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

The driving distance from Oak Ridge, TN to Knoxville, TN is about 24.5 miles (39.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 19.8 miles (31.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 54m 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
24.48 mi
00h 27m
Flight
19.81 mi
31.88 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Oak Ridge.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
24.48 mi
Kilometers
39.4 km
Drive Time
00h 27m

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 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Knoxville
Wed, Apr 15, 1:30 PM EDT
Return by in Oak Ridge
Wed, Apr 15, 1:57 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Oak Ridge
2026-04-15T13:03
Arrive Knoxville
Wed, Apr 15, 1:30 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:27 AM to 7:27 PM EDT

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

Leave by
7:36 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Oak Ridge
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 Oak Ridge
12.2 mi
00h 13m
To Knoxville
12.2 mi
00h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 PM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SW
Destination
56°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Illinois Avenue

    2 mi · 3 min · North Illinois Avenue

  2. 2

    Continue on Oak Ridge Highway

    4.2 mi · 5 min · Oak Ridge Highway

  3. 3

    Turn straight onto Pellissippi Parkway

    5.2 mi · 6 min · Pellissippi Parkway

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward I 40, I 75: Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga

    1058 ft · 26 sec

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 East, I 75 North: Knoxville

    1.3 mi · 3 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    7.6 mi · 9 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    2.9 mi · 4 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art

    2116 ft · 28 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art

    2403 ft · 56 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on Henley Street

    1238 ft · 27 sec · Henley Street

  11. 11

    Continue on Henley Street

    78 m · 12 sec · Henley Street

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Henley Street

Car Route Details

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

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
1 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
49 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
11.8 mi · 48%
Pellissippi Parkway
5.15 mi · 21%
Oak Ridge Highway
4.24 mi · 17%
North Illinois Avenue
1.97 mi · 8%
Convention Center
0.86 mi · 3%
Henley Street
0.28 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

Merge slight left

7.62 mi · 00h 09m

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 27m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.7 mi
19.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Farragut
00h 13m from Oak Ridge
Leave By
7:36 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Oak Ridge and Partly Cloudy near Knoxville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 24.5 miles (39.4 km) and usually takes 00h 27m 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 12.2 miles from Oak Ridge and 12.2 miles from Knoxville.

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 4.7 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:36 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 Mostly Sunny around Oak Ridge and Partly Cloudy near Knoxville.

Flight Path Map

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

Oak Ridge

#1 Oak Ridge

City in Tennessee, United States

Population29,340
Coordinates36.0103600, -84.2696400
Altitude259
CountryUnited States
Knoxville

#2 Knoxville

The most populous city in Tennessee.

Population190,223
Coordinates35.9606400, -83.9207400
Altitude276
CountryUnited States
Start: TN 62 (-84.269627, 36.010373)
End: US 11 (-83.920795, 35.960617)

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
3.27 L · about $3.24
Round trip
$6.49
1.72 gal · 6.54 L
Estimated CO2
7.6 kg one way
Round trip: 15.3 kg / 34 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/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 Oak Ridge and Knoxville. The current time is 13:03:01.

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.