Chicago to Knoxville road trip: Drive time, distance & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Chicago to Knoxville drive are Indianapolis, Louisville and Lexington KY. The distance from Chicago to Knoxville by car is 540 miles, with a 7h58m driving time.
Planning a Chicago to Knoxville road trip itinerary
The Chicago to Knoxville drive takes you from the biggest city in Illinois to the cusp of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee.
Our favourite thing to do in Chicago
The Chicago architecture cruise has a phenomenal wow factor, with the boat gliding between some of the world’s most legendary skyscrapers.
We found the commentary matches the views, too. Expect a fascinating run-down of the city’s history – and plenty of surprising detail about the buildings you’re seeing.
Highly recommended Chicago experiences include an architecture river cruise, a gangsters and ghosts tour of famous Mob sites and a bike tour of the lakefront neighbourhoods. It’s also worth paying a visit to the Field Museum, the 360 Chicago observation deck at the Hancock Tower and the Chicago Architecture Center.
Highlights of Knoxville include World’s Fair Park, which hosted the 1982 World’s Fair. The often-dazzling Sunsphere is the major landmark, here. You can also visit the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and Knoxville Museum of Art.
Other Knoxville experiences include ghost tours and downtown walking tours that pick out local secret spots, while serving up coffee and ice cream.
Top Knoxville accommodation options include the handily-located Graduate Knoxville, the affordable Hampton Inn and Suites Knoxville Downtown and the character-packed Oliver Hotel. To compare prices, search here.
Chicago to Knoxville distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Chicago to Knoxville is 540 miles. That makes for a driving time of around seven hours and 58 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-65, I-64 and I-75.
The best stops to add to a Chicago to Knoxville road trip itinerary are Indianapolis, Louisville and Lexington KY.
For more things to do on the way, check out the guides to the individual road trip sections.
- Chicago to Indianapolis drive.
- Indianapolis to Louisville drive.
- Louisville to Lexington drive.
- Lexington to Knoxville drive.
Best stops between Chicago and Knoxville: Indianapolis
The capital of Indiana marries big city energy with country charm.
Top attractions in Indianapolis include the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
Worthwhile Indianapolis experiences include a Fountain Square food tour and a walking tour around the city’s highlights.
Chicago to Knoxville drive: Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the biggest city in Kentucky, and has a strong range of attractions to enjoy. The Louisville Mega Cavern has underground zipline tours, the Churchill Downs race track hosts America’s most famous horse race – the Kentucky Derby – and the Louisville Slugger Factory makes the world’s most famous baseball bats. You can take factory tours and there’s a museum attached.
Good Louisville experiences include Old Louisville ghost tours, the Kentucky Derby Museum and a tasting tour of multiple bourbon distilleries. The food and history tours are also worth checking out.
Top Louisville accommodation choices include the history-drenched Brown Hotel and the art-packed 21C Museum Hotel.
Why you should visit the Kentucky Derby Museum
The Kentucky Derby Museum isn’t just about the nation’s top horse race – it’s about the phenomenon that surrounds it. Museum entry tickets include the chance to see the trophies, learn the backstories of famous winners and watch an immersive theater screening. Best of all, they also include a walking tour of the Churchill Downs Racetrack. Find out more here.
David Whitley, author of Best3Stops.
Chicago to Knoxville road trip attractions: Lexington KY
Lexington, Kentucky, is renowned as a hub for the world of horse-breeding. However, there is much more to the city than studs.
Interesting Lexington experiences include downtown food tours, guided art walks, zipline tours through the Kentucky River Palisades. You can also try bluegrass cocktail tours, visiting a thoroughbred horse farm and visiting Mary Todd Lincoln House.
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