This 96.7-mile drive from Spurgeon, TN, to Knoxville, TN, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 48 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-81 and I-40, this route is highly focused on highway travel, making it an ideal day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $15, it's an economical option for a single day of travel. Since both the origin and destination are within the Southeast region, you'll experience consistent regional character throughout the drive. No specific stops are noted, suggesting a direct transit experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.3 miles from Spurgeon, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
59.2 mi
1h 3m
I 40
31.5 mi
34m
Fort Henry Drive
3 mi
4m
James White Parkway
0.4 mi
<1m
Cumberland Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Kingsport Highway
0.3 mi
<1m
Neyland Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Henley Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 59.2 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spurgeon, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on this road
96 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Gray Station Road
402 ft·15 sec·Gray Station Road
3
Turn left onto SR 36
0.3 mi·25 sec·Kingsport Highway
4
Continue on SR 36
3.0 mi·4 min·Fort Henry Drive
5
Turn left
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 59Toward SR 36: Kingsport, Johnson City
6
Merge onto I 81
58 mi·1 hr 2 min·I 81
7
Continue on I 81
0.7 mi·45 sec·I 81
Exit 1BToward I 40 West: Knoxville
8
Merge onto I 40
32 mi·34 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·26 sec
Exit 388A; 389Toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of TennesseeUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·2 min
Toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White Parkway, Downtown, University of Tennessee
11
Continue on TN 158
0.4 mi·23 sec·James White Parkway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 158
0.1 mi·14 sec·Neyland Drive
Toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University of Tennessee
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue
14
Continue on Cumberland Avenue
0.3 mi·37 sec·Cumberland Avenue
15
Turn left onto US 441
393 ft·16 sec·Henley Street
16
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
17
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just under two hours, this route is perfectly suited for a single day of travel without the need for an overnight stop. You can depart Spurgeon, TN, at your convenience, keeping in mind the $15 fuel cost. The longest stretch on I-81 is nearly 60 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before entering that segment. Since this is a predominantly highway drive, staying alert for changing traffic conditions as you approach Knoxville will be your most important consideration.
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 48.3 miles from Spurgeon, TN, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.2 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 21 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.3 miles or 53m 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 27m
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 Spurgeon, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Spurgeon, TN
This is one driving day of about 96.7 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Spurgeon, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 59.2 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 96 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.4 mi into trip|~5m in
Turn left toward SR 36: Kingsport, Johnson City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 59
Toward SR 36: Kingsport, Johnson City
8
94.3 mi into trip|~1h 43m 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
94.6 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
95.9 mi into trip|~1h 46m 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
96 mi into trip|~1h 46m 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
$15.12 one way
$30.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.60
$33.20
premium
$4.89
$18.61
$37.22
diesel
$5.61
$21.35
$42.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29
0
$10.15
$4.64
Efficient EV
24.2
0
$8.46
$3.87
EV Truck/SUV
38.7
0
$13.54
$6.19
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Spurgeon, TN
Late night
in Spurgeon on Sunday
Local time
5:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Late night
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
5:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
East Ridge, TN
48 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
26 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 48m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
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 76.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this trip, with 94% of the drive taking place on major interstates like I-81 and I-40. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 59.2 miles on I-81, offering a sustained period of consistent speed. This profile suggests a drive characterized by efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. Fort Henry Drive is also part of the route, likely offering a brief transition before or after the main interstate segments.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.2 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 40. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in.
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 96.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 3.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 48m. Total distance: 96.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.2 miles on I 81. 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: at 3.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.6 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.
