Trip from Johnson City, TN to Baxter, TN

Drive Time

4h 1m

Distance

214.5 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Long day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Johnson City, TN to Baxter, TN covers 214.5 miles and takes about 4h 1m 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 $31.85 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

107.3 miles from Johnson City, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 1m drive with frequent turns across 214.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 17 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.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Buffalo Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
North Roan Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
East Watauga Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
Oak Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
James H	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 81 South	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 40 West	Unavailable	Refreshing
Nashville	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Buffalo Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City, TN and Baxter, 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

88 mi · 1 hr 34 min · Nashville

13

Take the exit slight right toward TN 56 North: Baxter, Gainesboro

0.2 mi · 31 sec · TN 56 North: Baxter, Gainesboro

14

Turn right onto Gundy Quarels Memorial Highway

0.1 mi · 14 sec · Gundy Quarels Memorial Highway

15

Turn left onto 1st Avenue South

1.3 mi · 4 min · 1st Avenue South

16

Turn left onto Old Baxter Road

92 ft · 2 sec · Old Baxter Road

17

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 107.3 miles from Johnson City, TN, or about 2h into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

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 107.3 miles or 2h in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Baxter, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Johnson City, TN

This is one driving day of about 214.5 miles and 4h 1m.

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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Knoxville, TN

107 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Baxter, 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 Baxter, TN.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 107.3 mi from Johnson City, TN

Knoxville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Knoxville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 107.3 miles from Johnson City, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.77	$31.85	$63.69
midgrade	$4.25	$35.92	$71.83
premium	$4.65	$39.30	$78.60
diesel	$5.30	$44.79	$89.58

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 75 kg one way.

Travel Intel

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Compare the departure city with the arrival city before you leave so the route feels predictable, not reactive.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Johnson City, TN

Late night in Johnson City on Saturday

Local time

3:50 AM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Forecast unavailable right now

EDT Live mapsof forecast

Destination

Baxter, TN

Late night in Baxter on Saturday

Local time

2:50 AM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Forecast unavailable right now

CDT Live mapsof forecast

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

6 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

4h 1m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Johnson City, TN to Baxter, TN covers 214.5 miles and takes about 4h 1m 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 107.3 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 $31.85 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

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.

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Baxter, TN to Nashville, TN 72.1 mi · 1h 11m