How far is Knoxville, TN from Clifton, TN?

The driving distance from Knoxville, TN to Clifton, TN is about 301.1 miles (484.6 km), with a travel time of about 05h 33m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 232.1 miles (373.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 06m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
301.1 mi
05h 33m
Flight
232.09 mi
373.51 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Knoxville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
232.09 mi
Kilometers
373.51 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
301.1 mi
Kilometers
484.58 km
Drive Time
05h 33m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 33m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clifton
Wed, May 13, 1:27 AM CDT
Return by in Knoxville
Wed, May 13, 8:00 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Knoxville
2026-05-12T20:54
Arrive Clifton
Wed, May 13, 2:27 AM EDT
Route Timing
05h 33m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:33 AM to 12:33 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:54 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Knoxville
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Lebanon
TN

City in Wilson County, Tennessee, United States

From Knoxville
150.4 mi
02h 46m
To Clifton
150.7 mi
02h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 mph
Destination
81°F
Tuesday

Patchy Fog then Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Knoxville and Clifton.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville and Clifton.

  1. 1

    Start on Henley Street

    1056 ft · 20 sec · Henley Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Henley Street

    727 ft · 14 sec · Henley Street

  3. 3

    Turn slight left onto Western Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · Western Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Ailor Avenue

    2326 ft · 43 sec · Ailor Avenue

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight toward I 40 West, I 75 South

    1637 ft · 40 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    18.3 mi · 21 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on Nashville

    154.8 mi · 2 hr 47 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis

    2263 ft · 43 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight right onto Downtown Loop

    1 km · 52 sec · Downtown Loop

  11. 11

    Continue on Downtown Loop

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Memphis

    81.7 mi · 1 hr 28 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 641: Camden, Paris, Parsons

    947 ft · 27 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on US 641: Camden, Paris, Parsons

    47 m · 8 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left

    37.3 mi · 43 min

  16. 16

    Turn left

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Walnut Street

    141 m · 9 sec · Walnut Street

  18. 18

    Turn slight right onto West Water Street

    1558 ft · 31 sec · West Water Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Water Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Knoxville and Clifton.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
19 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Nashville
155 mi · 51%
I 40 West
101 mi · 33%
Downtown Loop
2.92 mi · 1%
I 24 West
2.14 mi · 1%
Western Avenue
0.68 mi
Ailor Avenue
0.44 mi
Longest Stretch

Nashville

Keep slight right to continue on Nashville

155 mi · 02h 47m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 33m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+69 mi
232.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lebanon
02h 46m from Knoxville
Leave By
5:54 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Knoxville and Patchy Fog then Sunny near Clifton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Knoxville to Clifton?

The road trip is about 301.1 miles (484.6 km) and usually takes 05h 33m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lebanon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 150.4 miles from Knoxville and 150.7 miles from Clifton.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 232.1 miles (373.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 69 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:54 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.09 one way or $80.17 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 94.5 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Knoxville and Clifton, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Knoxville and Patchy Fog then Sunny near Clifton.

Stop Ideas Near Lebanon

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lebanon, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lebanon.

BUS

Nashville, TN

44 mi away
705 5th Avenue South
BUS

Clarksville, TN

103 mi away
11 Jefferson Street \r\n

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Knoxville and Clifton. Straight-line distance: 232.09 mi (373.51 km).

Knoxville

#1 Knoxville

The most populous city in Tennessee.

Population190,223
Coordinates35.9606400, -83.9207400
Altitude276
CountryUnited States
Clifton

#2 Clifton

City in Wayne County, Tennessee, United States of America

Population2,655
Coordinates35.3870200, -87.9953100
Altitude123
CountryUnited States
Start: Knoxville (-83.92074, 35.96064)
End: Clifton (-87.99531, 35.38702)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 485 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.63 gal
40.22 L · about $40.09
Round trip
$80.17
21.26 gal · 80.44 L
Estimated CO2
94.5 kg one way
Round trip: 188.9 kg / 416 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $40.09 $80.17
Mid-grade $4.25 $45.21 $90.42
Premium $4.65 $49.47 $98.94
Diesel $5.30 $56.38 $112.76

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Tennessee · May 13, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Knoxville, TN and Clifton, TN. The current time in Knoxville is 20:54:00, although it is 19:54:00 in Clifton.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.