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Trip from Johnson, TN to Gatlinburg, TN

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 56m

Distance

86.5 mi

139 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 48m ★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 13m
10 AM
2h 2m
12 PM
2h 1m
3 PM
2h 3m
5 PM
2h 12m
8 PM
1h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Johnson, TN, TN

Johnson, TN

WoodysMedia

Downtown Gatlinburg, TN, TN

Gatlinburg, TN

Kelly

Trip Overview

The drive from Johnson, TN to Gatlinburg, TN covers 86.5 miles and takes about 1h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Oakland Road, Convention Center, Henley Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.52 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.

Midpoint

43.3 miles from Johnson, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 86.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 56m drive with frequent turns across 86.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Oakland Road 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Johnson, TN to Gatlinburg, TN is easy. At 1h 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Johnson, TN to Gatlinburg, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Oakland Road
Convention Center
Henley Street
Chapman Highway
West Main Street
Forks of the River Parkway
Parkway
Gatlinburg Spur Road

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Oakland Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Johnson, TN and Gatlinburg, TN.

1

Start on Raby Town Road

1.5 mi · 5 min · Raby Town Road
2

At the end of the road, turn right onto Oakland Road

5.1 mi · 8 min · Oakland Road
3

Take the ramp left

0.3 mi · 44 sec
4

Merge slight left

38 mi · 42 min
5

Keep slight left

2.9 mi · 3 min
6

Take the exit slight right toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art

0.4 mi · 28 sec · Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
7

Keep slight left to continue on Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art

0.5 mi · 56 sec · Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
8

Continue on Henley Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Henley Street
9

Continue on Chapman Highway

22 mi · 26 min · Chapman Highway
10

Continue on West Main Street

1.8 mi · 2 min · West Main Street
11

Turn right onto Forks of the River Parkway

0.6 mi · 46 sec · Forks of the River Parkway
12

Turn right onto Parkway

7.1 mi · 11 min · Parkway
13

Continue on Gatlinburg Spur Road

4.4 mi · 7 min · Gatlinburg Spur Road
14

Continue on Parkway

1.2 mi · 3 min · Parkway
15

Turn right

407 ft · 30 sec
16

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.3 miles from Johnson, TN, or about 58m 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 19 miles or 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 43.3 miles or 58m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gatlinburg, TN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Johnson, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Johnson, TN

This is one driving day of about 86.5 miles and 1h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Johnson, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 43.3 mi from Johnson, TN · 58m into the drive

city in Wilson County, Tennessee, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Watertown, TN

43 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

Brentwood, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Watertown, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.3 miles from Johnson, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Gatlinburg, TN

The final approach into Gatlinburg, TN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.52 one way

$27.05 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.85 $29.70
premium $4.89 $16.65 $33.29
diesel $5.61 $19.10 $38.20

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 26 0 $9.08 $4.15
Efficient EV 21.6 0 $7.57 $3.46
EV Truck/SUV 34.6 0 $12.11 $5.54

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Johnson, TN

Afternoon in Johnson on Thursday

Local time

2:06 PM

EDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gatlinburg, TN

Afternoon in Gatlinburg on Thursday

Local time

2:06 PM

EDT

Current temp

57°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

19 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

1h 56m 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, TN to Gatlinburg, TN covers 86.5 miles and takes about 1h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Oakland Road, Convention Center, Henley Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.3 miles from Johnson, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.52 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Johnson, TN to Gatlinburg, TN is easy. At 1h 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Johnson, TN to Gatlinburg, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Johnson, TN to Gatlinburg, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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