Spanning 245 miles across Tennessee, this drive from Waverly to Knoxville is a straightforward journey typically lasting 4 hours and 42 minutes. Because the route is highly efficient, it is well-suited for a single-day trip, though you should budget approximately $37 for fuel. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major corridors, making this a practical transit between the two cities. Navigating through the Southeast, you will find that the trip is easy to manage in one go without the need for an overnight stay. Expect a consistent, highway-focused experience that prioritizes speed and directness over secondary roads.
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
122.5 miles from Waverly, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
211.5 mi
3h 50m
US 70
21.6 mi
32m
SR 46
4.6 mi
6m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
4m
West College Street
1.5 mi
2m
East Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
North Court Square
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 211.5 mi, about 3h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waverly, TN and Knoxville, TN.
1
Start on Mill Street
253 ft·16 sec·Mill Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto North Court Square
330 ft·8 sec·North Court Square
3
Continue on East Main Street
1.2 mi·2 min·East Main Street
4
Turn left onto East Acre Avenue
114 ft·6 sec·East Acre Avenue
5
Turn right onto US 70
22 mi·32 min·US 70
6
Continue on US 70 Business
1.5 mi·2 min·West College Street
7
Turn right onto SR 46
4.6 mi·6 min·SR 46
Use the left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Use the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 40
35 mi·37 min·I 40
Use the straight lane.
10
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.
11
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
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.
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
Since this is a sub-five-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though leaving early helps avoid potential congestion near major hubs. You only need one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel, which keeps your momentum steady throughout the 245-mile trek. Given that the longest stretch is over 211 miles, make sure to check your fuel levels before merging onto I-40 to avoid any mid-highway stress. Use the initial segments on SR 46 and US 70 to get comfortable before the heavier interstate traffic begins. Prioritizing a single, well-timed break will keep you refreshed until you reach Knoxville.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 122.5 miles from Waverly, TN, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 211.5 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 54 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.5 miles or 2h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 53m
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 Waverly, 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 Waverly, TN
This is one driving day of about 245 miles and 4h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Waverly, 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 211.5 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 24.4 and 244.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
24.4 mi into trip|~37m in|SR 46
Turn right onto SR 46
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
29 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
9
64 mi into trip|~1h 22m 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
67.2 mi into trip|~1h 27m 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...
7
244.3 mi into trip|~4h 40m 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
$38.30 one way
$76.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$42.06
$84.11
premium
$4.89
$47.15
$94.30
diesel
$5.61
$54.09
$108.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.5
0
$25.72
$11.76
Efficient EV
61.3
0
$21.44
$9.80
EV Truck/SUV
98
1
$34.30
$15.68
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Waverly, TN
Night
in Waverly on Saturday
Local time
9:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Night
in Knoxville on Saturday
Local time
10:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Alexandria, TN
123 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
4 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
4h 42m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 84.5
Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant was becoming quite famous as he wrote these words following the surrender of Confederate Fort Donelson on Sunday, February 16, 1862. The Union victory at Fort Donels...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a drive dominated by highway travel, as 97% of your route consists of major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-40, which accounts for a significant 211.5-mile uninterrupted stretch. While the journey begins with shorter segments on SR 46 and US 70, the drive quickly transitions into a steady, high-speed interstate pace. This creates a predictable rhythm behind the wheel, perfect if you prefer to cover ground efficiently. By the time you settle into the long I-40 corridor, the road feels uniform and reliable for the duration of the trip.
97% 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: 211.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.4 miles in near SR 46.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 245 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 24.4 miles (SR 46): Lane positioning matters here; at 29 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 64 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,867 ft445 ft
Total Climb
2,015 ft
Total Descent
1,642 ft
Highest Point
1,867 ft
~157.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,422 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Waverly, TN and Knoxville, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville and Chattanooga.
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 4h 42m. Total distance: 245 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 211.5 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.4 miles (SR 46): Lane positioning matters here; at 29 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 64 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield and Fort Donelson National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Knoxville, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
