Origin
Rockwood, TN
Late night in Rockwood on Sunday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rockwood, 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
54m
Distance
47.4 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rockwood, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Knoxville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Rockwood to Knoxville, you are looking at a straightforward 47.4-mile journey that typically takes about 47 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a quick day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics or mid-trip hotel bookings. With a fuel budget of roughly $7, it is an incredibly affordable way to move between these two Southeast Tennessee locations. Since the entire trip is located within the Southeast region, you will find a consistent atmosphere throughout the drive. It is a practical, no-fuss connection that allows you to easily manage your time and expenses.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 39.5 mi | 44m |
| Roane State Highway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| North Gateway Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Henley Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Rockwood Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Kingston Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 39.5 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rockwood, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on North Kingston Avenue
201 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Kingston Avenue
2
Turn right onto East Rockwood Street
348 ft
·
18 sec
·
East Rockwood Street
3
Turn right onto US 27; US 70
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Gateway Avenue
4
Continue on US 27; US 70
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Roane State Highway
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
6
Merge onto I 40
37 mi
·
40 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
I 40
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 388
Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 388
Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
10
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 441
255 ft
·
11 sec
·
Henley Street
12
Arrive at destination
US 441
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.7 miles from Rockwood, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 46.7 — 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
|
East Rockwood Street
Turn right onto East Rockwood Street
Navigation decision point
5
6.8 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
43.4 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
46.3 mi into trip
|
~52m 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
46.7 mi into trip
|
~53m 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
$7.41 one way
$14.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.14 | $16.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.12 | $18.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.47 | $20.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 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 | 14.2 | 0 | $4.98 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.15 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.64 | $3.03 |
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
Late night in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
4:13 AM
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
9 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
54m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate experience, as this route features zero percent highway driving. You will navigate via East Rockwood Street, North Gateway Avenue, and Roane State Highway, keeping your focus on local roads for the entire 47.4-mile duration. Because the longest stretch is essentially zero miles on East Rockwood Street, you should be prepared for constant changes in direction rather than long, monotonous highway cruises. This drive requires your full attention behind the wheel as you transition through the local road network. The personality of this trip is defined by its technical, winding nature through the Southeast landscape.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and Roane State Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Rockwood Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 54m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Rockwood Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.8 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 54m. Total distance: 47.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.5 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: near the start (East Rockwood Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.8 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.4 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.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Knoxville, TN
More trips to Knoxville, TN
Explore more options from Rockwood, TN or browse trips ending in Knoxville, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.