Origin
Louisville, TN
Night in Louisville on Sunday
Local time
9:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Louisville, TN to Johnson City, TN
Drive Time
1h 59m
Distance
121.4 mi
195 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 51m
★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 17m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 4m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 16m
8 PM
1h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Louisville, TN
Andy Staver
Johnson City, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Traveling from Louisville to Johnson City covers 121.4 miles across the Southeast, typically taking about 1 hour and 59 minutes to complete. This journey works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. Budgeting around $18 for fuel should cover your transit costs comfortably. Since the route involves no formal stops, you can expect a direct drive between these two Tennessee locations. It is a practical choice if you prefer a focused trip without the need for multiple rest breaks or extended planning.
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
60.7 miles from Louisville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate via Louisville Road, Topside Road, and the Pellissippi Parkway, which keeps the experience engaging and physically active behind the wheel. Because the longest stretch on Louisville Road is 0 miles, you will be constantly adjusting to the road's technical nature. This path demands your full attention, providing a distinct contrast to the fast-paced, straight-line travel often found on major interstates.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Louisville Road 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 Louisville, TN to Johnson City, TN is easy. At 1h 59m 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 Louisville, TN to Johnson City, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Topside Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pellissippi Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 E | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 81 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 26 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| James H | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| TN 91 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Louisville Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Louisville, TN and Johnson City, TN.
1
Start on Honey Rock Way
72 ft
·
4 sec
·
Honey Rock Way
2
Turn right onto Louisville Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Louisville Road
3
Turn left onto Topside Road
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Topside Road
4
Take the ramp sharp left
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
5
Merge slight left onto Pellissippi Parkway
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Pellissippi Parkway
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 40 E, I 75 N: Knoxville
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 40 E, I 75 N: Knoxville
7
Merge slight left
8.2 mi
·
9 min
8
Keep slight left
37 mi
·
40 min
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol
57 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 81 North: Bristol
10
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
11
Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway
14 mi
·
16 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
12
Take the exit slight right toward TN 91
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
TN 91
13
Turn right onto East Market Street
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Market Street
14
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Buffalo Street
15
Turn right
433 ft
·
32 sec
16
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Given the lack of highway travel, plan your departure for a time when you feel alert and ready for frequent turns. Since the total duration is just under two hours, you have the flexibility to make this a quick morning or afternoon excursion. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, as the $18 cost estimate assumes a consistent pace through local roads. Because the route is entirely local, ensure your vehicle is comfortable for a drive that requires steady steering and navigation. A helpful tip for this specific journey is to double-check your GPS settings to account for the multiple local roads you will be navigating in succession.
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 60.7 miles from Louisville, TN, or about 59m 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 80 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.7 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 37m
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 Louisville, 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 Louisville, TN
This is one driving day of about 121.4 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Louisville, 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 60.7 mi from Louisville, TN · 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.7 miles from Louisville, 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
$18.44 one way
$36.88 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $20.33 | $40.65 |
| premium | $4.80 | $22.92 | $45.84 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $26.97 | $53.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.4 | 0 | $12.75 | $5.83 |
| Efficient EV | 30.4 | 0 | $10.62 | $4.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.6 | 0 | $17.00 | $7.77 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Night in Johnson City on Sunday
Local time
9:47 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
5 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
1h 59m 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 Louisville, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 121.4 miles and takes about 1h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Louisville Road, Topside Road, Pellissippi Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.7 miles from Louisville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.44 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 Louisville, TN to Johnson City, TN is easy. At 1h 59m 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 Louisville, TN to Johnson City, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Louisville, TN to Johnson City, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Johnson City, TN
More from Louisville, TN
More trips to Johnson City, TN
Explore more options from Louisville, TN or browse trips ending in Johnson City, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.
Explore maps for Louisville, TN or Johnson City, TN on MapSof.net.