How far is Parsons, TN from Knoxville, TN?

The driving distance from Parsons, TN to Knoxville, TN is about 276.5 miles (445 km), with a travel time of about 04h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 236.6 miles (380.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 31m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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
276.49 mi
04h 15m
Flight
236.64 mi
380.84 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Parsons.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
236.64 mi
Kilometers
380.84 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
276.49 mi
Kilometers
444.97 km
Drive Time
04h 15m

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 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Knoxville
Wed, Apr 29, 5:25 AM EDT
Return by in Parsons
Wed, Apr 29, 8:40 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Parsons
2026-04-29T00:09
Arrive Knoxville
Wed, Apr 29, 4:25 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:16 AM to 1:16 PM EDT

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

Leave by
8:28 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Parsons
9:00 PM CDT
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
Watertown
TN

City in Wilson County, Tennessee, United States

From Parsons
138.1 mi
02h 07m
To Knoxville
138.4 mi
02h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Wednesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph WNW
Destination
73°F
Wednesday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Main Street

    19 m · 6 sec · East Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Tennessee Avenue

    13.9 mi · 16 min · North Tennessee Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the exit slight right

    1391 ft · 34 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    81.4 mi · 1 hr 28 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville

    1305 ft · 25 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop

  7. 7

    Continue on Downtown Loop

    2764 ft · 43 sec · Downtown Loop

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga

    173.8 mi · 3 hr 10 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    2.9 mi · 4 min

  10. 10

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

    2116 ft · 28 sec

  11. 11

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

    2403 ft · 56 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on Henley Street

    1238 ft · 27 sec · Henley Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Henley Street

    78 m · 12 sec · Henley Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Henley Street

Car Route Details

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

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
14 steps
1 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
177 mi · 64%
North Tennessee Avenue
95.5 mi · 35%
Downtown Loop
2.93 mi · 1%
Convention Center
0.86 mi
Henley Street
0.28 mi
East Main Street
0.01 mi
Longest Stretch

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.

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 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+39.9 mi
236.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Watertown
02h 07m from Parsons
Leave By
8:28 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Parsons and Showers And Thunderstorms near Knoxville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 276.5 miles (445 km) and usually takes 04h 15m 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?

Watertown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 138.1 miles from Parsons and 138.4 miles from Knoxville.

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

The direct path is about 236.6 miles (380.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 39.9 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 8:28 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.80 one way or $73.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 86.7 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Parsons 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 Parsons and Showers And Thunderstorms near Knoxville.

Stop Ideas Near Watertown

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Watertown, 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 Watertown.

BUS

Nashville, TN

58 mi away
705 5th Avenue South

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Parsons and Knoxville. Straight-line distance: 236.64 mi (380.84 km).

Parsons

#1 Parsons

City in Decatur County, Tennessee, United States

Population2,272
Coordinates35.6497900, -88.1267000
Altitude151
CountryUnited States
Knoxville

#2 Knoxville

The most populous city in Tennessee.

Population190,223
Coordinates35.9606400, -83.9207400
Altitude276
CountryUnited States
Start: US 412 (-88.126693, 35.649769)
End: US 11 (-83.920795, 35.960617)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 445 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 54m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.76 gal
36.93 L · about $36.80
Round trip
$73.61
19.52 gal · 73.86 L
Estimated CO2
86.7 kg one way
Round trip: 173.5 kg / 383 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $36.80 $73.61
Mid-grade $4.25 $41.51 $83.02
Premium $4.65 $45.42 $90.85
Diesel $5.30 $51.77 $103.53

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 29, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Parsons, TN and Knoxville, TN. The current time in Parsons is 00:09:26, although it is 01:09:26 in Knoxville.

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.