Sign in
No account yet?
Create accountData updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
9h 3m
Distance
483.1 mi
778 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$76
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Johnson City, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Tiptonville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Johnson City, TN to Tiptonville, TN covers 483.1 miles and takes about 9h 3m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 40, I 81, US 412 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 338.7 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $75.53 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
241.6 miles from Johnson City, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 26m into the drive .
Loading map...
This is a 9h 3m highway drive covering 483.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 338.7 miles on I 40.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near North Roan Street.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 483.1 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 0.4 miles (North Roan Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 125.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 279.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto North Roan Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Johnson City, TN and Tiptonville, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Memphis, Louisville and Dyersburg.
Nashville
Memphis
Louisville
Dyersburg
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 338.7 mi | 6h 8m |
| I 81 | 57.1 mi | 1h 1m |
| US 412 | 45.8 mi | 55m |
| State Route 78 | 20.9 mi | 29m |
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 13.7 mi | 16m |
| Downtown Loop | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| South Headden Drive | 1 mi | 1m |
| Carl Perkins Parkway | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City, TN and Tiptonville, TN.
Start on this road
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
Turn left onto North Roan Street
Turn right onto SR 400
Turn left onto Oak Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 26; US 19W; US 23
Take the exit
Merge onto I 81
Continue on I 81
Merge onto I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Merge onto I 40
Continue on I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Take the exit onto US 412
Keep slight left at fork onto US 412
Keep slight right at fork onto US 412
Continue on US 412
Keep slight left at fork onto US 412
Take the exit
Turn right onto TN 78
Continue on TN 78
Continue on TN 78
Continue on TN 78
Continue on TN 78
Turn left onto TN 21
Arrive at destination
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.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 106 miles or 1h 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 241.6 miles or 4h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 241.6 miles or 4h 26m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tiptonville, TN than in the middle of the route.
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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Johnson City, TN
Aim for roughly 242 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Tiptonville, TN
Aim for roughly 242 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 241.6 mi from Johnson City, TN · 4h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
242 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Hendersonville, TNNight 1
242 mi · about 4.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Hendersonville, TN after about 242 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 106 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 241.6 miles from Johnson City, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 338.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 242 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.
The final approach into Tiptonville, 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 Tiptonville, TN.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Tiptonville, TN with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$75.53 one way
$151.05 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $82.93 | $165.85 |
| premium | $4.89 | $92.97 | $185.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $106.66 | $213.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$76
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$206–$316
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 169 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $51 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 144.9 | 1 | $50.73 | $23.19 |
| Efficient EV | 120.8 | 1 | $42.27 | $19.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 193.2 | 2 | $67.63 | $30.92 |
Gas CO2
169 kg
EV CO2
57 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Johnson City on Wednesday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Tiptonville on Wednesday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Johnson City, TN or browse trips ending in Tiptonville, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.
Explore maps for Johnson City, TN or Tiptonville, TN on MapSof.net.