Origin
Kingsport, TN
Evening in Kingsport on Sunday
Local time
8:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kingsport, TN to Johnson City, TN
Drive Time
28m
Distance
25.9 mi
42 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Johnson City, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick transition between Kingsport and Johnson City, Tennessee, you are looking at a straightforward 25.9-mile journey. This drive typically takes about 28 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stays. You will navigate primarily via local thoroughfares like Broad Street, East Main Street, and East Sullivan Street, keeping you entirely off the interstate system. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $4, the trip is highly economical for commuters or casual travelers. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, the environment remains consistent throughout your transit. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that favors local connectivity over high-speed highway travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
13 miles from Kingsport, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Because this route involves zero highway miles, you will navigate local streets for the duration of the 28-minute trip. There is no long-distance cruising here; in fact, the longest stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on Broad Street, emphasizing the frequent turns and urban navigation required. The character of the road is defined by its local nature, lacking the monotonous, wide-open feel of an interstate. You should prepare for a drive that demands your full attention as you transition between these two Tennessee hubs.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Broad Street 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Kingsport, TN to Johnson City, TN is easy. At 28m 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 Kingsport, TN to Johnson City, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Broad Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Sullivan Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Wilcox Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| James H | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| TN 91 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Market Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Buffalo Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Broad Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kingsport, TN and Johnson City, TN.
1
Start on West Center Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Center Street
2
Turn right onto Broad Street
436 ft
·
12 sec
·
Broad Street
3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Broad Street
49 ft
·
2 sec
·
Broad Street
4
Exit the roundabout onto Broad Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Broad Street
5
Turn left onto East Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
6
Continue on East Sullivan Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Sullivan Street
7
Turn right onto South Wilcox Drive
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Wilcox Drive
8
Take the exit straight
0.5 mi
·
1 min
9
Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway
18 mi
·
21 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
10
Take the exit slight right toward TN 91
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
TN 91
11
Turn right onto East Market Street
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Market Street
12
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Buffalo Street
13
Turn right
433 ft
·
32 sec
14
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 25.9-mile jaunt, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure based on your personal schedule rather than worrying about long-haul fatigue. You will not need to factor in any planned stops, so you can easily complete the entire drive in under half an hour. Keep in mind that because you are traveling on local roads like East Sullivan Street, traffic flow may be subject to urban congestion rather than highway speeds. Budgeting around $4 for fuel should be more than sufficient for the trip. My best tip is to keep your navigation apps ready, as the turn-heavy nature of the route through local streets makes it easy to take a wrong turn if you aren't paying close attention to the city signage.
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 13 miles from Kingsport, TN, or about 14m 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 25.9 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13 miles or 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Johnson City, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kingsport, TN
This is one driving day of about 25.9 miles and 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kingsport, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13 mi from Kingsport, TN · 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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
Arriving in Johnson City, TN
The final approach into Johnson City, 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 Johnson City, 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
$3.93 one way
$7.87 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $4.34 | $8.67 |
| premium | $4.80 | $4.89 | $9.78 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.75 | $11.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.72 | $1.24 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Johnson City, TN
Evening in Johnson City on Sunday
Local time
8:35 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
2 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
28m 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 Kingsport, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 25.9 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Broad Street, East Main Street, East Sullivan Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13 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 $3.93 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 Kingsport, TN to Johnson City, TN is easy. At 28m 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 Kingsport, TN to Johnson City, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Kingsport, TN to Johnson City, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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