This 121.6-mile journey from Walden to Knoxville, Tennessee, is a straightforward 2-hour drive that's perfect for a single day trip. You'll navigate primarily on local roads like Lake Avenue and Key-Hulse Road, with a stretch on Fairmount Pike, so expect a more involved driving experience than a typical interstate cruise. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, it's an economical option for exploring the Southeast region of Tennessee. This route is designed for a single day, allowing you to focus on the drive itself without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.7 miles from Walden, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
99.2 mi
1h 49m
US 27
10.1 mi
13m
Taft Highway
3.1 mi
4m
Signal Mountain Boulevard
3 mi
4m
I 40
2.9 mi
3m
Signal Mountain Road
1.6 mi
2m
Key-Hulse Road
0.4 mi
1m
Fairmount Pike
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 99.2 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Walden, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on Ivory Avenue
0.2 mi·57 sec·Ivory Avenue
2
Turn right onto Lake Avenue
0.3 mi·59 sec·Lake Avenue
3
Continue on Key-Hulse Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Key-Hulse Road
4
Turn straight onto Fairmount Pike
0.3 mi·1 min·Fairmount Pike
5
Turn straight onto US 127
3.1 mi·4 min·Taft Highway
6
Continue on US 127
3.0 mi·4 min·Signal Mountain Boulevard
7
Continue on US 127
1.6 mi·2 min·Signal Mountain Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
9
Merge onto US 27
3.3 mi·4 min·US 27
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 27
0.2 mi·19 sec·US 27
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 27
6.6 mi·8 min·US 27
Toward I 24 East: Atlanta, Knoxville
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 185 BToward I 75 North: KnoxvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 75
99 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 75
Use the straight 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
For this 2-hour drive covering 121.6 miles, starting your trip in the morning will give you ample time to reach Knoxville without feeling rushed. Since there are no specified stops and the drive is relatively short, you have the flexibility to pause when you need a break. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $18, and it's always wise to have a full tank before setting off on local roads. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to road signs as you transition between Lake Avenue, Key-Hulse Road, and Fairmount Pike, as the frequent turns require good navigation.
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 61.7 miles from Walden, TN, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.2 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 27 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.7 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 2m
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 Walden, 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 Walden, TN
This is one driving day of about 123.5 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Walden, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 99.2 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 12.5 and 122.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
12.5 mi into trip|~21m in|US 27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 27
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
12.8 mi into trip|~22m in|US 27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 27 toward I 24 East: Atlanta, Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 24 East: Atlanta, Knoxville
8
19.3 mi into trip|~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 185 B
Toward I 75 North: Knoxville
6
122.3 mi into trip|~2h 25m 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
122.7 mi into trip|~2h 26m 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
$19.31 one way
$38.62 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.20
$42.40
premium
$4.89
$23.77
$47.53
diesel
$5.61
$27.27
$54.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.1
0
$12.97
$5.93
Efficient EV
30.9
0
$10.81
$4.94
EV Truck/SUV
49.4
0
$17.29
$7.90
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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 18, 2026
Origin
Walden, TN
Late night
in Walden on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Late night
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
12:26 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
11 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
2h 27m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you won't encounter any highway mileage; your journey will be exclusively on surface streets and county roads. Given that the longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, prepare for frequent adjustments in direction and speed. Expect to engage with the road frequently as you navigate through local communities. The road's personality will likely shift as you transition between different local thoroughfares, requiring your constant attention.
91% 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: 99.2 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 27. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.5 miles in near US 27.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 123.5 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: at 12.5 miles (US 27): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (US 27): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 2h 27m. Total distance: 123.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.2 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.5 miles (US 27): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.8 miles (US 27): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Knoxville, TN before heading back.
