Origin
Jackson, TN
Evening in Jackson on Sunday
Local time
6:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jackson, TN to Kingsport, TN
Drive Time
7h 27m
Distance
404.6 mi
651 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$61
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 17m
★
6 AM
7h 28m
8 AM
7h 48m
10 AM
7h 35m
12 PM
7h 33m
3 PM
7h 36m
5 PM
7h 47m
8 PM
7h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jackson, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Crossing Tennessee from Jackson to Kingsport is a significant 404.6-mile trek that spans the entire state. You should plan for approximately 7 hours and 27 minutes of total drive time, making this a long but manageable single-day trip if you start early. With 96% of your journey spent on highways like I-40 and I-81, you will remain within the Southeast region for the duration of the trip. Budgeting around $61 for fuel is a smart move to keep your finances in check before you head out. While it is possible to complete this in one go, you might consider if you prefer a direct push or a more relaxed pace across the state.
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
202.3 miles from Jackson, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 42m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is defined by a heavy highway focus, centering your experience on the interstate system. You will spend the vast majority of your time cruising, highlighted by a substantial 331.1-mile stretch along I-40 that serves as the backbone of your journey. Transitioning from I-40 to I-81 and eventually navigating onto South Wilcox Drive marks the shift as you close in on your destination. Because 96% of the route is highway-based, the drive maintains a consistent, fast-paced rhythm. Expect a straightforward experience behind the wheel that prioritizes efficiency and distance over local backroads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 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 331.1 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 127.3 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 404.6 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 127.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 130.5 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 304.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
127.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsv...
9
130.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 211A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattan...
6
304.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 33m in
|
I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
8
391.8 mi into trip
|
~7h 9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 50
Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
7
404.5 mi into trip
|
~7h 27m in
|
TN 36 / West Center Street
Turn left onto TN 36 / West Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Towns Along This Route
Between Jackson, TN and Kingsport, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Huntsville
127.3 mi in
|
~2h 19m
Louisville
130 mi in
|
~2h 23m
|
via I 40
Knoxville
130 mi in
|
~2h 23m
|
via I 40
Chattanooga
130 mi in
|
~2h 23m
|
via I 40
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 331.1 mi | 6h |
| I 81 | 50.5 mi | 54m |
| South Wilcox Drive | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| Whitehall Street | 4 mi | 6m |
| Sullivan Gardens Drive | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Downtown Loop | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| TN 93 | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| US 70 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 331.1 mi, about 6h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, TN and Kingsport, TN.
1
Start on East Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 70
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
US 70
3
Turn right onto US 70
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Whitehall Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
5
Merge onto I 40
121 mi
·
2 hr 9 min
·
I 40
Use the none lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Downtown Loop
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 40
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Downtown Loop
Exit 211B; 211A
Toward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksville, Louisville, Knoxville, Chattanooga
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
174 mi
·
3 hr 9 min
·
I 40
Exit 211A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi
·
40 min
·
I 40
Use the none lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
51 mi
·
54 min
·
I 81
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 50
Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
13
Keep slight right at fork
509 ft
·
14 sec
Exit 50
Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
14
Merge onto SR 93
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
·
SR 93
15
Continue on TN 93
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
TN 93
16
Continue on SR 93
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Sullivan Gardens Drive
17
Continue on SR 93
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Wilcox Drive
18
Continue on SR 93
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Sullivan Gardens Parkway
19
Turn left onto SR 126
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Wilcox Drive
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn left onto East Sullivan Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Sullivan Street
21
Turn slight left onto East Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
22
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Broad Street
23
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
46 ft
·
1 sec
·
Broad Street
24
Continue on Broad Street
433 ft
·
19 sec
·
Broad Street
25
Turn left onto TN 36
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Center Street
Use the none lane.
26
Arrive at destination
TN 36
Trip Plan
Since you have a nearly 7.5-hour drive ahead, departing early in the morning is the best way to avoid peak congestion and ensure you arrive in Kingsport with daylight to spare. Plan for at least two strategic stops to break up the long interstate segments and keep your energy levels high. Keep in mind that the longest uninterrupted stretch spans over 330 miles, so be proactive about refueling before your gauge gets too low. While the route is designed as a single-day trip, feel free to adjust your pace if you prefer a more leisurely journey. Specifically, monitor your progress on I-81 closely, as this final leg will lead you into the Kingsport area and onto South Wilcox Drive.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 202.3 miles from Jackson, TN, or about 3h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 331.1 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 89 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 202.3 miles or 3h 42m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kingsport, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jackson, 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 Jackson, TN
This is one driving day of about 404.6 miles and 7h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Jackson, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 331.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 202.3 mi from Jackson, TN · 3h 42m 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 89 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 202.3 miles from Jackson, 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 331.1 miles.
Arriving in Kingsport, TN
The final approach into Kingsport, 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 Kingsport, 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
$61.45 one way
$122.91 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
142 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $67.75 | $135.49 |
| premium | $4.80 | $76.38 | $152.76 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $89.89 | $179.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 141.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 121.4 | 1 | $42.48 | $19.42 |
| Efficient EV | 101.2 | 1 | $35.40 | $16.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 161.8 | 2 | $56.64 | $25.89 |
Gas CO2
142 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.
Destination
Kingsport, TN
Evening in Kingsport on Sunday
Local time
7:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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
7h 27m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Jackson, TN to Kingsport, TN covers 404.6 miles and takes about 7h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 81, South Wilcox Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 202.3 miles from Jackson, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $61.45 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks 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 17 significant decision points across 404.6 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 127.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 130.5 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 304.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Jackson, TN and Kingsport, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
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