The drive from Johnson City, TN to Blaine, TN covers 96.5 miles and takes about 1h 56m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 11W, West Stone Drive, James H. Quillen Parkway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 26.2 miles on US 11W.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.09 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.2 miles from Johnson City, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 96.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Johnson City, TN to Blaine, TN covers 96.5 miles and takes about 1h 56m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 11W is the longest continuous segment at about 26.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Buffalo Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 (Buffalo Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (North Roan Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (SR 400 / East Watauga Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Buffalo Street
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|North Roan Street
Turn left onto North Roan Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|SR 400 / East Watauga Avenue
Turn right onto SR 400 / East Watauga Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
23.4 mi into trip|~29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 11W South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 11W South
5
23.5 mi into trip|~29m in|US 11W / West Stone Drive
Merge onto US 11W / West Stone Drive
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 11W
26.2 mi
30m
West Stone Drive
23.2 mi
28m
James H. Quillen Parkway
21.9 mi
25m
West Main Street
16.1 mi
19m
Rogersville Bypass
5.2 mi
5m
Appalachian Highway
2.2 mi
2m
East Watauga Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
North Roan Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 11W
— 26.2 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City, TN and Blaine, TN.
1
Start on this road
433 ft·35 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
0.3 mi·56 sec·Buffalo Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto North Roan Street
0.3 mi·36 sec·North Roan Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto SR 400
0.3 mi·45 sec·East Watauga Avenue
5
Turn left onto Oak Street
441 ft·10 sec·Oak Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
7
Merge onto I 26; US 19W; US 23
22 mi·25 min·James H. Quillen Parkway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 11W
9
Keep slight left at fork
453 ft·13 sec
Toward US 11W SouthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 11W
23 mi·28 min·West Stone Drive
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on US 11W; SR 1
5.2 mi·5 min·Rogersville Bypass
12
Continue on US 11W; SR 1
16 mi·19 min·West Main Street
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 11W; SR 1
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 11W; SR 1
14
Merge onto US 11W; US 25E; SR 1; SR 32; ADHS S
2.2 mi·2 min·Appalachian Highway
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 11W
26 mi·29 min·US 11W
16
Turn left onto Bates Drive
238 ft·10 sec·Bates Drive
17
Arrive at destination
Bates Drive
Trip Plan
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 48.2 miles from Johnson City, TN, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.2 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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.2 miles or 59m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blaine, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Johnson City, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Johnson City, TN
This is one driving day of about 96.5 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Johnson City, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 11W for about 26.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.2 mi from Johnson City, TN
· 59m into the drive
2.6 mi from route
~7 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 75.8
Thorn Hill, Tennessee
Hours: 8 am–5:30 pm
+14232485009
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Cumberland Gap was the first great gateway to the west. Come follow the path of bison, Native Americans, longhunters, and pioneers. Walk where 300,000 people crossed the Appalachians to settle America...
24 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 79.8
Park Closure: Little Yellow Creek Bridge Closure - Construction Underway
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.09 one way
$30.17 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.56
$33.13
premium
$4.89
$18.57
$37.14
diesel
$5.61
$21.31
$42.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29
0
$10.13
$4.63
Efficient EV
24.1
0
$8.44
$3.86
EV Truck/SUV
38.6
0
$13.51
$6.18
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Johnson City, TN
Evening
in Johnson City on Friday
Local time
7:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Blaine, TN
Evening
in Blaine on Friday
Local time
7:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°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
28 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
1h 56m 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 Johnson City, TN to Blaine, TN covers 96.5 miles and takes about 1h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 11W, West Stone Drive, James H. Quillen Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.2 miles from Johnson City, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.09 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 96.5 miles you will encounter 13 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 (Buffalo Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (North Roan Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (SR 400 / East Watauga Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Johnson City, TN to Blaine, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
