How far is Lexington, TN from Knoxville, TN?
The driving distance from Lexington, TN to Knoxville, TN is about 290.2 miles (467 km), with a travel time of about 04h 17m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 251.5 miles (404.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 34m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 17m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
City in Wilson County, Tennessee, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Lexington and Knoxville.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lexington and Knoxville.
-
1
Start on North Broad Street
9.7 mi · 14 min · North Broad Street
-
2
Take the ramp right toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington, Huntingdon
1179 ft · 25 sec
-
3
Merge slight left
99.3 mi · 1 hr 47 min
-
4
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
1305 ft · 25 sec
-
5
Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop
2.4 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop
-
6
Continue on Downtown Loop
2764 ft · 43 sec · Downtown Loop
-
7
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
173.8 mi · 3 hr 10 min
-
8
Keep slight left
2.9 mi · 4 min
-
9
Take the exit slight right toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
2116 ft · 28 sec
-
10
Keep slight left to continue on Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
2403 ft · 56 sec
-
11
Continue on Henley Street
1238 ft · 27 sec · Henley Street
-
12
Continue on Henley Street
78 m · 12 sec · Henley Street
-
13
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Henley Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Lexington and Knoxville.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 40 East
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
174 mi · 03h 10m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lexington and Mostly Sunny near Knoxville.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Lexington to Knoxville?
The road trip is about 290.2 miles (467 km) and usually takes 04h 17m 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?
Lebanon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 144.9 miles from Lexington and 145.3 miles from Knoxville.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 251.5 miles (404.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.7 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:26 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.62 one way or $77.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 91 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Lexington and Knoxville, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Lexington and Mostly Sunny near Knoxville.
Stop Ideas Near Lebanon
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lebanon.
Nashville, TN
Clarksville, TN
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Lexington and Knoxville. Straight-line distance: 251.51 mi (404.77 km).
#1 Lexington
City in Henderson County, Tennessee, United States
| Population | 7,866 |
| Coordinates | 35.6509000, -88.3933800 |
| Altitude | 159 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Knoxville
The most populous city in Tennessee.
| Population | 190,223 |
| Coordinates | 35.9606400, -83.9207400 |
| Altitude | 276 |
| Country | United States |
End: US 11 (-83.920795, 35.960617)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 467 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 40m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 15m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 48m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 50m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 08m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 37m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $38.62 | $77.23 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $43.55 | $87.10 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $47.66 | $95.31 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $54.31 | $108.63 |
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 05, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.