Johnson City, TN to New Hope, TN is 240.6 miles and takes about 4h 36m via I-75, I-81, and I-40, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, offering a straightforward drive across Tennessee. You'll primarily be on well-maintained interstate highways, making it an efficient way to travel between these two points. With a recommended one-day drive, you can expect a practical journey focused on covering ground rather than extensive sightseeing.
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
120.3 miles from Johnson City, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 36m. Total distance: 240.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-75, I-81, and I-40. Expect consistent speeds and minimal traffic lights for most of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 83.1 miles on I-75, so plan your breaks accordingly. The profile suggests a drive that's largely about efficient travel, with the highway character dominating the entire trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 83.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 81. 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.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 240.6 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 15 key points
These 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
125.1 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
7
208.2 mi into trip|~3h 52m in
Take the exit toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
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 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Johnson City, TN and New Hope, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Chattanooga.
Nashville
208.2 mi in|~3h 52m
Chattanooga
208.9 mi in|~3h 53m|via I 24
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
83.1 mi
1h 31m
I 81
57.1 mi
1h 1m
I 40
52.8 mi
59m
I 24
23.7 mi
28m
James H. Quillen Parkway
13.7 mi
16m
Old Ladds Road
6.2 mi
10m
Shellmound Road
0.7 mi
1m
TN 156
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 83.1 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City, TN and New Hope, 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 8AToward 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 1BToward I 40 West: Knoxville
11
Merge onto I 40
53 mi·59 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
83 mi·1 hr 31 min·I 75
Toward I 75 South: ChattanoogaUse the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi·56 sec
Toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 24
24 mi·28 min·I 24
Toward Chattanooga, NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward TN 156: Haletown, New Hope
16
Turn left
76 ft·6 sec
17
Turn left onto TN 156
0.7 mi·1 min·Shellmound Road
18
Continue on TN 156
6.2 mi·10 min·Old Ladds Road
19
Continue on SR 156
0.3 mi·31 sec·SR 156
20
Continue on TN 156
0.6 mi·1 min·TN 156
21
Arrive at destination
TN 156
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 36m duration, you can comfortably complete this drive in a single day. Consider an early morning departure from Johnson City to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential rush hour traffic around larger towns. With only one recommended stop, you'll want to make it count for fuel and a quick stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before the 83.1-mile stretch on I-75, as services might be less frequent in certain sections.
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 120.3 miles from Johnson City, TN, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.1 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 53 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.3 miles or 2h 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 3h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Hope, 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 240.6 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 75 for about 83.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 120.3 mi from Johnson City, TN
· 2h 15m into the drive
The midpoint is around 120.3 miles from Johnson City, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.1 miles.
Arriving in New Hope, TN
The final approach into New Hope, 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 New Hope, TN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.62 one way
$75.23 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$41.30
$82.60
premium
$4.89
$46.30
$92.60
diesel
$5.61
$53.12
$106.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.2
0
$25.26
$11.55
Efficient EV
60.2
0
$21.05
$9.62
EV Truck/SUV
96.2
1
$33.68
$15.40
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Johnson City, TN
Morning
in Johnson City on Saturday
Local time
11:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New Hope, TN
Morning
in New Hope on Saturday
Local time
10:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
26 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 36m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 New Hope, TN covers 240.6 miles and takes about 4h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, I 81, I 40. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 120.3 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 $37.62 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 240.6 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.
Between Johnson City, TN and New Hope, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Chattanooga.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
