Origin
Caryville, TN
Evening in Caryville on Sunday
Local time
6:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Caryville, TN to Johnson City, TN
Drive Time
2h 33m
Distance
134.7 mi
217 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 23m
★
6 AM
2h 34m
8 AM
2h 54m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 39m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 53m
8 PM
2h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Caryville, TN
Kelly
Johnson City, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Spanning 134.7 miles across Eastern Tennessee, this route connects Caryville to Johnson City in approximately 2 hours and 33 minutes. It is a straightforward trip that fits easily into a single day, making it an ideal choice for travelers looking to traverse the Southeast without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $20 on fuel, keeping the trip budget-friendly for most vehicles. By utilizing I-81, US 25W, and the James H. Quillen Parkway, you get a direct path between these two points. Because the drive is relatively short, you have the flexibility to explore at your own pace or head straight to your destination. Whether you are commuting or road-tripping, this straightforward journey provides a reliable connection through the region.
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
67.3 miles from Caryville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 74% of this route consists of high-speed transit. You will spend your time navigating a blend of major interstates and regional parkways, offering a consistent driving pace. The longest uninterrupted segment occurs on I-81, where you will cover 56.6 miles without needing to exit. As you transition from the interstate onto the James H. Quillen Parkway, the road environment shifts to accommodate local traffic flows. This mix ensures you spend most of your time moving efficiently, though you should remain attentive to changing road types as you approach the Johnson City area.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 56.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and US 25W. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 134.7 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: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 34.4 miles (US 25W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
27.5 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward I 640 East: Asheville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 640 East: Asheville
7
34.4 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
US 25W
Keep slight left at fork onto US 25W toward I 40 East: Asheville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Asheville
6
63 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m 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
6
119.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 57A
Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, As...
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Caryville, TN to Johnson City, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.
Asheville
119.6 mi in
|
~2h 14m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 56.6 mi | 1h |
| US 25W | 28.5 mi | 31m |
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 14 mi | 16m |
| Knoxville Bypass | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| East Market Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I 275 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Buffalo Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 56.6 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Caryville, TN and Johnson City, TN.
1
Start on Mountain Road
173 ft
·
11 sec
·
Mountain Road
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
·
Main Street
3
Take the ramp onto SR 63
57 ft
·
1 sec
·
SR 63
4
Turn right
27 mi
·
32 min
Toward Knoxville
5
Continue on I 275
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 275
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 640 East: Asheville
7
Merge onto I 640; US 25W
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Knoxville Bypass
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 25W
29 mi
·
31 min
·
US 25W
Toward I 40 East: Asheville
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
57 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 81
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 57A
Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
11
Merge onto I 26; US 23
14 mi
·
16 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 23
Toward TN 91
13
Turn right onto SR 91
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Market Street
14
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Buffalo Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn right
433 ft
·
31 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable drive, you have plenty of freedom to choose your departure time based on your personal schedule. With only one recommended stop needed for the entire 134.7-mile journey, you can easily stretch your legs midway to stay refreshed behind the wheel. Budgeting $20 for fuel should cover you comfortably, but filling up before you leave Caryville ensures you won't need to hunt for gas stations during the longest 56.6-mile stretch on I-81. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition between the interstate and the James H. Quillen Parkway to avoid missing your turn. Utilizing the flexibility of this short duration allows you to arrive in Johnson City feeling energized rather than drained by a long day on the road.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.3 miles from Caryville, TN, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.6 miles.
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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.3 miles or 1h 18m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Johnson City, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Caryville, 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 Caryville, TN
This is one driving day of about 134.7 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Caryville, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 56.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 67.3 mi from Caryville, TN · 1h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 67.3 miles from Caryville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Johnson City, TN
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.46 one way
$40.92 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $22.55 | $45.11 |
| premium | $4.80 | $25.43 | $50.86 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $29.93 | $59.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.4 | 0 | $14.14 | $6.47 |
| Efficient EV | 33.7 | 0 | $11.79 | $5.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.9 | 0 | $18.86 | $8.62 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Destination
Johnson City, TN
Evening in Johnson City on Sunday
Local time
6:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°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.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 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
2h 33m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Caryville, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 134.7 miles and takes about 2h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, US 25W, James H. Quillen Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 67.3 miles from Caryville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.46 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 134.7 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 34.4 miles (US 25W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Caryville, TN to Johnson City, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Johnson City, TN
More from Caryville, TN
More trips to Johnson City, TN
Explore more options from Caryville, TN or browse trips ending in Johnson City, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.
Explore maps for Caryville, TN or Johnson City, TN on MapSof.net.