How far is Knoxville, TN from Lynchburg, TN?

The driving distance from Knoxville, TN to Lynchburg, TN is about 173.7 miles (279.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 145.5 miles (234.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 19m 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
173.67 mi
03h 39m
Flight
145.53 mi
234.2 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
145.53 mi
Kilometers
234.2 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
173.67 mi
Kilometers
279.5 km
Drive Time
03h 39m

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 03h 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lynchburg
Fri, Oct 16, 12:08 AM CDT
Return by in Knoxville
Fri, Oct 16, 4:48 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Knoxville
2026-10-15T21:28
Arrive Lynchburg
Fri, Oct 16, 1:08 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
8:40 AM to 10:40 AM CDT

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

Leave by
9:40 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
Sparta
TN

City in and county seat of White County, Tennessee, United States

From Knoxville
86.7 mi
01h 50m
To Lynchburg
86.9 mi
01h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
This Afternoon

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 12:00 PM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph W
Destination
88°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    45.9 mi · 49 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward TN 101: Crossville

    1130 ft · 36 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Peavine Road

    2327 ft · 41 sec · Peavine Road

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    15 m · 1 sec

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout

    2.5 mi · 5 min

  12. 12

    Turn right onto West Avenue

    1.4 mi · 2 min · West Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Sparta Highway

    25.9 mi · 39 min · Sparta Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on West Bockman Way

    1.3 km · 1 min · West Bockman Way

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Mayberry Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · Mayberry Street

  16. 16

    Continue on Broadway of America

    607 ft · 14 sec · Broadway of America

  17. 17

    Take the ramp left

    1536 ft · 42 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Spencer Highway

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Spencer Highway

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Memorial Highway

    7.9 mi · 9 min · Memorial Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on Bone Cave Parkway

    9.4 mi · 11 min · Bone Cave Parkway

  21. 21

    Continue on Sparta Highway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · Sparta Highway

  22. 22

    Continue on Sparta Street

    2688 ft · 37 sec · Sparta Street

  23. 23

    Continue on Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway

    3.8 mi · 5 min · Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway

  24. 24

    Continue on H T Pelham Memorial Parkway

    3.7 mi · 4 min · H T Pelham Memorial Parkway

  25. 25

    Continue on Manchester Highway

    11.7 mi · 13 min · Manchester Highway

  26. 26

    Merge slight left onto McMinnville Highway

    7.6 mi · 10 min · McMinnville Highway

  27. 27

    Continue on McArthur Street

    2.1 mi · 4 min · McArthur Street

  28. 28

    Continue on New Tullahoma Highway

    3 mi · 4 min · New Tullahoma Highway

  29. 29

    Continue on New Manchester Highway

    3.4 mi · 5 min · New Manchester Highway

  30. 30

    Continue on East Carroll Street

    2.7 mi · 3 min · East Carroll Street

  31. 31

    Turn right onto South Jackson Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · South Jackson Street

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Wilson Avenue

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Wilson Avenue

  33. 33

    Continue on Lynchburg Highway

    9.8 mi · 15 min · Lynchburg Highway

  34. 34

    Turn left onto Hiles Street

    23 m · 2 sec · Hiles Street

  35. 35

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Hiles Street

Car Route Details

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

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
35 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Nashville
45.9 mi · 26%
Sparta Highway
29.1 mi · 17%
I 40 West
18.6 mi · 11%
Manchester Highway
11.7 mi · 7%
Lynchburg Highway
9.79 mi · 6%
Bone Cave Parkway
9.43 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Nashville

Keep slight right to continue on Nashville

45.9 mi · 00h 49m

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
03h 39m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.2 mi
145.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Sparta
01h 50m from Knoxville
Leave By
9:40 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Knoxville and Sunny near Lynchburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 173.7 miles (279.5 km) and usually takes 03h 39m 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?

Sparta is a useful midpoint, sitting about 86.7 miles from Knoxville and 86.9 miles from Lynchburg.

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

The direct path is about 145.5 miles (234.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.2 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 9:40 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.93 one way or $47.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.5 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Knoxville and Lynchburg, 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 Sunny near Lynchburg.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Knoxville and Lynchburg. Straight-line distance: 145.53 mi (234.2 km).

Knoxville

#1 Knoxville

The most populous city in Tennessee.

Population190,223
Coordinates35.9606400, -83.9207400
Altitude276
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Lynchburg

Lynchburg is a place in Tennessee, United States.

Population0
Coordinates35.2831400, -86.3741600
Altitude245
CountryUnited States
Start: Knoxville (-83.92074, 35.96064)
End: Lynchburg (-86.37416, 35.28314)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 280 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.13 gal
23.2 L · about $23.93
Round trip
$47.86
12.26 gal · 46.4 L
Estimated CO2
54.5 kg one way
Round trip: 109 kg / 240 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.90 $23.93 $47.86
Mid-grade $4.37 $26.76 $53.51
Premium $4.77 $29.26 $58.53
Diesel $6.00 $36.79 $73.58

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 · Oct 15, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Knoxville, TN and Lynchburg, TN. The current time in Knoxville is 21:28:15, although it is 20:28:15 in Lynchburg.

Distance to Other Cities

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