neyland Drive
Toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University of Tennessee
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue
12
Continue on Cumberland Avenue
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Cumberland Avenue
13
Turn left onto US 441
393 ft
·
16 sec
·
Henley Street
14
Continue on US 441
255 ft
·
11 sec
·
Henley Street
15
Arrive at destination
US 441
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25 miles from Newport, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 49.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 25; US 70; US 321 / East Broadway Street
Turn right onto US 25; US 70; US 321 / East Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
8
47.7 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of Tennessee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 388A; 389
Toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of Ten...
6
47.9 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White Parkway, Downtown, University of Tennessee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White P...
6
49.2 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
TN 158 / Neyland Drive
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 158 / Neyland Drive toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University of Tennessee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University o...
6
49.4 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.82 one way
$15.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.58 | $17.17 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.62 | $19.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.04 | $22.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20 | 0 | $7.00 | $3.20 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Night in Knoxville on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 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
57m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 92% of your drive will be spent on major roads. The journey is dominated by a 45.7-mile stretch on I-40, which serves as the backbone of your trek between these two Tennessee cities. Because the vast majority of the 50 miles is interstate travel, you should prepare for a consistent, high-speed pace rather than a winding backroad cruise. Transitioning onto the James White Parkway as you approach Knoxville marks the final phase of the drive, shifting the feel from open interstate to a more direct urban entry point.
92% 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: 45.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Cosby Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 25; US 70; US 321 / East Broadway Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 50 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 25; US 70; US 321 / East Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 47.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Knoxville, TN
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 50 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.7 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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: near the start (US 25; US 70; US 321 / East Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 47.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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