Photo: Kelly
Drive Time
3h 35m
Distance
185.7 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
The drive from Benton, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 185.7 miles and takes about 3h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Main Street, David W Lillard Memorial Highway, South White Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.57 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
92.9 miles from Benton, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 35m drive with frequent turns across 185.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| David W Lillard Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South White Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Green Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ingleside Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| John J Duncan Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 81 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 26 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Benton, TN and Johnson City, TN.
Start on Town Creek Road
Turn left onto Main Street
Turn left
Turn left onto David W Lillard Memorial Highway
Continue on South White Street
Continue on Green Street
Turn slight right onto Ingleside Avenue
Continue on John J Duncan Parkway
Take the ramp slight right
Merge slight left
Keep slight left
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol
Take the exit slight right toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway
Take the exit slight right toward TN 91
Turn right onto East Market Street
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
Turn right
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.9 miles or 1h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Johnson City, TN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Benton, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Benton, TN
This is one driving day of about 185.7 miles and 3h 35m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 92.9 mi from Benton, TN · 1h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 92.9 miles from Benton, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Johnson City, 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 Johnson City, TN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$27.57 one way
$55.14 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $31.09 | $62.19 |
| premium | $4.65 | $34.03 | $68.05 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $38.78 | $77.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.7 | 0 | $19.50 | $8.91 |
| Efficient EV | 46.4 | 0 | $16.25 | $7.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.3 | 0 | $26.00 | $11.88 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Benton on Saturday
Local time
6:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Johnson City on Saturday
Local time
6:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
61°F
Knoxville, TN
93 mi in
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.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Explore more options from Benton, TN or browse trips ending in Johnson City, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.
Explore maps for Benton, TN or Johnson City, TN on MapSof.net.