If you are planning a trip from Walnut Hill to Knoxville, expect a straightforward journey covering 109.2 miles. You can easily complete this drive in about 2 hours and 3 minutes, making it a perfect one-day excursion. Budget roughly $17 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast locations. Because the trip is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations along the way. This route is ideal for travelers who value efficiency and want to reach their destination without unnecessary complications. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, the path is simple enough to navigate without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.6 miles from Walnut Hill, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
69.2 mi
1h 14m
I 40
31.5 mi
34m
Bristol Highway
3.6 mi
5m
Blountville Highway
1.1 mi
1m
Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway
1 mi
1m
James White Parkway
0.4 mi
<1m
Cumberland Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Neyland Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 69.2 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Walnut Hill, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on Walnut Hill Road
41 ft·3 sec·Walnut Hill Road
2
Turn right onto SR 126
1.1 mi·1 min·Blountville Highway
3
Continue on SR 126
3.2 mi·4 min·Bristol Highway
4
Continue on SR 126
0.5 mi·46 sec·Bristol Highway
5
Turn right onto TN 394; I 81 Alt
1.0 mi·1 min·Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway
6
Turn left
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward I 81 SouthUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 81
68 mi·1 hr 13 min·I 81
8
Continue on I 81
0.7 mi·45 sec·I 81
Exit 1BToward I 40 West: Knoxville
9
Merge onto I 40
32 mi·34 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·26 sec
Exit 388A; 389Toward SR 158 West: Downtown, University of TennesseeUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·2 min
Toward TN 158 West, South US 441: James White Parkway, Downtown, University of Tennessee
12
Continue on TN 158
0.4 mi·23 sec·James White Parkway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto TN 158
0.1 mi·14 sec·Neyland Drive
Toward TN 158 West: Neyland Drive, University of Tennessee
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward Downtown, Cumerland Avenue
15
Continue on Cumberland Avenue
0.3 mi·37 sec·Cumberland Avenue
16
Turn left onto US 441
393 ft·16 sec·Henley Street
17
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 2-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to schedule formal stops, as the duration is short enough to handle in one go. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will hover around $17, so filling up before you leave Walnut Hill is a smart way to streamline your travel. Because the vast majority of your time is spent on major interstates, stay alert for heavy traffic patterns as you transition from I-81 onto I-40 near Knoxville. Taking advantage of the route's simplicity allows you to focus on your arrival rather than managing multiple rest breaks.
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 54.6 miles from Walnut Hill, TN, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.2 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 24 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.6 miles or 1h 2m 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 39m
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 Walnut Hill, 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 Walnut Hill, TN
This is one driving day of about 109.2 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Walnut Hill, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 69.2 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 108.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5.8 mi into trip|~9m in
Turn left toward I 81 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 81 South
8
106.8 mi into trip|~1h 58m 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
107.1 mi into trip|~1h 59m 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
108.4 mi into trip|~2h 1m 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
108.5 mi into trip|~2h 1m 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
$17.07 one way
$34.14 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.74
$37.49
premium
$4.89
$21.01
$42.03
diesel
$5.61
$24.11
$48.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.8
0
$11.47
$5.24
Efficient EV
27.3
0
$9.56
$4.37
EV Truck/SUV
43.7
0
$15.29
$6.99
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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 13, 2026
Origin
Walnut Hill, TN
Morning
in Walnut Hill on Sunday
Local time
7:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
SW 5 to 15 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Morning
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
7:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Partly Sunny
SW 5 to 15 mph10% 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 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
2h 3m 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 highway-focused experience, as 93% of this route consists of high-speed travel. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-81 and I-40, which provide a consistent rhythm for the majority of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-81, where you can settle in for 69.2 miles of interstate driving. While you start by utilizing local roads like Bristol Highway, the character of the journey quickly shifts to a standard interstate transit. It is a functional drive that prioritizes speed and directness over technical or winding backroads.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.2 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 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 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 109.2 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: at 5.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 106.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 107.1 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 2h 3m. Total distance: 109.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m 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 69.2 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.
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 5.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 106.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 107.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Knoxville, TN before heading back.
