Origin
Rockwood, TN
Morning in Rockwood on Thursday
Local time
9:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rockwood, TN to Kingsport, TN
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 43m
Distance
143.7 mi
231 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 32m
★
6 AM
2h 43m
8 AM
3h 4m
10 AM
2h 51m
12 PM
2h 48m
3 PM
2h 52m
5 PM
3h 3m
8 PM
2h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rockwood, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Rockwood, TN to Kingsport, TN covers 143.7 miles and takes about 2h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, I 81, Roane State Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.3 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.47 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
71.8 miles from Rockwood, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 143.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 43m highway drive covering 143.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 73.3 miles on I 40.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 73.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Rockwood Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 143.7 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: near the start (East Rockwood Street): Navigation decision point; at 43.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Rockwood Street
Turn right onto East Rockwood Street
Navigation decision point
6
43.4 mi into trip
|
~49m 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
80.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m 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
130.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
Take the exit toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 50
Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
8
130.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 50
Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
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 Rockwood, TN to Kingsport, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Fall Branch along the way.
Fall Branch
130.6 mi in
|
~2h 24m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 73.3 mi | 1h 21m |
| I 81 | 50.5 mi | 54m |
| Roane State Highway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| South Wilcox Drive | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| Sullivan Gardens Drive | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| TN 93 | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Sullivan Gardens Parkway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| North Gateway Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 73.3 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rockwood, TN and Kingsport, TN.
1
Start on North Kingston Avenue
201 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Kingston Avenue
2
Turn right onto East Rockwood Street
348 ft
·
18 sec
·
East Rockwood Street
3
Turn right onto US 27; US 70
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Gateway Avenue
4
Continue on US 27; US 70
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Roane State Highway
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
6
Merge onto I 40
37 mi
·
40 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
51 mi
·
54 min
·
I 81
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 50
Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
10
Keep slight right at fork
509 ft
·
14 sec
Exit 50
Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
11
Merge onto SR 93
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
·
SR 93
12
Continue on TN 93
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
TN 93
13
Continue on SR 93
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Sullivan Gardens Drive
14
Continue on SR 93
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Wilcox Drive
15
Continue on SR 93
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Sullivan Gardens Parkway
16
Turn left onto SR 126
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Wilcox Drive
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn left onto East Sullivan Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Sullivan Street
18
Turn slight left onto East Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
19
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Broad Street
20
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
46 ft
·
1 sec
·
Broad Street
21
Continue on Broad Street
433 ft
·
19 sec
·
Broad Street
22
Turn left onto TN 36
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Center Street
23
Arrive at destination
TN 36
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.8 miles from Rockwood, TN, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.3 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 32 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.8 miles or 1h 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 2h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kingsport, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rockwood, 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 Rockwood, TN
This is one driving day of about 143.7 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Rockwood, 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 40 for about 73.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 71.8 mi from Rockwood, TN · 1h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
72 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 71.8 miles from Rockwood, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.3 miles.
Arriving in Kingsport, TN
The final approach into Kingsport, 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 Kingsport, 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
$22.47 one way
$44.93 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $24.67 | $49.33 |
| premium | $4.89 | $27.65 | $55.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.73 | $63.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.1 | 0 | $15.09 | $6.90 |
| Efficient EV | 35.9 | 0 | $12.57 | $5.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57.5 | 0 | $20.12 | $9.20 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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
Kingsport, TN
Morning in Kingsport on Thursday
Local time
9:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°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
23 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
2h 43m 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 Rockwood, TN to Kingsport, TN covers 143.7 miles and takes about 2h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 81, Roane State Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.8 miles from Rockwood, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.47 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 143.7 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Rockwood Street): Navigation decision point; at 43.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Rockwood, TN to Kingsport, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Fall Branch along the way.
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