How far is Knoxville, TN from Gatlinburg, TN?

The driving distance from Knoxville, TN to Gatlinburg, TN is about 37.8 miles (60.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 28.5 miles (45.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 47m 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
37.8 mi
00h 53m
Flight
28.52 mi
45.9 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
28.52 mi
Kilometers
45.9 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
37.8 mi
Kilometers
60.83 km
Drive Time
00h 53m

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 00h 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gatlinburg
Thu, May 14, 2:56 PM EDT
Return by in Knoxville
Thu, May 14, 3:50 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Knoxville
2026-05-14T14:02
Arrive Gatlinburg
Thu, May 14, 2:56 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:54 AM to 10:54 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:42 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
Sevierville
TN

Town in Seiver County, Tennessee, USA

From Knoxville
18.9 mi
00h 26m
To Gatlinburg
18.9 mi
00h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 14 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph NW
Destination
53°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, May 14 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Henley Street

    39 m · 9 sec · Henley Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Henley Street

    2586 ft · 1 min · Henley Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Chapman Highway

    22.1 mi · 26 min · Chapman Highway

  4. 4

    Continue on West Main Street

    1.8 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Forks of the River Parkway

    3212 ft · 46 sec · Forks of the River Parkway

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Parkway

    7.1 mi · 12 min · Parkway

  7. 7

    Continue on Gatlinburg Spur Road

    4.4 mi · 7 min · Gatlinburg Spur Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Parkway

    1.2 mi · 4 min · Parkway

  9. 9

    Turn right

    124 m · 30 sec

  10. 10

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
10 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
26.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Chapman Highway
22.2 mi · 59%
Parkway
8.25 mi · 22%
Gatlinburg Spur Road
4.42 mi · 12%
West Main Street
1.77 mi · 5%
Forks of the River Parkway
0.61 mi · 2%
Henley Street
0.51 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Chapman Highway

Continue on Chapman Highway

22.2 mi · 00h 26m

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
00h 53m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.3 mi
28.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sevierville
00h 26m from Knoxville
Leave By
4:42 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Knoxville and Sunny near Gatlinburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 37.8 miles (60.8 km) and usually takes 00h 53m 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?

Sevierville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.9 miles from Knoxville and 18.9 miles from Gatlinburg.

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

The direct path is about 28.5 miles (45.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.3 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 4:42 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.02 one way or $10.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Knoxville and Sunny near Gatlinburg.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Knoxville and Gatlinburg. Straight-line distance: 28.52 mi (45.9 km).

Knoxville

#1 Knoxville

The most populous city in Tennessee.

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

#2 Gatlinburg

Resort city in Sevier County, Tennessee

Population3,779
Coordinates35.7145300, -83.5118900
Altitude394
CountryUnited States
Start: Knoxville (-83.92074, 35.96064)
End: Gatlinburg (-83.51189, 35.71453)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 61 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.33 gal
5.05 L · about $5.02
Round trip
$10.03
2.66 gal · 10.1 L
Estimated CO2
11.8 kg one way
Round trip: 23.6 kg / 52 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $5.02 $10.03
Mid-grade $4.25 $5.66 $11.31
Premium $4.65 $6.19 $12.38
Diesel $5.30 $7.05 $14.11

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 14, 2026

There is no time difference between Knoxville and Gatlinburg. The current time is 14:02:46.

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.