Three interstates, one corridor
Interstate 40 crosses Tennessee from Memphis to the North Carolina line, and the Knoxville stretch is its busiest. West of the city, I-75 joins I-40 at Exit 368, and the two share the road through Farragut and West Knoxville to Exit 385, where I-75 turns north onto I-640. East of downtown, I-40 runs past Strawberry Plains and Kodak to Exit 421, where I-81 splits off toward Virginia.
That shared I-40/I-75 section carries more than 200,000 vehicles a day, and the truck share is high. A breakdown there means working next to heavy, fast traffic. East of the I-81 split, I-40 heads into the mountains toward Newport and the Pigeon River Gorge.
I-40 exit reference: Kingston to the I-81 split
Exit numbers below follow current I-40 signage. Give dispatch the name on the sign or the business you’re at, too.
| Exit | Destination | Notes for drivers |
|---|---|---|
| 352 | SR 58 south – Kingston | West end of our core area |
| 356 | SR 58 north – Oak Ridge | Route to the Heritage Center and Oak Ridge |
| 364 | US-321 / SR 95 – Lenoir City, Oak Ridge | Love’s Travel Stop on Highway 321 |
| 368 | I-75 south – Chattanooga | I-40 and I-75 run together from here to Exit 385 |
| 369 | Watt Road | Petro, Flying J, and TA truck stops |
| MM 372 | Knox County scale house | Tennessee Highway Patrol scales, both directions |
| 373 | Campbell Station Road – Farragut | Farragut |
| 374 | SR 131 (Lovell Road) | West Knoxville |
| 376 | I-140 east / SR 162 north – Maryville, Oak Ridge | Pellissippi Parkway |
| 378 | Cedar Bluff Road | West Knoxville |
| 385 | I-75 north / I-640 east – Lexington | I-75 leaves; hazmat must use I-640 |
| 386 | US-129 (Alcoa Highway) – Airport, Maryville | Across the river toward Blount County |
| 387–388 | I-275 north, US-441 (Henley Street), James White Parkway | Downtown Knoxville |
| 389 | Hall of Fame Drive | Downtown east side |
| 392 | US-11W (Rutledge Pike) | East Knoxville |
| 393 | I-640 west | East end of the bypass |
| 394 | US-11E / US-25W / US-70 (Asheville Highway) | East Knoxville |
| 398 | Strawberry Plains Pike | Pilot and Lee’s Travel Center |
| 402 | Midway Road | Industrial area east of Knoxville |
| 407 | SR 66 (Winfield Dunn Parkway) – Sevierville, Pigeon Forge | Very busy tourist exit; Buc-ee’s here does not allow semis |
| 412 | Deep Springs Road – Douglas Dam | Love’s, Speedway, and TR Auto/Truck Plaza |
| 417 | SR 92 – Dandridge, Jefferson City | Pilot Travel Center |
| 421 | I-81 north – Bristol | I-81 begins here |
Where trucks break down on I-40
- The I-40/I-75 overlap. Between Exits 368 and 385, heavy traffic, merges at Pellissippi Parkway and Cedar Bluff, and work zones make it the hardest stretch to work on a shoulder. If the truck can move, get off at an exit.
- Watt Road. Hundreds of trucks park overnight at Exit 369, so mornings bring dead batteries, air systems that bled down, gelled fuel in winter, and problems found on the pre-trip.
- Downtown. Tight ramps between Exits 386 and 389, the river bridge on Alcoa Highway, and game-day traffic near the University of Tennessee.
- Strawberry Plains to Dandridge. Faster, more open interstate where blowouts and overheating show up, especially with summer traffic headed to the Smokies.
East toward the gorge, west toward the plateau
Beyond our core area, I-40 gets harder. West of Kingston, it climbs onto the Cumberland Plateau past Rockwood, a long grade that tests cooling systems going up and brakes coming down. East of Newport, it runs through the Pigeon River Gorge into North Carolina. Hurricane Helene washed out large sections of the gorge in September 2024. It reopened in March 2025 with one lane each way and a 35 mph limit, and full rebuilding isn’t expected to finish until around 2029. Check TDOT and NCDOT conditions before heading that way, and plan fuel and rest before you get there.
What to do while you wait
Turn on your flashers, set out your triangles, and stay out of the travel lanes. If it’s safe, wait away from the truck, behind a guardrail or well off the road — trucks stopped on I-40 shoulders do get hit. In winter, dress for the wait. Our breakdown checklist covers triangle placement and what to tell dispatch.
Calls we run most on I-40
- Emergency Roadside Assistance
- Mobile Tire Service
- Jump Start & Fuel Delivery
- Air Brake Service
- Cooling System & Radiator Repair
- DPF, DEF & Regen Service
- Electrical & Charging Repair
- DOT Inspection
Towns along this route
I-40 breakdowns: questions
How far along I-40 do you go?
Our core area runs from about Kingston (Exit 352) through Knoxville to the I-81 split (Exit 421). Beyond that, call — dispatch will tell you honestly whether a mechanic can reach you.
Where are the truck stops on I-40 near Knoxville?
Love’s at Exit 364; Petro, Flying J, and TA at Watt Road (Exit 369); Pilot and Lee’s at Strawberry Plains (Exit 398); Love’s and others at Deep Springs Road (Exit 412); and Pilot at Dandridge (Exit 417).
Is I-40 open through the Pigeon River Gorge?
As of September 2026, yes, with one lane each direction and a 35 mph limit while it’s rebuilt after Hurricane Helene. Repairs are expected to run to about 2029, so check current conditions before you go.
Where are the scales on I-40 near Knoxville?
The Knox County scale house is on I-40/I-75 near mile marker 372, between Watt Road and Campbell Station Road, with scales for both directions.
I broke down between exits. What do I tell dispatch?
Your direction (eastbound or westbound), the last exit you passed, and the nearest mile marker. Mile markers on I-40 match the exit numbers, so “eastbound near mile 380” pins it down.