Origin
Johnson City, TN
Evening in Johnson City on Sunday
Local time
7:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Johnson City, TN to Kingsport, TN
Drive Time
32m
Distance
23.2 mi
37 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Johnson City, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick connection between Johnson City and Kingsport, this 23.2-mile journey is as straightforward as it gets. You can easily complete the trip in about 32 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a half-day excursion or a simple commute. Because the route is so brief, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay; a single day is plenty of time to head out and return. Budgeting roughly $4 for fuel will cover your transit costs comfortably. Navigating through the Southeast, you will find this path serves as a highly efficient link between these two Tennessee hubs.
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
11.6 miles from Johnson City, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 76% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on major corridors. You will rely primarily on the James H. Quillen Parkway, South Wilcox Drive, and East Main Street to navigate the terrain. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the James H. Quillen Parkway, which spans 17.7 miles, allowing you to settle into a steady pace. Unlike winding backroads, this route prioritizes speed and directness, moving you efficiently from point to point without the need for frequent stops.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
James H. Quillen Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 17.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on James H. Quillen Parkway and South Wilcox Drive. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Buffalo Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 23.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 19.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 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
19.3 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 4
5
23 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
Broad Street
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
23.1 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
TN 36 / West Center Street
Turn left onto TN 36 / West Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 17.7 mi | 20m |
| South Wilcox Drive | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| East Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Watauga Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Roan Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Buffalo Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Sullivan Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Broad Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
James H. Quillen Parkway
— 17.7 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City, TN and Kingsport, 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
18 mi
·
20 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 4
9
Keep slight left at fork
237 ft
·
7 sec
Exit 4
10
Continue on SR 126
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Wilcox Drive
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto East Sullivan Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Sullivan Street
12
Turn slight left onto East Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
13
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Broad Street
14
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
46 ft
·
1 sec
·
Broad Street
15
Continue on Broad Street
433 ft
·
19 sec
·
Broad Street
16
Turn left onto TN 36
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Center Street
Use the none lane.
17
Arrive at destination
TN 36
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 32-minute drive, you have significant flexibility in your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move for a smoother ride. You won't need to plan for any formal stops, as the distance is short enough to drive straight through without fatigue. Keep your $4 fuel budget in mind before you head out to ensure you are ready for the road. Because the majority of your travel is on the James H. Quillen Parkway, keep a steady eye on your speed as you transition between the highway sections and the local streets of Kingsport.
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 11.6 miles from Johnson City, TN, or about 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.7 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 23.2 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 11.6 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 25m
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 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 23.2 miles and 32m.
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 James H. Quillen Parkway for about 17.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11.6 mi from Johnson City, TN · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
12 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
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.52 one way
$7.05 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $3.88 | $7.77 |
| premium | $4.80 | $4.38 | $8.76 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.15 | $10.31 |
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: 8.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7 | 0 | $2.44 | $1.11 |
| Efficient EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.03 | $0.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.25 | $1.48 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Kingsport, TN
Evening in Kingsport on Sunday
Local time
7:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
2 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
32m 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 Kingsport, TN covers 23.2 miles and takes about 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are James H. Quillen Parkway, South Wilcox Drive, East Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.6 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 $3.52 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 23.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 19.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Johnson City, TN to Kingsport, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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