Origin
Clinton, TN
Evening in Clinton on Sunday
Local time
8:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clinton, TN to Johnson City, TN
Drive Time
2h 18m
Distance
122.1 mi
197 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 9m
★
6 AM
2h 19m
8 AM
2h 38m
10 AM
2h 25m
12 PM
2h 23m
3 PM
2h 26m
5 PM
2h 37m
8 PM
2h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clinton, TN
Kelly
Johnson City, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Clinton to Johnson City, expect a straightforward journey covering 127.3 miles across the Southeast. You should budget approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes of drive time, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel cost estimate of $19, the route is quite economical for a quick getaway. You will navigate via North Main Street, Clinch Avenue, and Clinton Highway rather than relying on interstates. Since the entire trip takes place within Tennessee, you can expect a consistent regional feel throughout your travel. Because the drive is under two hours, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay unless you choose to spend extra time exploring your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
61.1 miles from Clinton, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will navigate through local roads for the entire 127.3-mile duration. The journey is characterized by its technical nature, as there are no long, straight stretches; in fact, the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on North Main Street. You will find that the road demands your full attention as you transition between local thoroughfares. This is a hands-on driving experience that offers a more intimate look at the regional landscape than typical high-speed corridors.
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 around 14.8 miles in near US 25W.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 122.1 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 14.8 miles (US 25W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 15 miles (I 640; US 25W / Knoxville Bypass): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.9 miles (US 25W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
14.8 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
US 25W
Keep slight right at fork onto US 25W toward I 640 East: Asheville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 640 East: Asheville
5
15 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 640; US 25W / Knoxville Bypass
Merge onto I 640; US 25W / Knoxville Bypass
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
21.9 mi into trip
|
~27m 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 straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 40 East: Asheville
6
50.4 mi into trip
|
~58m 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
107.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m 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 Clinton, TN to Johnson City, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.
Asheville
107.1 mi in
|
~1h 59m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 56.6 mi | 1h |
| US 25W | 28.7 mi | 31m |
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 14 mi | 16m |
| Clinton Highway | 11.9 mi | 14m |
| Knoxville Bypass | 6.9 mi | 7m |
| Clinch Avenue | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Market Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 56.6 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clinton, TN and Johnson City, TN.
1
Start on Market Street
135 ft
·
10 sec
·
Market Street
2
Turn left onto US 25W
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Main Street
3
Continue on US 25W
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Clinch Avenue
4
Continue on US 25W
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Clinton Highway
5
Merge onto US 25W
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Clinton Highway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 25W
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
US 25W
Toward I 640 East: Asheville
7
Merge onto I 640; US 25W
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Knoxville Bypass
Use the 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 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
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 1 hour and 58 minute drive, consider departing during daylight hours to ensure you can navigate the local roads with ease. Since there are no scheduled stops in the itinerary, you have the flexibility to pull over whenever you need a break or a quick meal. Be mindful that because the route relies entirely on local streets, your pace will be dictated by traffic patterns along Clinton Highway and Clinch Avenue. Keep your $19 fuel budget in mind when planning, and ensure your tank is topped off before you leave Clinton to avoid searching for stations on unfamiliar local roads. Taking advantage of the route's short duration allows you to arrive in Johnson City refreshed and ready to explore.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 61.1 miles from Clinton, TN, or about 1h 10m 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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.1 miles or 1h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 52m
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 Clinton, 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 Clinton, TN
This is one driving day of about 122.1 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Clinton, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
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 61.1 mi from Clinton, TN · 1h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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 61.1 miles from Clinton, 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
$18.55 one way
$37.09 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $20.44 | $40.89 |
| premium | $4.80 | $23.05 | $46.10 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $27.13 | $54.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.6 | 0 | $12.82 | $5.86 |
| Efficient EV | 30.5 | 0 | $10.68 | $4.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.8 | 0 | $17.09 | $7.81 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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
8:29 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
5 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 18m 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 Clinton, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 122.1 miles and takes about 2h 18m 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 61.1 miles from Clinton, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.55 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 122.1 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: at 14.8 miles (US 25W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 15 miles (I 640; US 25W / Knoxville Bypass): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.9 miles (US 25W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Clinton, TN to Johnson City, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.
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