Drive Time
7h 33m
Distance
404.3 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$60
one way
The drive from Chapel Hill, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 404.3 miles and takes about 7h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Joe Horton Road, Life Road, Lexington Bypass for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $60.02 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
202.1 miles from Chapel Hill, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 46m into the drive .
Expect a 7h 33m drive with frequent turns across 404.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Horton Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Life Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lexington Bypass | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Broad Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| SR 22 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Downtown Loop | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 81 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Chapel Hill, TN and Johnson City, TN.
Start on the route
At the end of the road, turn right onto Joe Horton Road
Turn right onto Life Road
Continue on Life Road
At the end of the road, turn right onto Lexington Bypass
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Broad Street
Take the ramp right toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington, Huntingdon
Merge slight left
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop
Continue on Downtown Loop
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
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
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 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 89 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 202.1 miles or 3h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Johnson City, TN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Chapel Hill, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chapel Hill, TN
This is one driving day of about 404.3 miles and 7h 33m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 202.1 mi from Chapel Hill, TN · 3h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
202 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 89 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 202.1 miles from Chapel Hill, 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
$60.02 one way
$120.05 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $67.70 | $135.39 |
| premium | $4.65 | $74.08 | $148.16 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $84.43 | $168.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 141.5 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 121.3 | 1 | $42.45 | $19.41 |
| Efficient EV | 101.1 | 1 | $35.38 | $16.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 161.7 | 2 | $56.60 | $25.88 |
Gas CO2
141 kg
EV CO2
47 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Chapel Hill on Saturday
Local time
5:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Johnson City on Saturday
Local time
6:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
61°F
Johnson, TN
202 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
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Explore more options from Chapel Hill, TN or browse trips ending in Johnson City, TN.
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