Spanning 370.5 miles across Tennessee, this journey from Obion to Knoxville takes approximately 5 hours and 42 minutes of pure road time. Because this route relies on local roads like Main Street, 8th Street, and West Palestine Avenue rather than major interstates, it is best suited for a focused, single-day trip. You should budget about $56 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast locations. While the drive is manageable in one go, you will need to plan for at least one stop to keep your energy up. Choosing this path means trading highway speed for a direct, turn-heavy local experience that crosses the state.
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
185.3 miles from Obion, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
176.7 mi
3h 13m
US 412
163 mi
3h
US 51
24.7 mi
27m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
4m
West Palestine Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Elbridge-Obion Road
0.5 mi
1m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
8th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 176.7 mi, about 3h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Obion, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on this road
88 ft·12 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Main Street
257 ft·13 sec·Main Street
3
Turn right onto 8th Street
401 ft·23 sec·8th Street
4
Turn left onto SR 183
0.9 mi·1 min·West Palestine Avenue
5
Continue on SR 183
0.5 mi·1 min·Elbridge-Obion Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 51 South: Dyersburg
7
Merge onto US 51
16 mi·17 min·US 51
8
Take the exit onto US 51
8.8 mi·10 min·US 51
Toward US 51 South, US 412 East: Dyersburg, Jackson
9
Continue on US 412
5.7 mi·6 min·US 412
10
Continue on US 412
29 mi·34 min·US 412
11
Turn left onto US 412
128 mi·2 hr 18 min·US 412
Toward I-40 East, US 412 East: NashvilleUse the straight / right lanes.
12
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.
13
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
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.
15
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.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi·3 min·I 40
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
19
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi·27 sec·Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
21
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
For a trip of this length, departing early in the morning is your best bet to ensure you reach Knoxville well before nightfall. Since you are sticking to local roads, account for extra time beyond the estimated 5 hours and 42 minutes for traffic and navigation adjustments. Plan your single required stop strategically to coincide with a fuel top-off, keeping that $56 budget in mind as you track your consumption. Because the route is entirely local, be prepared for frequent speed limit changes and intersections that don't exist on major freeways. Your best strategy is to keep a reliable GPS running at all times to manage the complex series of turns on Main Street and 8th Street.
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 185.3 miles from Obion, TN, or about 3h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 176.7 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 82 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 185.3 miles or 3h 27m 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 44m
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 Obion, 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 Obion, TN
This is one driving day of about 370.5 miles and 6h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Obion, 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 176.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 369.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto Main Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
61.1 mi into trip|~1h 13m in|US 412
Turn left onto US 412 toward I-40 East, US 412 East: Nashville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I-40 East, US 412 East: Nashville
9
189.5 mi into trip|~3h 31m 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
192.7 mi into trip|~3h 36m 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...
7
369.8 mi into trip|~6h 49m 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
$57.92 one way
$115.85 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg130 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$63.60
$127.20
premium
$4.89
$71.30
$142.60
diesel
$5.61
$81.80
$163.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
111.1
1
$38.90
$17.78
Efficient EV
92.6
1
$32.42
$14.82
EV Truck/SUV
148.2
1
$51.87
$23.71
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
43 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Obion, TN
Night
in Obion on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Late night
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
12:25 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
21 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 51m 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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 204.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a technical and engaging experience behind the wheel, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate a sequence of local roads that require your full attention due to the high frequency of turns. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this path forces you to remain alert as you transition between local streets. The drive maintains a consistent, winding character that demands steady focus from start to finish. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience where the road surface and navigation change constantly throughout the 370.5-mile journey.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 176.7 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 412. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
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 14 significant decision points across 370.5 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: near the start (Main Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 61.1 miles (US 412): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 189.5 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 Obion, 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 51m. Total distance: 370.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 51m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 176.7 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: near the start (Main Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 61.1 miles (US 412): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 189.5 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 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.7 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.
