Origin
Johnson City, TN
Evening in Johnson City on Sunday
Local time
6:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Johnson City, TN to Caryville, TN
Drive Time
2h 35m
Distance
134.8 mi
217 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 25m
★
6 AM
2h 35m
8 AM
2h 56m
10 AM
2h 42m
12 PM
2h 40m
3 PM
2h 44m
5 PM
2h 55m
8 PM
2h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Johnson City, TN
Kelly
Caryville, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Spanning 134.8 miles across Tennessee, this drive from Johnson City to Caryville is a straightforward journey that typically takes 2 hours and 35 minutes. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares, including I-81, I-40, and the James H. Quillen Parkway. Because the duration is relatively short, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stay. With fuel costs estimated at around $20, it is an economical way to navigate between these two Southeast locations. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, this highway-focused transit offers a reliable and efficient connection.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
67.4 miles from Johnson City, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 78% of your journey is spent on high-speed roads. The drive moves through a mix of interstate and parkway driving, providing a consistent pace for the duration of your trip. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch along I-81, covering 57.1 miles of steady driving. While the route is designed for efficiency rather than technical maneuvering, the transition between the different highways keeps the drive from feeling entirely monotonous. You can anticipate a predictable flow that emphasizes speed and directness over local detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 57.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 40. 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
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 134.8 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 15 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 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.
5
15 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward I 81 South: Knoxville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 8A
Toward I 81 South: Knoxville
7
107.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward I 275 South, I 75 North: Knoxville, Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 275 South, I 75 North: Knoxville, Lexi...
6
134.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 35m in
|
West Maple Street
At end of road, turn left onto West Maple Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Johnson City, TN to Caryville, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Lexington along the way.
Lexington
107.1 mi in
|
~1h 59m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 57.1 mi | 1h 1m |
| I 40 | 27.9 mi | 30m |
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 13.7 mi | 16m |
| US 25W | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| East Watauga Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Roan Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Buffalo Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 57.1 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City, TN and Caryville, 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
14 mi
·
16 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 8A
Toward I 81 South: Knoxville
9
Merge onto I 81
56 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 81
10
Continue on I 81
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 81
Exit 1B
Toward I 40 West: Knoxville
11
Merge onto I 40
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 40
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 25W
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
US 25W
Exit 393
Toward I 640 West: Lexington
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward I 275 South, I 75 North: Knoxville, Lexington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
27 mi
·
33 min
Toward I 75 North: Lexington
15
Take the exit onto US 25W
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 25W
Toward US 25W North, TN 63 East: Caryville, Jacksboro, La Follette
16
Keep slight left at fork
124 ft
·
3 sec
17
Turn left onto US 25W; TN 63
258 ft
·
5 sec
·
West Central Avenue
18
Continue on US 25W; TN 63
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Royal Blue Road
19
Take the ramp onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
20
At end of road, turn left onto West Maple Street
39 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Maple Street
21
Turn slight right onto Mountain Road
134 ft
·
5 sec
·
Mountain Road
22
Arrive at destination
Mountain Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 2-hour and 35-minute drive, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since this is a highway-heavy route, try to avoid peak commuter hours on I-81 and I-40 to ensure a smoother experience. Keep your $20 fuel budget in mind, but consider refueling before you hit the longest 57.1-mile stretch to avoid any unexpected inconveniences. Because the entire trip is easily manageable in one day, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Focus on maintaining a steady pace through the highway transitions to keep your travel time within the expected window.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.4 miles from Johnson City, TN, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.1 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 80 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.4 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Caryville, 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 134.8 miles and 2h 35m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 57.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 67.4 mi from Johnson City, TN · 1h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 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 67.4 miles from Johnson City, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Caryville, TN
The final approach into Caryville, 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 Caryville, 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
$20.47 one way
$40.95 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $22.57 | $45.14 |
| premium | $4.80 | $25.45 | $50.89 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $29.95 | $59.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.4 | 0 | $14.15 | $6.47 |
| Efficient EV | 33.7 | 0 | $11.80 | $5.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.9 | 0 | $18.87 | $8.63 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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
Caryville, TN
Evening in Caryville on Sunday
Local time
6:38 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
2h 35m 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 Caryville, TN covers 134.8 miles and takes about 2h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, I 40, 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 67.4 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 $20.47 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 134.8 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 15 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Johnson City, TN to Caryville, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Lexington along the way.
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