Origin
Hendersonville, TN
Late night in Hendersonville on Wednesday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hendersonville, TN to Johnson City, TN
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
5h 23m
Distance
287.4 mi
463 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 10m
★
6 AM
5h 24m
8 AM
5h 51m
10 AM
5h 33m
12 PM
5h 30m
3 PM
5h 34m
5 PM
5h 49m
8 PM
5h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Johnson City, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Hendersonville, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 287.4 miles and takes about 5h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, I 81, James H. Quillen Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 189 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.93 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
143.7 miles from Hendersonville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 5h 23m highway drive covering 287.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 189 miles on I 40.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 189 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in near TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 287.4 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 4.1 miles (TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 179 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
Merge onto TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
10.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit toward SR 109 South: Gallatin, Lebanon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SR 109 South: Gallatin, Lebanon
6
179 mi into trip
|
~3h 22m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
215.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 3m 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
272.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 4m 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 Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hendersonville, TN to Johnson City, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.
Asheville
272.3 mi in
|
~5h 4m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 189 mi | 3h 26m |
| I 81 | 56.6 mi | 1h |
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 14 mi | 16m |
| SR 109 | 13.3 mi | 18m |
| Vietnam Veterans Boulevard | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| South Water Avenue | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| West Main Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Gallatin Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 189 mi, about 3h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hendersonville, TN and Johnson City, TN.
1
Start on Walton Ferry Road
53 ft
·
4 sec
·
Walton Ferry Road
2
Turn right onto US 31E
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on US 31E
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Gallatin Road
4
Continue on US 31E
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward SR 386 North
6
Merge onto TN 386
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Vietnam Veterans Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on SR 665
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Long Hollow Pike
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Toward SR 109 South: Gallatin, Lebanon
9
Merge onto SR 109
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
SR 109
10
Take the exit
291 ft
·
8 sec
11
Merge onto SR 109
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Water Avenue
12
Continue on SR 109
7.1 mi
·
11 min
·
SR 109
13
Continue on SR 109
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
SR 109
14
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville
15
Merge onto I 40
152 mi
·
2 hr 45 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi
·
40 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
57 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 81
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 57A
Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
19
Merge onto I 26; US 23
14 mi
·
16 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 23
Toward TN 91
21
Turn right onto SR 91
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Market Street
22
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Buffalo Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Turn right
433 ft
·
31 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 143.7 miles from Hendersonville, TN, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 189 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 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.7 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 25m
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 Hendersonville, 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 Hendersonville, TN
This is one driving day of about 287.4 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hendersonville, 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 40 for about 189 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 143.7 mi from Hendersonville, TN · 2h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
144 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 143.7 miles from Hendersonville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 189 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.93 one way
$89.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
101 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $49.33 | $98.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $55.31 | $110.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $63.45 | $126.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.2 | 1 | $30.18 | $13.80 |
| Efficient EV | 71.9 | 0 | $25.15 | $11.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115 | 1 | $40.24 | $18.39 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Johnson City, TN
Morning in Johnson City on Wednesday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
W 5 to 10 mph
15% chance
Live forecast
76°F
Johnson, TN
144 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
16 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 23m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Hendersonville, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 287.4 miles and takes about 5h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 81, 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 143.7 miles from Hendersonville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.93 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 287.4 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 4.1 miles (TN 386 / Vietnam Veterans Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 179 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Hendersonville, TN to Johnson City, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.
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