Drive America’s Highways for about 187 miles east along Interstate 40 from I-65 (Exit 208) in Nashville to I-640 (Exit 393) in Knoxville, Tennessee — a fast run of hills, wide valleys, and long rock cuts across the Cumberland Plateau.
Interstate 40 carries eastbound traffic out of northwest Nashville with a brief urban pulse before easing into the green edges of Middle Tennessee. The video starts on the downtown loop at I-65 and quickly settles into steady interstate rhythm—multiple lanes, broad shoulders, and frequent guide signs that keep the flow predictable through the city. As the climb away from the river plain begins, the highway transitions to rolling grades typical of the Highland Rim, with long, gentle curves that open and close the view. Expect a mix of commuter and through-traffic here; merge areas are generous but busy. Once past the outer suburbs, the road stretches out and the scenery takes over: hardwood and pine on either side, sporadic utility corridors, and occasional glimpses across low ridges that hint at the plateau ahead. Pavement is generally smooth, with periodic joints and patches where winter has had its say, and the posted limits support an efficient cruise when conditions are clear.
Farther east, I-40 climbs onto the Cumberland Plateau, where the character shifts to longer pulls, truck lanes on the steeper grades, and the kind of rock cuts that showcase Tennessee’s layered geology. The median widens in places, and crosswinds can rise on the higher, more exposed segments, especially near broad reservoir valleys and watershed crossings. Traffic ebbs and flows with freight movements; expect professional drivers holding steady pace on the right while faster cars use the left for the hills. The plateau gradually gives way to the Tennessee Valley with wider horizons, marshy bottoms in the low spots, and the approach to Knoxville marked by denser interchanges and a return to a metropolitan cadence. Lane drops and add-lanes are well signed, and the route finishes on the east side of the city at the I-640 junction—an easy point to continue around Knoxville or carry on toward the mountains. Overall, this is one of Tennessee’s signature cross-state drives: efficient, well-engineered, and quietly scenic, trading between forested shoulders, broad sky, and the steady hum of an interstate designed for long miles.
Important Cities, Towns, and Interchanges
00:00:39 – Exit 208 A-B (I-40EB @ I-65NB) Nashville
00:02:54 – Exit 210 (I-40EB @ I-65SB) Nashville
00:04:16 – Exit 211 A-B (I-40EB @ I-24WB) Nashville
00:06:25 – Exit 213 A (I-40EB @ I-24EB) Nashville
00:07:43 – Exit 215 A-B (I-40EB @ TN-155 Briley Pkwy) Nashville
00:09:15 – Exit 216A (Airport) Nashville
00:19:37 – 00:28:15 – Lebanon
00:23:41 – Exit 234 – I-40EB @ I-840WB) Lebanon
00:41:38 – 00:44:21 – Gordonsville
00:56:26 – 01:08:18 – Cookeville
01:16:00 – 01:18:08 – Monterey
01:28:23 – 01:33:12 – Crossville
01:56:18 – 2:00:51 – Kingston
02:17:49 – 2:41:22 – Knoxville
02:09:09 – Exit 368 (I-40EB @ I-75SB)
02:19:04 – Exit 376 (I-40EB @ I-140SB) Knoxville
02:33:25 – Exit 385 (I-40EB @ I-75NB/I-640EB) Knoxville
02:35:50 – Exit 387A (I-40EB @ (I-275NB) Knoxville
02:40:47 – Exit 393 (I-40EB @ I-640WB) Knoxville
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🗺️ Route Map
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