Origin
Kingsport, TN
Evening in Kingsport on Friday
Local time
5:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kingsport, TN to Bedford, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 40m
Distance
281.7 mi
453 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 28m
★
6 AM
5h 41m
8 AM
6h 7m
10 AM
5h 50m
12 PM
5h 48m
3 PM
5h 52m
5 PM
6h 6m
8 PM
5h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bedford, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Kingsport, TN to Bedford, TN covers 281.7 miles and takes about 5h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Broad Street, East Main Street, East Sullivan Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.04 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
140.8 miles from Kingsport, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 40m. Total distance: 281.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 40m 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 5h 40m drive with frequent turns across 281.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 48 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 40m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kingsport, TN to Bedford, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Broad Street | — | — |
| East Main Street | — | — |
| East Sullivan Street | — | — |
| South Wilcox Drive | — | — |
| Sullivan Gardens Parkway | — | — |
| Sullivan Gardens Drive | — | — |
| I 40 West | — | — |
| Nashville | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Broad Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kingsport, TN and Bedford, 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
Turn right onto Sullivan Gardens Parkway
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Sullivan Gardens Parkway
9
Continue on South Wilcox Drive
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Wilcox Drive
10
Continue on Sullivan Gardens Drive
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Sullivan Gardens Drive
11
Continue straight
2.3 mi
·
2 min
12
Continue straight
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
13
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
14
Merge slight left
49 mi
·
53 min
15
Continue on I 40 West: Knoxville
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 40 West: Knoxville
16
Merge slight left
53 mi
·
59 min
17
Keep slight right to continue on Nashville
46 mi
·
49 min
·
Nashville
18
Take the exit slight right toward TN 101: Crossville
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
TN 101: Crossville
19
Turn left onto Peavine Road
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Peavine Road
20
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route
49 ft
·
1 sec
·
the route
21
Exit the roundabout
2.5 mi
·
5 min
22
Turn right onto West Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Avenue
23
Turn left onto Sparta Highway
26 mi
·
38 min
·
Sparta Highway
24
Continue on West Bockman Way
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Bockman Way
25
Turn left onto Mayberry Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Mayberry Street
26
Continue on Broadway of America
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Broadway of America
27
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
28
Merge slight left onto Spencer Highway
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Spencer Highway
29
Keep slight left to continue on Memorial Highway
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Memorial Highway
30
Continue on Bone Cave Parkway
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Bone Cave Parkway
31
Continue on Sparta Highway
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Sparta Highway
32
Continue on Sparta Street
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
·
Sparta Street
33
Continue on Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway
34
Continue on H T Pelham Memorial Parkway
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
H T Pelham Memorial Parkway
35
Continue on Manchester Highway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Manchester Highway
36
Merge slight left onto McMinnville Highway
7.6 mi
·
9 min
·
McMinnville Highway
37
Continue on McArthur Street
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
McArthur Street
38
Continue on New Tullahoma Highway
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
New Tullahoma Highway
39
Continue on New Manchester Highway
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
New Manchester Highway
40
Continue on East Carroll Street
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East Carroll Street
41
Turn right onto South Jackson Street
14 mi
·
17 min
·
South Jackson Street
42
Turn left
3.4 mi
·
5 min
43
Turn right onto North Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
North Jefferson Street
44
Continue on East Lane Street
479 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Lane Street
45
Continue on Lane Parkway
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Lane Parkway
46
Turn left onto North Cannon Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cannon Boulevard
47
Turn right onto Lewis Avenue
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Lewis Avenue
48
Arrive at your destination
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 140.8 miles from Kingsport, TN, or about 2h 50m 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 62 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.8 miles or 2h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bedford, 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 281.7 miles and 5h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Kingsport, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 140.8 mi from Kingsport, TN · 2h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
141 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 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 140.8 miles from Kingsport, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bedford, TN
The final approach into Bedford, 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 Bedford, 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
$44.04 one way
$88.08 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
99 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $48.35 | $96.71 |
| premium | $4.89 | $54.21 | $108.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $62.20 | $124.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.5 | 1 | $29.58 | $13.52 |
| Efficient EV | 70.4 | 0 | $24.65 | $11.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 112.7 | 1 | $39.44 | $18.03 |
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Destination
Bedford, TN
Afternoon in Bedford on Friday
Local time
4:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Sparta, TN
141 mi in
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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
20 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
5h 40m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Bedford, TN covers 281.7 miles and takes about 5h 40m 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 140.8 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 $44.04 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 40m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kingsport, TN to Bedford, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Kingsport, TN to Bedford, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
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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