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Trip from McEwen, TN to Johnson City, TN

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 22m

Distance

339.8 mi

547 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$53

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
6h 10m ★
6 AM
6h 23m
8 AM
6h 48m
10 AM
6h 32m
12 PM
6h 29m
3 PM
6h 33m
5 PM
6h 47m
8 PM
6h 15m

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

Downtown McEwen, TN, TN

McEwen, TN

Kelly

Downtown Johnson City, TN, TN

Johnson City, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from McEwen, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 339.8 miles and takes about 6h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West College Street, SR 46, I 40 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.12 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

169.9 miles from McEwen, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 11m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 22m. Total distance: 339.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 22m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 6h 22m drive with frequent turns across 339.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West College 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.

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 22m, 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 McEwen, TN to Johnson City, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West College Street
SR 46
I 40 East
Downtown Loop
I 81 North
I 26 East
James H
TN 91

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: West College Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on High Street

164 ft · 15 sec · High Street
2

Turn sharp left

13 mi · 19 min
3

Continue on West College Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · West College Street
4

Turn right onto SR 46

4.6 mi · 7 min · SR 46
5

Take the exit left

0.2 mi · 30 sec
6

Merge slight left

35 mi · 37 min
7

Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville

0.2 mi · 25 sec · I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
8

Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop

2.4 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop
9

Continue on Downtown Loop

0.5 mi · 43 sec · Downtown Loop
10

Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga

174 mi · 3 hr 9 min · I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
11

Keep slight left

37 mi · 40 min
12

Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol

57 mi · 1 hr · I 81 North: Bristol
13

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
14

Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway

14 mi · 16 min · James H. Quillen Parkway
15

Take the exit slight right toward TN 91

0.1 mi · 15 sec · TN 91
16

Turn right onto East Market Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · East Market Street
17

Turn left onto Buffalo Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Buffalo Street
18

Turn right

433 ft · 32 sec
19

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 169.9 miles from McEwen, TN, or about 3h 11m 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 75 miles or 1h 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 169.9 miles or 3h 11m 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 15m

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 McEwen, 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 McEwen, TN

This is one driving day of about 339.8 miles and 6h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from McEwen, 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 169.9 mi from McEwen, TN · 3h 11m into the drive

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sparta, TN

170 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

Nashville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 75 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sparta, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 169.9 miles from McEwen, 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

$53.12 one way

$106.25 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 119 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $58.33 $116.66
premium $4.89 $65.39 $130.78
diesel $5.61 $75.02 $150.05

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$53

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$78–$103

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 118.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 101.9 1 $35.68 $16.31
Efficient EV 85 0 $29.73 $13.59
EV Truck/SUV 135.9 1 $47.57 $21.75

Gas CO2

119 kg

EV CO2

40 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 15, 2026

Origin

McEwen, TN

Morning in McEwen on Friday

Local time

7:40 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Johnson City, TN

Morning in Johnson City on Friday

Local time

8:40 AM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

74°F

Sparta, TN

170 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

33 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 22m 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 McEwen, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 339.8 miles and takes about 6h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are West College Street, SR 46, I 40 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 169.9 miles from McEwen, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $53.12 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 22m, 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 McEwen, TN to Johnson City, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from McEwen, TN to Johnson City, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

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