Trip from Atoka, TN to Kingsport, TN

Data updated 5 hours ago

Drive Time

8h 46m

Distance

462.5 mi

744 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$72

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

4 AM

8h 39m ★

6 AM

8h 47m

8 AM

9h 2m

10 AM

8h 52m

12 PM

8h 51m

3 PM

8h 53m

5 PM

9h 2m

8 PM

8h 42m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

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Atoka, TN

Kelly

Trip Overview

This 462.5-mile drive from Atoka, TN to Kingsport, TN will take you approximately 8 hours and 46 minutes, so it's best enjoyed over two days. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, with a highway share of 94%, making it a focused drive. With a projected fuel cost of around $72, this trip is budget-friendly. The journey begins in the Southeast region and concludes within the same region. Plan for at least two stops to break up the nearly 9-hour travel time. This route is a straightforward connection between two points in Tennessee, ideal for reaching your destination efficiently.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

231.2 miles from Atoka, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 29m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience on this trip, with 94% of the route utilizing major roadways. The majority of your time will be spent on I-40, including a substantial longest stretch of 352 miles. While the profile is primarily highway, you'll also navigate sections of I-81 and State Highway 14, offering some variation in the interstate system. This means you'll encounter consistent speeds for long periods, punctuated by transitions between these key arteries. The drive is characterized by its directness and efficiency.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 352 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 185.2 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 462.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 185.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 188.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 362.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

185.2 mi into trip | ~3h 38m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 208A Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsv...

188.4 mi into trip | ~3h 43m in | I 40

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 211A Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattan...

362.2 mi into trip | ~6h 52m in | I 40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

398.9 mi into trip | ~7h 33m in | I 81

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 North: Bristol

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 421 Toward I 81 North: Bristol

449.6 mi into trip | ~8h 28m in

Keep slight right at fork toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 50 Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Atoka, TN and Kingsport, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.

Huntsville

185.2 mi in | ~3h 38m

Louisville

187.8 mi in | ~3h 42m | via I 40

Knoxville

187.8 mi in | ~3h 42m | via I 40

Chattanooga

187.8 mi in | ~3h 42m | via I 40

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 40	352 mi	6h 22m
I 81	50.5 mi	54m
State Highway 14	14.8 mi	21m
TN 54	13.5 mi	20m
East Main Street	10.5 mi	15m
Atoka-Idaville Road	5.3 mi	9m
South Wilcox Drive	4.1 mi	6m
Sullivan Gardens Drive	3.1 mi	3m

Longest stretch: I 40 — 352 mi, about 6h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Atoka, TN and Kingsport, TN.

Start on TN 206

147 ft · 4 sec · Atoka-Munford Road

At end of road, turn right onto SR 206

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Main Street

Continue on TN 206

0.6 mi · 1 min · Atoka-Idaville Road

Enter roundabout onto TN 206

135 ft · 2 sec · Atoka-Idaville Road

Continue on TN 206

4.6 mi · 8 min · Atoka-Idaville Road

Turn left onto TN 14

15 mi · 21 min · State Highway 14

At end of road, turn right onto TN 54

14 mi · 20 min · TN 54

Enter roundabout onto East Main Street

392 ft · 7 sec · East Main Street

Continue on East Main Street

9.7 mi · 14 min · East Main Street

Turn left

0.1 mi · 16 sec

Exit 66 Toward US 70: Fort Pillow State Historic Park

Merge onto I 40

141 mi · 2 hr 32 min · I 40

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 24 sec

Exit 208A Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 40; I 65

2.4 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 40

0.5 mi · 42 sec · Downtown Loop

Exit 211B; 211A Toward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksville, Louisville, Knoxville, Chattanooga Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

174 mi · 3 hr 9 min · I 40

Exit 211A Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

37 mi · 40 min · I 40

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

51 mi · 54 min · I 81

Exit 421 Toward I 81 North: Bristol

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec

Exit 50 Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch

Keep slight right at fork

509 ft · 14 sec

Exit 50 Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch

Merge onto SR 93

0.6 mi · 38 sec · SR 93

Continue on TN 93

2.4 mi · 2 min · TN 93

Continue on SR 93

3.1 mi · 3 min · Sullivan Gardens Drive

Continue on SR 93

1.5 mi · 1 min · South Wilcox Drive

Continue on SR 93

1.4 mi · 1 min · Sullivan Gardens Parkway

Turn left onto SR 126

2.6 mi · 4 min · South Wilcox Drive

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto East Sullivan Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · East Sullivan Street

Turn slight left onto East Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Turn right onto Broad Street

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Broad Street

Enter roundabout onto Broad Street

46 ft · 1 sec · Broad Street

Continue on Broad Street

433 ft · 19 sec · Broad Street

Turn left onto TN 36

0.1 mi · 23 sec · West Center Street

Arrive at destination

TN 36

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 8-hour, 46-minute journey, splitting it into two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight driving and allow for a relaxed pace. With a longest uninterrupted stretch of 352 miles on I-40, be sure to plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point of that segment. Consider breaking the drive roughly in half to avoid fatigue. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as finding services can sometimes be more spread out on interstates, especially during the longer stretches.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 231.2 miles from Atoka, TN, or about 4h 29m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 352 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 102 miles or 2h 9m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 231.2 miles or 4h 29m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 231.2 miles or 4h 29m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 37m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kingsport, TN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Atoka, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Atoka, TN

Aim for roughly 231 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Kingsport, TN

Aim for roughly 231 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 102 miles from Atoka, TN.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 352 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 231.2 mi from Atoka, TN · 4h 29m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Hendersonville, TN

231 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Hendersonville, TN

Overnight Options

Night 1

Hendersonville, TN

231 mi · about 4.4h in

A practical overnight split lands near Hendersonville, TN after about 231 miles or 4.4 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Clarksville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 102 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hendersonville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 231.2 miles from Atoka, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 352 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 231 miles or 4.4 hours on the road.

Arriving in Kingsport, TN

The final approach into Kingsport, TN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Kingsport, TN.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Kingsport, TN with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$72.31 one way

$144.61 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 162 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$79.39	$158.78
premium	$4.89	$89.00	$178.01
diesel	$5.61	$102.11	$204.23

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$72

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$202–$312

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 161.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $49 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	138.8	1	$48.56	$22.20
Efficient EV	115.6	1	$40.47	$18.50
EV Truck/SUV	185	2	$64.75	$29.60

Gas CO2

162 kg

EV CO2

54 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour from now

Origin

Atoka, TN

Late night in Atoka on Wednesday

Local time

5:07 AM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kingsport, TN

Morning in Kingsport on Wednesday

Local time

6:07 AM

EDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

Time zone

1 hour later

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

8 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

8h 46m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Atoka, TN to Kingsport, TN covers 462.5 miles and takes about 8h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 40, I 81, State Highway 14. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 231 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 231.2 miles from Atoka, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $72.31 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Atoka, TN and Kingsport, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.

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