Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 55m
Distance
153.6 mi
247 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Athens, TN
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Kingsport, TN to Athens, TN covers 153.6 miles and takes about 2h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, I 81, I 75 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 52.8 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.01 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
76.8 miles from Kingsport, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 55m. Total distance: 153.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 2h 55m highway drive covering 153.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 52.8 miles on I 40.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Broad Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 153.6 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Broad Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 62.9 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Broad Street
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 52.8 mi | 59m |
| I 81 | 50.1 mi | 53m |
| I 75 | 32.5 mi | 34m |
| South Wilcox Drive | 4 mi | 6m |
| Sullivan Gardens Drive | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Ingleside Avenue | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| TN 93 | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Highway 305 | 2.1 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kingsport, TN and Athens, TN.
Start on TN 36
Turn right onto Broad Street
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
Continue on Broad Street
Turn left onto East Main Street
Continue on East Sullivan Street
Turn right onto TN 126
Turn right onto TN 93
Continue on SR 93
Continue on SR 93
Continue on TN 93
Continue on SR 93
Take the exit
Merge onto I 81
Continue on I 81
Merge onto I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn straight onto SR 305
Continue on SR 305
Turn right onto SR 39
Arrive at destination
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.
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 34 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.8 miles or 1h 27m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Athens, TN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Kingsport, 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 Kingsport, TN
This is one driving day of about 153.6 miles and 2h 55m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 76.8 mi from Kingsport, TN · 1h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
77 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.
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 76.8 miles from Kingsport, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Athens, 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 Athens, TN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$24.01 one way
$48.03 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $26.37 | $52.73 |
| premium | $4.89 | $29.56 | $59.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.91 | $67.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.1 | 0 | $16.13 | $7.37 |
| Efficient EV | 38.4 | 0 | $13.44 | $6.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.4 | 0 | $21.50 | $9.83 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Kingsport on Saturday
Local time
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Athens on Saturday
Local time
3:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°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.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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