How far is Knoxville, TN from Jefferson City, TN?

The driving distance from Knoxville, TN to Jefferson City, TN is about 28.7 miles (46.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 26.4 miles (42.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 10m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
28.73 mi
00h 35m
Flight
26.41 mi
42.5 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Knoxville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
26.41 mi
Kilometers
42.5 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
28.73 mi
Kilometers
46.23 km
Drive Time
00h 35m

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 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Jefferson City
Tue, Jun 2, 12:42 AM EDT
Return by in Knoxville
Tue, Jun 2, 1:17 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Knoxville
2026-06-02T00:06
Arrive Jefferson City
Tue, Jun 2, 12:42 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:35 AM to 7:35 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:20 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Knoxville
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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
Mascot
TN

Census-designated place in Knox County, Tennessee

From Knoxville
14.4 mi
00h 17m
To Jefferson City
14.4 mi
00h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, Jun 2 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph NE
Destination
79°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Jun 2 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville and Jefferson City.

  1. 1

    Start on Henley Street

    1056 ft · 20 sec · Henley Street

  2. 2

    Take the exit straight toward I 40, I 275 North: Nashville, Asheville, Lexington

    1301 ft · 32 sec

  3. 3

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Asheville

    2104 ft · 51 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    5.7 mi · 7 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward US 11E, US 25W, US 70

    1431 ft · 37 sec

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Asheville Highway

    6 mi · 7 min · Asheville Highway

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto Andrew Johnson Highway

    13.9 mi · 16 min · Andrew Johnson Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on West Broadway Boulevard

    1.4 mi · 2 min · West Broadway Boulevard

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Russell Avenue

    2666 ft · 1 min · Russell Avenue

  10. 10

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Russell Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
10 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
34.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Andrew Johnson Highway
13.9 mi · 49%
I 40 East
6.11 mi · 21%
Asheville Highway
6.04 mi · 21%
West Broadway Boulevard
1.42 mi · 5%
Russell Avenue
0.51 mi · 2%
US 11E
0.27 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Andrew Johnson Highway

Turn straight onto Andrew Johnson Highway

13.9 mi · 00h 16m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 35m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.3 mi
26.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mascot
00h 17m from Knoxville
Leave By
7:20 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Knoxville and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Jefferson City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Knoxville to Jefferson City?

The road trip is about 28.7 miles (46.2 km) and usually takes 00h 35m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Mascot is a useful midpoint, sitting about 14.4 miles from Knoxville and 14.4 miles from Jefferson City.

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

The direct path is about 26.4 miles (42.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.3 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:20 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.81 one way or $7.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Knoxville and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Jefferson City.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Knoxville and Jefferson City. Straight-line distance: 26.41 mi (42.5 km).

Knoxville

#1 Knoxville

The most populous city in Tennessee.

Population190,223
Coordinates35.9606400, -83.9207400
Altitude276
CountryUnited States
Jefferson City

#2 Jefferson City

Town in Jefferson County, Tennessee, United States

Population8,194
Coordinates36.1223100, -83.4924000
Altitude366
CountryUnited States
Start: Knoxville (-83.92074, 35.96064)
End: Jefferson City (-83.4924, 36.12231)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 46 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 43m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.01 gal
3.84 L · about $3.81
Round trip
$7.62
2.02 gal · 7.68 L
Estimated CO2
9 kg one way
Round trip: 18 kg / 40 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $3.81 $7.62
Mid-grade $4.25 $4.30 $8.59
Premium $4.65 $4.70 $9.40
Diesel $5.30 $5.36 $10.71

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 · Jun 02, 2026

There is no time difference between Knoxville and Jefferson City. The current time is 00:06:44.

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.