Trip from Kingsport, TN to Bolivar, TN

Drive Time

8h 8m

Distance

431.5 mi

695 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$66

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

8h 0m ★

6 AM

8h 8m

8 AM

8h 25m

10 AM

8h 14m

12 PM

8h 12m

3 PM

8h 15m

5 PM

8h 24m

8 PM

8h 3m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Bolivar, TN

Fer Izaguirre

Trip Overview

Traveling from Kingsport to Bolivar spans 431.5 miles across Tennessee, a journey that typically takes about 8 hours and 8 minutes of drive time. Because this route relies on local roads like Broad Street, East Main Street, and East Sullivan Street rather than major interstates, you should plan for a two-day trip to avoid fatigue. Budget approximately $64 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating this path offers a deep dive into the Southeast region, transitioning from the eastern edge of the state toward the west. It is a significant commitment for a single day, so breaking the trip into two days is the most practical way to enjoy the ride.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

215.8 miles from Kingsport, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 58m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features zero highway miles, meaning you will be navigating local thoroughfares for the duration of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is on Broad Street, where you will find no extended highway cruising. This profile creates a technical driving experience that requires frequent adjustments and careful navigation through various local corridors. Be prepared for a persistent, hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local road network from start to finish.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 331.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 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 Broad Street.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 431.5 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 (Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 115.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 270.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Broad Street

Turn right onto Broad Street

Navigation decision point

115.7 mi into trip | ~2h 11m in | I 40

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Nashville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Nashville

270.6 mi into trip | ~4h 57m in | I 40

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 213B Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville

272.7 mi into trip | ~5h 1m in | I 40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis

276.1 mi into trip | ~5h 5m in | I 40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 West: Memphis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 40 West: Memphis

Towns Along This Route

Between Kingsport, TN and Bolivar, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Memphis and Louisville.

Nashville

115.7 mi in | ~2h 11m | via I 40

Memphis

272.7 mi in | ~5h 1m | via I 40

Louisville

273.8 mi in | ~5h 2m | via I 40

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 40	331.1 mi	6h
I 81	50.1 mi	53m
Main Street	14.9 mi	22m
US 70	7.1 mi	10m
Bolivar Highway	5.4 mi	7m
South Wilcox Drive	4 mi	6m
South Highland Avenue	4 mi	6m
SR 18	3.1 mi	4m

Longest stretch: I 40 — 331.1 mi, about 6h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kingsport, TN and Bolivar, TN.

Start on TN 36

0.1 mi · 24 sec · West Center Street

Turn right onto Broad Street

436 ft · 12 sec · Broad Street

Enter roundabout onto Broad Street

49 ft · 1 sec · Broad Street

Continue on Broad Street

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Broad Street

Turn left onto East Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Continue on East Sullivan Street

0.2 mi · 23 sec · East Sullivan Street

Turn right onto TN 126

2.6 mi · 4 min · South Wilcox Drive

Turn right onto TN 93

1.5 mi · 1 min · Sullivan Gardens Parkway

Continue on SR 93

1.5 mi · 1 min · South Wilcox Drive

Continue on SR 93

3.1 mi · 3 min · Sullivan Gardens Drive

Continue on TN 93

2.3 mi · 2 min · TN 93

Continue on SR 93

0.3 mi · 21 sec · SR 93

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Merge onto I 81

49 mi · 52 min · I 81

Continue on I 81

0.7 mi · 45 sec · I 81

Exit 1B Toward I 40 West: Knoxville

Merge onto I 40

53 mi · 59 min · I 40

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

155 mi · 2 hr 46 min · I 40

Toward Nashville Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 40

2.1 mi · 3 min · I 40

Exit 213B Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

0.4 mi · 42 sec · I 40

Toward I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 40

0.6 mi · 52 sec · Downtown Loop

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 40

2.3 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop

Exit 210A Toward I 40 West, I 65 North: Memphis, Louisville Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

121 mi · 2 hr 10 min · I 40

Toward I 40 West: Memphis Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 16 sec

Toward US 70, US 412 East

Turn left onto US 70

4.2 mi · 6 min · US 70

Turn left onto US 70

2.9 mi · 3 min · US 70

Turn left onto US 45

4.0 mi · 6 min · South Highland Avenue

Turn right onto TN 18

5.4 mi · 7 min · Bolivar Highway

Continue on TN 18

15 mi · 22 min · Main Street

Continue on SR 18; SR 125

3.1 mi · 4 min · SR 18; SR 125

Arrive at destination

SR 18; SR 125

Trip Plan

Given the 8-hour and 8-minute duration, you should aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight for your two-day itinerary. Since this route involves two planned stops, use those opportunities to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping your $64 fuel budget in mind as you plan your breaks. Pacing is essential on these local roads, as the lack of highway segments means your average speed will remain lower than on a standard interstate trip. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to familiarize yourself with the turns on Broad, East Main, and East Sullivan streets before you head out. Prioritizing these breaks will make the 431.5-mile journey much more manageable and less taxing on your schedule.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 215.8 miles from Kingsport, TN, or about 3h 58m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 331.1 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 95 miles or 1h 48m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 215.8 miles or 3h 58m in

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 215.8 miles or 3h 58m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 48m

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

Before You Leave

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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Kingsport, TN

Aim for roughly 216 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Bolivar, TN

Aim for roughly 216 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 95 miles from Kingsport, TN.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 331.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 215.8 mi from Kingsport, TN · 3h 58m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Hendersonville, TN

216 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Hendersonville, TN

Popular next leg

Hendersonville, TN to Bolivar, TN

172.6 mi · 3h 24m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Hendersonville, TN

216 mi · about 4.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Hendersonville, TN after about 216 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Knoxville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 95 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hendersonville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 215.8 miles from Kingsport, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 331.1 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 216 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.

Arriving in Bolivar, TN

The final approach into Bolivar, 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 Bolivar, TN.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Bolivar, TN with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$65.54 one way

$131.08 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 151 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$72.25	$144.50
premium	$4.80	$81.46	$162.92
diesel	$5.64	$95.86	$191.73

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$66

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$196–$306

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 151 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	129.5	1	$45.31	$20.71
Efficient EV	107.9	1	$37.76	$17.26
EV Truck/SUV	172.6	2	$60.41	$27.62

Gas CO2

151 kg

EV CO2

50 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Kingsport, TN

Night in Kingsport on Sunday

Local time

11:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bolivar, TN

Night in Bolivar on Sunday

Local time

10:07 PM

CDT

Current temp

65°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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

8h 8m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Kingsport, TN to Bolivar, TN covers 431.5 miles and takes about 8h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 40, I 81, Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 216 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 215.8 miles from Kingsport, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $65.54 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Kingsport, TN and Bolivar, TN, road signs point toward Nashville, Memphis and Louisville.

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Return Trip

Bolivar, TN to Kingsport, TN

Plan the drive back the other way.

432.3 mi 8h 8m

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Trip from Kingsport, TN to Bolivar, TN

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Bolivar, TN

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Kingsport, TN

Bolivar, TN

1 hour earlier

6 degrees warmer at arrival

8h 8m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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