How far is Knoxville, TN from Cookeville, TN?

The driving distance from Knoxville, TN to Cookeville, TN is about 101.7 miles (163.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 89.4 miles (143.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 49m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
101.72 mi
01h 54m
Flight
89.4 mi
143.87 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Knoxville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
89.4 mi
Kilometers
143.87 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
101.72 mi
Kilometers
163.7 km
Drive Time
01h 54m

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 01h 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cookeville
Tue, May 26, 1:36 AM CDT
Return by in Knoxville
Tue, May 26, 4:30 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Knoxville
2026-05-26T00:41
Arrive Cookeville
Tue, May 26, 2:36 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:55 AM to 10:55 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:40 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Knoxville
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Rockwood
TN

City in Tennessee, United States

From Knoxville
50.8 mi
00h 57m
To Cookeville
51 mi
00h 57m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Tuesday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 26 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph W
Destination
77°F
Memorial Day

Patchy Fog

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    77.8 mi · 1 hr 24 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 70N: Cookeville

    1290 ft · 32 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on US 70N: Cookeville

    116 m · 9 sec

  10. 10

    Turn straight onto East Spring Street

    3 mi · 5 min · East Spring Street

  11. 11

    Continue on East Spring Street

    2784 ft · 57 sec · East Spring Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto South Dixie Avenue

    82 m · 12 sec · South Dixie Avenue

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Dixie Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
13 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Nashville
77.8 mi · 76%
I 40 West
18.6 mi · 18%
East Spring Street
3.5 mi · 3%
Western Avenue
0.68 mi · 1%
Ailor Avenue
0.44 mi
Henley Street
0.34 mi
Longest Stretch

Nashville

Keep slight right to continue on Nashville

77.8 mi · 01h 24m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 54m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.3 mi
89.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rockwood
00h 57m from Knoxville
Leave By
2:40 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Knoxville and Patchy Fog near Cookeville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 101.7 miles (163.7 km) and usually takes 01h 54m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Rockwood is a useful midpoint, sitting about 50.8 miles from Knoxville and 51 miles from Cookeville.

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

The direct path is about 89.4 miles (143.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:40 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.54 one way or $27.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 31.9 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Knoxville and Patchy Fog near Cookeville.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Knoxville and Cookeville. Straight-line distance: 89.4 mi (143.87 km).

Knoxville

#1 Knoxville

The most populous city in Tennessee.

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

#2 Cookeville

City in Tennessee, United States

Population35,060
Coordinates36.1628400, -85.5016400
Altitude334
CountryUnited States
Start: Knoxville (-83.92074, 35.96064)
End: Cookeville (-85.50164, 36.16284)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 164 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.59 gal
13.59 L · about $13.54
Round trip
$27.08
7.18 gal · 27.18 L
Estimated CO2
31.9 kg one way
Round trip: 63.8 kg / 141 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $13.54 $27.08
Mid-grade $4.25 $15.27 $30.54
Premium $4.65 $16.71 $33.42
Diesel $5.30 $19.04 $38.08

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 26, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Knoxville, TN and Cookeville, TN. The current time in Knoxville is 00:41:27, although it is 23:41:27 in Cookeville.

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.