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Trip from Loretto, TN to Johnson City, TN

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

6h 55m

Distance

375 mi

604 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$59

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
6h 44m ★
6 AM
6h 55m
8 AM
7h 18m
10 AM
7h 3m
12 PM
7h 1m
3 PM
7h 5m
5 PM
7h 17m
8 PM
6h 48m

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

Downtown Loretto, TN, TN

Loretto, TN

Kelly

Downtown Johnson City, TN, TN

Johnson City, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Loretto, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 375 miles and takes about 6h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Church Street, South Military Street, Andrew Jackson Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $58.63 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

187.5 miles from Loretto, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 27m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 6h 55m drive with frequent turns across 375 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Church 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.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 55m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Church Street
South Military Street
Andrew Jackson Highway
South Locust Avenue
Lawrenceburg Highway
I 840
840
Tennessee National Guard Parkway

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Church Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Main Street

0.1 mi · 29 sec · South Main Street
2

Turn left onto Church Street

505 ft · 25 sec · Church Street
3

Turn left onto South Military Street

3.4 mi · 3 min · South Military Street
4

Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

8.2 mi · 9 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
5

Continue on South Locust Avenue

5.5 mi · 6 min · South Locust Avenue
6

Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway

11 mi · 12 min · Andrew Jackson Highway
7

Continue on Lawrenceburg Highway

31 mi · 35 min · Lawrenceburg Highway
8

Take the exit left

0.3 mi · 45 sec
9

Merge slight left

12 mi · 12 min
10

Take the exit slight right toward I 840: Memphis, Knoxville

0.2 mi · 17 sec · I 840: Memphis, Knoxville
11

Keep slight right to continue on 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro

0.5 mi · 42 sec · 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro
12

Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway

45 mi · 48 min · Tennessee National Guard Parkway
13

Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
14

Merge slight left

149 mi · 2 hr 42 min
15

Keep slight left

37 mi · 40 min
16

Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol

57 mi · 1 hr · I 81 North: Bristol
17

Take the exit slight right toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville

0.4 mi · 40 sec · I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
18

Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway

14 mi · 16 min · James H. Quillen Parkway
19

Take the exit slight right toward TN 91

0.1 mi · 15 sec · TN 91
20

Turn right onto East Market Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · East Market Street
21

Turn left onto Buffalo Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Buffalo Street
22

Turn right

433 ft · 32 sec
23

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 187.5 miles from Loretto, TN, or about 3h 27m 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 83 miles or 1h 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 187.5 miles or 3h 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 5h 48m

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 Loretto, 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 Loretto, TN

This is one driving day of about 375 miles and 6h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Loretto, 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 187.5 mi from Loretto, TN · 3h 27m into the drive

city in and county seat of White County, Tennessee, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sparta, TN

188 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

Franklin, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 83 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sparta, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 187.5 miles from Loretto, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

$58.63 one way

$117.25 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 131 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $64.37 $128.74
premium $4.89 $72.17 $144.33
diesel $5.61 $82.80 $165.59

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$59

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$84–$109

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 131.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 112.5 1 $39.38 $18.00
Efficient EV 93.8 1 $32.81 $15.00
EV Truck/SUV 150 1 $52.50 $24.00

Gas CO2

131 kg

EV CO2

44 kg (66% 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 as of Apr 9, 2026

Origin

Loretto, TN

Afternoon in Loretto on Wednesday

Local time

3:58 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Johnson City, TN

Afternoon in Johnson City on Wednesday

Local time

4:58 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

74°F

Sparta, TN

188 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 later

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

18 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

6h 55m on the road

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Loretto, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 375 miles and takes about 6h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Church Street, South Military Street, Andrew Jackson Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 187.5 miles from Loretto, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $58.63 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 55m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Loretto, TN to Johnson City, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Loretto, TN to Johnson City, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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