How far is Knoxville, TN from Oak Ridge, TN?

The driving distance from Knoxville, TN to Oak Ridge, TN is about 24.2 miles (39 km), with a travel time of about 00h 31m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 19.8 miles (31.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 02m 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
24.23 mi
00h 31m
Flight
19.81 mi
31.88 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Knoxville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
19.81 mi
Kilometers
31.88 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
24.23 mi
Kilometers
39 km
Drive Time
00h 31m

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 31m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Oak Ridge
Wed, Apr 15, 3:31 PM EDT
Return by in Knoxville
Wed, Apr 15, 4:02 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Knoxville
2026-04-15T14:59
Arrive Oak Ridge
Wed, Apr 15, 3:31 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 31m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:31 AM to 7:31 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:28 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Knoxville
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Farragut
TN

Town of the United States

From Knoxville
12.1 mi
00h 15m
To Oak Ridge
12.1 mi
00h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW
Destination
84°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 PM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville and Oak Ridge.

  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

    9.8 mi · 11 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 140 East, SR 162 North: Maryville, Oak Ridge

    1199 ft · 29 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on SR 162 North: Oak Ridge

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Pellissippi Parkway

    5 mi · 6 min · Pellissippi Parkway

  10. 10

    Continue on Oak Ridge Highway

    4.3 mi · 5 min · Oak Ridge Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on South Illinois Avenue

    2 mi · 3 min · South Illinois Avenue

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Illinois Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
12 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
49.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 West
10.2 mi · 42%
Pellissippi Parkway
5.03 mi · 21%
Oak Ridge Highway
4.34 mi · 18%
South Illinois Avenue
1.96 mi · 8%
SR 162 North
1.06 mi · 4%
Western Avenue
0.68 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 40 West

Merge slight left

9.85 mi · 00h 11m

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 31m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.4 mi
19.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Farragut
00h 15m from Knoxville
Leave By
7:28 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Knoxville and Mostly Sunny near Oak Ridge.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Knoxville to Oak Ridge?

The road trip is about 24.2 miles (39 km) and usually takes 00h 31m 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?

Farragut is a useful midpoint, sitting about 12.1 miles from Knoxville and 12.1 miles from Oak Ridge.

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

The direct path is about 19.8 miles (31.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.4 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 7:28 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.24 one way or $6.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Knoxville and Mostly Sunny near Oak Ridge.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Knoxville and Oak Ridge. Straight-line distance: 19.81 mi (31.88 km).

Knoxville

#1 Knoxville

The most populous city in Tennessee.

Population190,223
Coordinates35.9606400, -83.9207400
Altitude276
CountryUnited States
Oak Ridge

#2 Oak Ridge

City in Tennessee, United States

Population29,340
Coordinates36.0103600, -84.2696400
Altitude259
CountryUnited States
Start: Knoxville (-83.92074, 35.96064)
End: Oak Ridge (-84.26964, 36.01036)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 39 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 36m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 24m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 18m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.86 gal
3.24 L · about $3.24
Round trip
$6.49
1.72 gal · 6.48 L
Estimated CO2
7.6 kg one way
Round trip: 15.3 kg / 34 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $3.24 $6.49
Mid-grade $4.25 $3.66 $7.32
Premium $4.65 $4.00 $8.00
Diesel $5.30 $4.56 $9.12

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 · Apr 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Knoxville and Oak Ridge. The current time is 14:59:50.

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.