How far is Knoxville, TN from Sweetwater, TN?

The driving distance from Knoxville, TN to Sweetwater, TN is about 260.9 miles (419.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 210.6 miles (338.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 44m 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
260.85 mi
04h 52m
Flight
210.6 mi
338.92 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
210.6 mi
Kilometers
338.92 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
260.85 mi
Kilometers
419.8 km
Drive Time
04h 52m

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 04h 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sweetwater
Mon, Apr 20, 6:57 AM CDT
Return by in Knoxville
Mon, Apr 20, 12:49 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Knoxville
2026-04-20T03:04
Arrive Sweetwater
Mon, Apr 20, 7:57 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:52 AM to 11:52 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
7:16 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
Gordonsville
TN

Town in Smith County, Tennessee, United States

From Knoxville
130.3 mi
02h 26m
To Sweetwater
130.6 mi
02h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Monday

Sunny

Starts
Mon, Apr 20 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph NW
Destination
71°F
Monday

Sunny

Starts
Mon, Apr 20 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    132.7 mi · 2 hr 23 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro

    1.1 mi · 1 min

  9. 9

    Continue on Tennessee National Guard Parkway

    44.6 mi · 48 min · Tennessee National Guard Parkway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 65: Nashville, Huntsville

    1805 ft · 22 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Huntsville

    1.6 mi · 3 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    11.5 mi · 12 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward 412, 99: Columbia, Chapel Hill

    1053 ft · 23 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on 412: Columbia

    49 m · 5 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Bear Creek Pike

    13.8 mi · 16 min · Bear Creek Pike

  16. 16

    Turn left

    1498 ft · 41 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Hampshire Pike

    13.3 mi · 15 min · Hampshire Pike

  18. 18

    Continue on Columbia Highway

    13 mi · 17 min · Columbia Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on East Main Street

    2 mi · 2 min · East Main Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto South Park Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · South Park Street

  21. 21

    Continue on Waynesboro Highway

    5.3 mi · 8 min · Waynesboro Highway

  22. 22

    Turn straight onto Trace Creek Road

    610 ft · 27 sec · Trace Creek Road

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Trace Creek Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
23 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Nashville
133 mi · 51%
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
44.6 mi · 17%
I 40 West
18.6 mi · 7%
Bear Creek Pike
13.8 mi · 5%
Hampshire Pike
13.3 mi · 5%
I 65 South
13.1 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Nashville

Keep slight right to continue on Nashville

133 mi · 02h 23m

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
04h 52m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+50.3 mi
210.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Gordonsville
02h 26m from Knoxville
Leave By
7:16 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Knoxville and Sunny near Sweetwater.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 260.9 miles (419.8 km) and usually takes 04h 52m 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?

Gordonsville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 130.3 miles from Knoxville and 130.6 miles from Sweetwater.

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

The direct path is about 210.6 miles (338.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 50.3 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:16 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.69 one way or $69.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 81.8 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Knoxville and Sweetwater, 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 Sweetwater.

Stop Ideas Near Gordonsville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Gordonsville, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Gordonsville.

BUS

Nashville, TN

76 mi away
705 5th Avenue South

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Knoxville and Sweetwater. Straight-line distance: 210.6 mi (338.92 km).

Knoxville

#1 Knoxville

The most populous city in Tennessee.

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

#2 Sweetwater

City in Tennessee

Population5,956
Coordinates35.4973000, -87.6319700
Altitude217
CountryUnited States
Start: Knoxville (-83.92074, 35.96064)
End: Sweetwater (-87.63197, 35.4973)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 420 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 43m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 15m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.2 gal
34.84 L · about $34.69
Round trip
$69.39
18.4 gal · 69.68 L
Estimated CO2
81.8 kg one way
Round trip: 163.5 kg / 360 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $34.69 $69.39
Mid-grade $4.25 $39.13 $78.26
Premium $4.65 $42.82 $85.63
Diesel $5.30 $48.80 $97.59

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 20, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Knoxville, TN and Sweetwater, TN. The current time in Knoxville is 03:04:50, although it is 02:04:50 in Sweetwater.

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.