Origin
Elizabethton, TN
Evening in Elizabethton on Friday
Local time
7:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elizabethton, TN to Kingsport, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
32.1 mi
52 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elizabethton, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel between Elizabethton and Kingsport, Tennessee, expect a quick 32.1-mile journey that typically takes about 46 minutes. This route is a straightforward mixed drive perfect for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can comfortably budget around $5 for fuel, making it a very economical excursion through the Southeast. Navigating this path involves transitioning through West Elk Avenue and South Wilcox Drive to reach your destination. Because the travel time is under an hour, it offers great flexibility for those who need to commute or visit the area for a quick errand.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 32.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a varied experience behind the wheel, as this route is classified as a mixed drive with 60% of your travel occurring on highways. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the James H. Quillen Parkway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted stretch at 19.1 miles. The road transitions from local thoroughfares into faster highway segments, requiring you to shift your driving pace accordingly. While the highway portions allow for steady speeds, the local road sections demand more attention to traffic flow. Overall, the drive balances the efficiency of a highway commute with the slower, more controlled pace of city roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
James H. Quillen Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 19.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Riverside Drive.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 32.1 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Riverside Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (North Sycamore Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Riverside Drive
Turn right onto North Riverside Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Sycamore Street
Turn right onto North Sycamore Street
Navigation decision point
5
28.2 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 4
5
31.9 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
Broad Street
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
32 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
TN 36 / West Center Street
Turn left onto TN 36 / West Center Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 19.1 mi | 22m |
| West Elk Avenue | 7.4 mi | 12m |
| South Wilcox Drive | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Broad Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Sullivan Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Sycamore Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Center Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
James H. Quillen Parkway
— 19.1 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabethton, TN and Kingsport, TN.
1
Start on this road
32 ft
·
1 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on East Elk Avenue
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
East Elk Avenue
3
Turn right onto North Riverside Drive
286 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Riverside Drive
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on East E Street
445 ft
·
23 sec
·
East E Street
5
Turn right onto North Sycamore Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Sycamore Street
6
Turn left onto US 321; SR 67
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Broad Street
7
Continue on US 321; SR 67
7.4 mi
·
12 min
·
West Elk Avenue
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
9
Merge onto I 26; US 19W; US 23
19 mi
·
22 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 4
11
Keep slight left at fork
237 ft
·
7 sec
Exit 4
12
Continue on SR 126
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Wilcox Drive
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto East Sullivan Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Sullivan Street
14
Turn slight left onto East Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
15
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Broad Street
16
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
46 ft
·
1 sec
·
Broad Street
17
Continue on Broad Street
433 ft
·
19 sec
·
Broad Street
18
Turn left onto TN 36
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Center Street
19
Arrive at destination
TN 36
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.1 mi from Elizabethton, TN · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.1 miles from Elizabethton, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Kingsport, TN
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Kingsport, TN if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.02 one way
$10.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.51 | $11.02 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.18 | $12.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.09 | $14.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.37 | $1.54 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.81 | $1.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.49 | $2.05 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Kingsport, TN
Evening in Kingsport on Friday
Local time
7:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
46m 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 Elizabethton, TN to Kingsport, TN covers 32.1 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are James H. Quillen Parkway, West Elk Avenue, South Wilcox Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.1 miles from Elizabethton, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.02 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 32.1 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North Riverside Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (North Sycamore Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Elizabethton, TN to Kingsport, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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