Origin
Johnson City, TN
Evening in Johnson City on Wednesday
Local time
7:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Johnson City, TN to Loretto, TN
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
6h 55m
Distance
375.7 mi
605 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$59
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 44m
★
6 AM
6h 56m
8 AM
7h 19m
10 AM
7h 4m
12 PM
7h 1m
3 PM
7h 5m
5 PM
7h 18m
8 PM
6h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Johnson City, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Loretto, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Johnson City, TN to Loretto, TN covers 375.7 miles and takes about 6h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Buffalo Street, North Roan Street, East Watauga Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $58.74 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
187.8 miles from Johnson City, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 27m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 55m drive with frequent turns across 375.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Buffalo Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 55m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Johnson City, TN to Loretto, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Street | — | — |
| North Roan Street | — | — |
| East Watauga Avenue | — | — |
| Oak Street | — | — |
| James H | — | — |
| I 81 South | — | — |
| I 40 West | — | — |
| Nashville | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Buffalo Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City, TN and Loretto, TN.
1
Start on the route
433 ft
·
35 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
Buffalo Street
3
Turn left onto North Roan Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Roan Street
4
Turn right onto East Watauga Avenue
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Watauga Avenue
5
Turn left onto Oak Street
443 ft
·
11 sec
·
Oak Street
6
Take the ramp straight
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
7
Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway
14 mi
·
16 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 81 South: Knoxville
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 81 South: Knoxville
9
Merge slight left
56 mi
·
1 hr
10
Continue on I 40 West: Knoxville
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 40 West: Knoxville
11
Merge slight left
53 mi
·
59 min
12
Keep slight right to continue on Nashville
133 mi
·
2 hr 22 min
·
Nashville
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
14
Continue on Tennessee National Guard Parkway
45 mi
·
47 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 65: Nashville, Huntsville
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
I 65: Nashville, Huntsville
16
Keep slight left to continue on I 65 South: Huntsville
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
I 65 South: Huntsville
17
Merge slight left
11 mi
·
12 min
18
Take the exit slight right toward 412, 99: Columbia, Chapel Hill
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
412, 99: Columbia, Chapel Hill
19
Keep slight right to continue on 412: Columbia
161 ft
·
5 sec
·
412: Columbia
20
Turn right onto Bear Creek Pike
30 mi
·
34 min
·
Bear Creek Pike
21
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
22
Continue on North Locust Avenue
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
North Locust Avenue
23
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
24
Continue on North Military Street
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
North Military Street
25
Turn right onto Church Street
505 ft
·
24 sec
·
Church Street
26
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
South Main Street
27
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 187.8 miles from Johnson City, TN, or about 3h 27m into the drive.
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 83 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 187.8 miles or 3h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Loretto, 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 375.7 miles and 6h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 187.8 mi from Johnson City, TN · 3h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
188 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 83 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 187.8 miles from Johnson City, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Loretto, TN
The final approach into Loretto, 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 Loretto, 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
$58.74 one way
$117.47 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
132 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $64.49 | $128.98 |
| premium | $4.89 | $72.30 | $144.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $82.95 | $165.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 131.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 112.7 | 1 | $39.45 | $18.03 |
| Efficient EV | 93.9 | 1 | $32.87 | $15.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 150.3 | 1 | $52.60 | $24.04 |
Gas CO2
131 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (66% 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
Loretto, TN
Evening in Loretto on Wednesday
Local time
6:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Sparta, TN
188 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
18 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
6h 55m 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 Johnson City, TN to Loretto, TN covers 375.7 miles and takes about 6h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Buffalo Street, North Roan Street, East Watauga Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 187.8 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 $58.74 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 55m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Johnson City, TN to Loretto, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Johnson City, TN to Loretto, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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