Origin
Johnson City, TN
Evening in Johnson City on Sunday
Local time
6:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Johnson City, TN to Bristol, TN
Drive Time
40m
Distance
27.4 mi
44 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Johnson City, TN
Kelly
Bristol, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick, straightforward transit through the Southeast, the 27.4-mile trip from Johnson City to Bristol is an ideal candidate. Lasting approximately 40 minutes, this drive serves as a seamless connection between these two Tennessee cities. You can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. With fuel costs estimated at $4, it is a budget-friendly route that remains highly accessible for casual travelers. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a day of exploration, the logistics are simple and require very little advanced planning.
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
13.7 miles from Johnson City, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition between local roads and parkways. You will navigate a combination of the Bristol Highway, the Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway, and the James H. Quillen Parkway, with roughly 37% of the total distance spent on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 12.4 miles on the Bristol Highway, offering a consistent rhythm before the route shifts character. This blend of road types keeps the drive engaging without feeling like a monotonous interstate grind. You will find that the road conditions vary naturally as you move between the city centers.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Bristol Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 12.4 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.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 27.4 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 0.1 miles (Buffalo Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (North Roan Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (US 19W): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 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
|
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.
6
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 19W
Take the exit onto US 19W toward US 11E North, US 19W North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 20B
Toward US 11E North, US 19W North
5
16.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
16.6 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
TN 394 / Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway
Merge onto TN 394 / Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol Highway | 12.4 mi | 19m |
| Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Virginia Avenue | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| North Roan Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Carl Moore Parkway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| State Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Bristol Highway
— 12.4 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City, TN and Bristol, 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
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
8
Take the exit onto US 19W
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
US 19W
Exit 20B
Toward US 11E North, US 19W North
9
Merge onto US 11E; US 19W
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Roan Street
10
Turn slight right onto US 11E; US 19W
12 mi
·
19 min
·
Bristol Highway
Use the none lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
12
Keep slight right at fork
206 ft
·
7 sec
13
Merge onto TN 394
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway
Use the none lane.
14
Turn left onto US 421
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
Carl Moore Parkway
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on US 421
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Virginia Avenue
16
Turn left onto US 421
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Maple Street
17
Turn right onto US 421
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
18
Continue on Pennsylvania Avenue
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
19
Turn left onto State Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
20
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 40-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can comfortably make the drive in one go, as there are no mandatory stops required to reach your destination. Keep an eye on your speed when transitioning between the parkways and the Bristol Highway to ensure a smooth transition. Given the low fuel cost of $4, you won't need to stress about refueling mid-trip, allowing you to focus on your arrival in Bristol. Use this efficiency to your advantage by planning your arrival time around your specific goals for the day.
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 13.7 miles from Johnson City, TN, or about 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.4 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 27.4 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.7 miles or 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bristol, 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.
+
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 Johnson City, TN
This is one driving day of about 27.4 miles and 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Johnson City, 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 Bristol Highway for about 12.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.7 mi from Johnson City, TN · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
14 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 27.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.7 miles from Johnson City, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bristol, TN
The final approach into Bristol, 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 Bristol, 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
$4.16 one way
$8.32 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $4.59 | $9.18 |
| premium | $4.80 | $5.17 | $10.35 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.09 | $12.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.88 | $1.32 |
| Efficient EV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.40 | $1.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11 | 0 | $3.84 | $1.75 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Bristol, TN
Evening in Bristol on Sunday
Local time
6:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
4 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
40m 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 Bristol, TN covers 27.4 miles and takes about 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Bristol Highway, Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway, James H. Quillen Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.7 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 $4.16 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 16 significant decision points across 27.4 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 0.1 miles (Buffalo Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (North Roan Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (US 19W): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Johnson City, TN to Bristol, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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