Smyrna, TN to Greeneville, TN is 363.3 miles and takes about 6h 55m via I 40 and I 81, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. With 92% of the drive on highways, expect a fairly straightforward path for most of the trip. This route is well-suited for a single-day drive, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
181.6 miles from Smyrna, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
291.9 mi
5h 18m
I 81
22.7 mi
24m
US 641
13.8 mi
15m
West Andrew Johnson Highway
11.2 mi
12m
Broadway of America
5.4 mi
8m
SR 114
4.1 mi
7m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
4m
Buena Vista Road
2.5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 291.9 mi, about 5h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smyrna, TN and Greeneville, TN.
1
Start on Buck Ditch Road
58 ft·4 sec·Buck Ditch Road
2
Turn left onto Smyrna Road
2.0 mi·7 min·Smyrna Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto Buena Vista Road
2.5 mi·6 min·Buena Vista Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto SR 114
4.1 mi·7 min·SR 114
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 70; SR 114
2.4 mi·3 min·Broad Street
6
Continue on US 70
5.4 mi·8 min·Broadway of America
7
Turn right onto US 70
1.6 mi·2 min·US 70
8
Turn right onto US 641
14 mi·15 min·US 641
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
10
Merge onto I 40
81 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 40
Use the straight lane.
11
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.
12
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
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.
14
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.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·40 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
23 mi·24 min·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward US 11E: Mosheim, Greeneville, Bulls Gap
18
Turn right onto US 11E
11 mi·12 min·West Andrew Johnson Highway
19
Take the exit onto US 11E Business
0.2 mi·35 sec·US 11E Business
20
Keep slight right at fork onto US 11E Business
329 ft·9 sec·US 11E Business
21
Merge onto US 321; US 11E Business; SR 70
1.5 mi·2 min·West Summer Street
22
Turn left onto US 11E Business; US 321 Business
361 ft·6 sec·South Main Street
23
Arrive at destination
US 11E Business; US 321 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 55m estimated drive time, starting your trip in Smyrna, TN early in the morning will allow you to complete this drive within daylight hours. The majority of the route is on I 40 and I 81, making it easy to cover significant distance quickly. Plan for one stop to break up the 291.9-mile stretch on I 40. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach Greeneville, TN, as fuel availability might be less frequent on the final stretch of US 641.
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 181.6 miles from Smyrna, TN, or about 3h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 291.9 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 80 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 181.6 miles or 3h 34m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Greeneville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Smyrna, 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 Smyrna, TN
This is one driving day of about 363.3 miles and 6h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Smyrna, 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 291.9 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 327.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.5 mi into trip|~14m in|SR 114
At end of road, turn left onto SR 114
Navigation decision point
9
113.4 mi into trip|~2h 18m 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
116.6 mi into trip|~2h 23m 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
290.4 mi into trip|~5h 33m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
327.2 mi into trip|~6h 13m in|I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 North: Bristol
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.60 one way
$121.20 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$65.87
$131.73
premium
$5.26
$75.22
$150.44
diesel
$6.18
$88.38
$176.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
109
1
$38.15
$17.44
Efficient EV
90.8
1
$31.79
$14.53
EV Truck/SUV
145.3
1
$50.86
$23.25
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (66% 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Smyrna, TN
Late night
in Smyrna on Sunday
Local time
4:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Partly Cloudy
N 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Greeneville, TN
Late night
in Greeneville on Sunday
Local time
5:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
NW 10 mph23% 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 55m 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 137.8
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 313.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 92% of this 363.3-mile drive. The bulk of your time will be spent on I 40, with the longest continuous stretch covering 291.9 miles. After the highway portion, you'll transition to US 641 for the remainder of the trip. Expect a consistent pace on the interstate, with a notable change in scenery and traffic patterns as you move to the surface road.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 291.9 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in near SR 114.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 363.3 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 4.5 miles (SR 114): Navigation decision point; at 113.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,860 ft490 ft
Total Climb
2,245 ft
Total Descent
1,235 ft
Highest Point
1,860 ft
~207.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,370 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Smyrna, TN and Greeneville, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Greeneville is a small town in Tennessee that was the political base of President Andrew Johnson. You can visit two of his homes and his burial place here. The town was the capital of the short-lived State of Franklin in the 18th-century history of the Tennessee region.
Top landmarks
•Andrew Johnson National Historic Site — National Historic Site in the United States
•Andrew Johnson National Cemetery — national cemetery in Greeneville, Tennessee, United States
•Greeneville Historic District — historic district in Greeneville, Tennessee
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 55m. Total distance: 363.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 55m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 291.9 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 41 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 Greeneville, 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 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles (SR 114): Navigation decision point; at 113.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 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 13.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Greeneville, TN before the return drive.
