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Trip from New Hope, TN to Johnson City, TN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 34m

Distance

240.1 mi

386 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 21m ★
6 AM
4h 34m
8 AM
5h 1m
10 AM
4h 44m
12 PM
4h 41m
3 PM
4h 45m
5 PM
5h 0m
8 PM
4h 26m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown New Hope, TN, TN

New Hope, TN

Kelly

Downtown Johnson City, TN, TN

Johnson City, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from New Hope, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 240.1 miles and takes about 4h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 75, I 81, I 40 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 99.2 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.54 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

120.1 miles from New Hope, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 20m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 99.2 mi 1h 49m
I 81 56.6 mi 1h
I 40 36.7 mi 40m
I 24 23.7 mi 28m
James H. Quillen Parkway 14 mi 16m
Shellmound Road 7.1 mi 12m
TN 156 0.6 mi 1m
East Market Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 99.2 mi, about 1h 49m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on TN 156

0.6 mi · 1 min · TN 156
2

Continue on SR 156

7.1 mi · 12 min · Shellmound Road
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec
4

Merge onto I 24

24 mi · 28 min · I 24
5

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 185 B Toward I 75 North: Knoxville Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6

Merge onto I 75

99 mi · 1 hr 49 min · I 75
Use the straight lane.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

37 mi · 40 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

57 mi · 1 hr · I 81
Exit 421 Toward I 81 North: Bristol
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 40 sec
Exit 57A Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
10

Merge onto I 26; US 23

14 mi · 16 min · James H. Quillen Parkway
11

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Exit 23 Toward TN 91
12

Turn right onto SR 91

0.3 mi · 38 sec · East Market Street
13

Turn left onto Buffalo Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Buffalo Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
14

Turn right

433 ft · 31 sec
15

Arrive at 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 120.1 miles from New Hope, TN, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.2 miles.

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 53 miles or 1h 6m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 120.1 miles or 2h 20m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 44m

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 New Hope, 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 New Hope, TN

This is one driving day of about 240.1 miles and 4h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from New Hope, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 99.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

suburb of Nashville, Tennessee, located in Williamson County, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brentwood, TN

120 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

Cleveland, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brentwood, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 120.1 miles from New Hope, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.2 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Capybara Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 137.2

Knoxville, Tennessee

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

Visit website

Cultivate Coffee + Flowers

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 137.2

Knoxville, Tennessee

Hours: 6:30 am–6 pm

+18652537560

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 154.4

Kodak, Tennessee

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Mercedes-Benz Charging Station

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 154.4

Kodak, Tennessee

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336224743

Visit website

Market Square

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour Inexpensiv mile 137.2

Knoxville, Tennessee

+18652154248

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 31.6 and 225 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
31.6 mi into trip | ~42m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Knoxville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 185 B Toward I 75 North: Knoxville
5
32.5 mi into trip | ~43m in | I 75

Merge onto I 75

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
131.7 mi into trip | ~2h 33m in | I 40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
168.4 mi into trip | ~3h 14m in | I 81

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 North: Bristol

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 421 Toward I 81 North: Bristol
6
225 mi into trip | ~4h 14m in

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

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 57A Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, As...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.54 one way

$75.07 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 84 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $41.21 $82.43
premium $4.89 $46.21 $92.41
diesel $5.61 $53.01 $106.02

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$38

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 84 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 72 0 $25.21 $11.52
Efficient EV 60 0 $21.01 $9.60
EV Truck/SUV 96 1 $33.61 $15.37

Gas CO2

84 kg

EV CO2

28 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

New Hope, TN

Afternoon in New Hope on Saturday

Local time

3:58 PM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Johnson City, TN

Afternoon in Johnson City on Saturday

Local time

4:58 PM

EDT

Current temp

77°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

1 hour later

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

Temperature spread

26 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 34m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

National Park

Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour Free near mile 157.3
Park Closure: Abrams Falls Trail Closed
Park Closure: Seasonal road closures
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

240.1 mi in 4h 34m, mostly highway — 99.2 mi of that is on I 75.

96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.2 mi on I 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 31.6 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 240.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 31.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.5 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from New Hope, TN to Johnson City, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.

Asheville

225 mi in | ~4h 14m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 34m. Total distance: 240.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 99.2 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Johnson City, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 31.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.5 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 131.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Johnson City, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Johnson City, TN to New Hope, TN

Plan the drive back the other way.

240.6 mi 4h 36m

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