This straightforward 84.7-mile drive from South Cleveland, TN to Knoxville, TN is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 37 minutes. With 93% of the journey on highways, you'll be covering most of the distance on I-75 and I-40. The estimated fuel cost is around $13, making it an economical option for a quick hop within the Southeast region. This route is designed for efficiency, allowing you to reach your destination without needing to break it up over multiple days. It's a practical choice if you're looking for a no-fuss transition between these two Tennessee locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.3 miles from South Cleveland, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
75.8 mi
1h 22m
I 40
2.9 mi
3m
Keith Street
1.5 mi
2m
Inman Street East
0.8 mi
1m
25th Street NW
0.6 mi
<1m
Wildwood Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Wildwood Avenue Southeast
0.5 mi
<1m
25th Street Northwest
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 75.8 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Cleveland, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on this road
123 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn right
38 ft·4 sec
3
Turn right onto 18th Street Southeast
142 ft·11 sec·18th Street Southeast
4
Turn left onto SR 74
0.5 mi·50 sec·Wildwood Avenue Southeast
5
Continue on SR 74
0.2 mi·20 sec·Dalton Pk
6
Continue on SR 74
0.5 mi·54 sec·Wildwood Avenue
7
Turn left onto US 64
0.8 mi·1 min·Inman Street East
8
Turn right onto US 11
1.5 mi·2 min·Keith Street
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left onto TN 60
0.3 mi·35 sec·25th Street Northwest
Use the left lane.
10
Continue on TN 60
0.6 mi·58 sec·25th Street NW
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on TN 60
0.2 mi·18 sec·25th Street Northwest
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
13
Merge onto I 75
76 mi·1 hr 22 min·I 75
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi·3 min·I 40
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
17
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi·27 sec·Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
19
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 37-minute duration, this drive offers plenty of flexibility for departure time. You can easily leave in the morning and arrive well before lunch, or depart in the afternoon and reach Knoxville with ample evening time. With no specific stops recommended and a low fuel cost of $13, your main consideration is ensuring you have enough gas before starting. The longest stretch is 75.8 miles on I-75, so if you prefer to break up driving, a brief pause around the midway point would be sensible. Keep an eye out for the transition from I-75 to I-40 as you near Knoxville.
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 42.3 miles from South Cleveland, TN, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.8 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 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.3 miles or 50m 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 South Cleveland, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from South Cleveland, TN
This is one driving day of about 84.7 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from South Cleveland, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 75.8 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 83.9 — 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
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
2 mi into trip|~4m in|US 11 / Keith Street
Turn right onto US 11 / Keith Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
4.6 mi into trip|~8m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
83.5 mi into trip|~1h 35m 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
83.9 mi into trip|~1h 35m 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
$13.24 one way
$26.48 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.54
$29.08
premium
$4.89
$16.30
$32.60
diesel
$5.61
$18.70
$37.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.4
0
$8.89
$4.07
Efficient EV
21.2
0
$7.41
$3.39
EV Truck/SUV
33.9
0
$11.86
$5.42
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
South Cleveland, TN
Morning
in South Cleveland on Sunday
Local time
8:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Morning
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
8:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph34% chanceLive forecast
47°F
Luttrell, TN
42 mi in
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
10 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 37m 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 predominantly highway-focused experience on this 84.7-mile stretch, with 93% of the drive utilizing major interstates like I-75 and I-40. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted segment of 75.8 miles on I-75, offering a consistent pace for much of the journey. While the profile is primarily highway, the inclusion of Keith Street towards the end suggests a slight shift in character as you approach your destination. This route is about covering ground efficiently, with minimal distractions and a focus on forward momentum.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.8 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 40. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.7 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (US 11 / Keith Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 1h 37m. Total distance: 84.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.8 miles on I 75. 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: Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (US 11 / Keith Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Knoxville, TN before heading back.
