Origin
Johnson City, TN
Evening in Johnson City on Thursday
Local time
6:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Johnson City, TN to Pine Crest, TN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 5m
Distance
144.5 mi
233 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 54m
★
6 AM
3h 6m
8 AM
3h 29m
10 AM
3h 14m
12 PM
3h 12m
3 PM
3h 15m
5 PM
3h 28m
8 PM
2h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Johnson City, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Pine Crest, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Johnson City, TN to Pine Crest, TN covers 144.5 miles and takes about 3h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 81, I 40, James H. Quillen Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57.1 miles on I 81. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.59 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
72.3 miles from Johnson City, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 144.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 5m highway drive covering 144.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 81 and I 40. The longest continuous stretch is about 57.1 miles on I 81.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 57.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 40. 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 Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 144.5 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 21 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
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
5
72.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
107.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward I 275 South, I 75 North: Knoxville, Lexington
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 275 South, I 75 North: Knoxville, Lexi...
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 Pine Crest, TN, road signs point toward Lexington, Jacksboro and La Follette.
Lexington
107.1 mi in
|
~1h 59m
Jacksboro
134.1 mi in
|
~2h 33m
|
via US 25W
La Follette
134.1 mi in
|
~2h 33m
|
via US 25W
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 57.1 mi | 1h 1m |
| I 40 | 27.9 mi | 30m |
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 13.7 mi | 16m |
| US 25W | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Pinecrest Road | 5.6 mi | 21m |
| West Central Avenue | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Towe String Road | 0.9 mi | 3m |
| Liberty Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 57.1 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City, TN and Pine Crest, 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 8A
Toward 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 1B
Toward I 40 West: Knoxville
11
Merge onto I 40
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 25W
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
US 25W
Exit 393
Toward I 640 West: Lexington
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward I 275 South, I 75 North: Knoxville, Lexington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
27 mi
·
33 min
Toward I 75 North: Lexington
15
Take the exit onto US 25W
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 25W
Toward US 25W North, TN 63 East: Caryville, Jacksboro, La Follette
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 25W
239 ft
·
5 sec
·
US 25W
17
Merge onto US 25W; TN 63
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West Central Avenue
18
Turn right onto Paris Nance Road
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Paris Nance Road
19
At end of road, turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Main Street
20
Turn right onto Liberty Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Liberty Street
21
Turn left onto Island Road
207 ft
·
12 sec
·
Island Road
22
Turn right onto Towe String Road
0.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Towe String Road
23
Turn slight right onto Pinecrest Road
4.6 mi
·
17 min
·
Pinecrest Road
24
Continue on Pinecrest Road
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
Pinecrest Road
25
Continue on Pinecrest Road
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Pinecrest Road
26
Turn right onto Fire Department Lane
88 ft
·
3 sec
·
Fire Department Lane
27
Arrive at destination
Fire Department Lane
Trip Plan
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 72.3 miles from Johnson City, TN, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.1 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 32 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.3 miles or 1h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pine Crest, 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 144.5 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 81 for about 57.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 72.3 mi from Johnson City, TN · 1h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
72 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 72.3 miles from Johnson City, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Pine Crest, TN
The final approach into Pine Crest, 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 Pine Crest, 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
$22.59 one way
$45.18 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
51 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $24.80 | $49.61 |
| premium | $4.89 | $27.81 | $55.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.90 | $63.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.4 | 0 | $15.17 | $6.94 |
| Efficient EV | 36.1 | 0 | $12.64 | $5.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57.8 | 0 | $20.23 | $9.25 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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
Pine Crest, TN
Evening in Pine Crest on Thursday
Local time
6:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°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
33 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
3h 5m 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 Pine Crest, TN covers 144.5 miles and takes about 3h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, I 40, James H. Quillen Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 72.3 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 $22.59 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 144.5 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 Pine Crest, TN, road signs point toward Lexington, Jacksboro and La Follette.
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