Origin
Rossville, TN
Evening in Rossville on Wednesday
Local time
5:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rossville, TN to Johnson City, TN
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
9h
Distance
480.6 mi
773 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$75
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 53m
★
6 AM
9h 1m
8 AM
9h 17m
10 AM
9h 6m
12 PM
9h 5m
3 PM
9h 7m
5 PM
9h 16m
8 PM
8h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rossville, TN
Kelly
Johnson City, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Rossville, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 480.6 miles and takes about 9h behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 40, I 81, TN 76 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 365.9 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $75.14 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
240.3 miles from Rossville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 9h highway drive covering 480.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 365.9 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 24 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 365.9 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 around 195.2 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 480.6 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 195.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 372.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
195.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsv...
9
198.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 50m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 211A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattan...
6
372.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 59m 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
408.9 mi into trip
|
~7h 40m 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
465.5 mi into trip
|
~8h 41m 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...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Rossville, TN and Johnson City, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Huntsville
195.2 mi in
|
~3h 45m
Louisville
197.8 mi in
|
~3h 49m
|
via I 40
Knoxville
197.8 mi in
|
~3h 49m
|
via I 40
Chattanooga
197.8 mi in
|
~3h 49m
|
via I 40
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 365.9 mi | 6h 37m |
| I 81 | 56.6 mi | 1h |
| TN 76 | 25.5 mi | 37m |
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 14 mi | 16m |
| TN 57 | 8.7 mi | 12m |
| SR 76 | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| Downtown Loop | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 365.9 mi, about 6h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rossville, TN and Johnson City, TN.
1
Start on Front Street
56 ft
·
4 sec
·
Front Street
2
Turn right onto SR 194
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto TN 57
8.7 mi
·
12 min
·
TN 57
4
Turn left onto TN 76
15 mi
·
22 min
·
TN 76
5
Continue on TN 59
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
TN 59
6
Turn right onto TN 76
10.0 mi
·
13 min
·
TN 76
7
Continue on SR 76; SR 179
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
SR 76; SR 179
8
Continue on TN 76
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
TN 76
9
Turn left onto Stanton Koko Road
364 ft
·
9 sec
·
Stanton Koko Road
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
11
Merge onto I 40
155 mi
·
2 hr 47 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 208A
Toward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 40
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Downtown Loop
Exit 211B; 211A
Toward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksville, Louisville, Knoxville, Chattanooga
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
174 mi
·
3 hr 9 min
·
I 40
Exit 211A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi
·
40 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
57 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 81
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 57A
Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
19
Merge onto I 26; US 23
14 mi
·
16 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 23
Toward TN 91
21
Turn right onto SR 91
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Market Street
22
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Buffalo Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Turn right
433 ft
·
31 sec
24
Arrive at 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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 240.3 miles from Rossville, TN, or about 4h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 365.9 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 106 miles or 2h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 240.3 miles or 4h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 240.3 miles or 4h 35m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 53m
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 Rossville, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Rossville, TN
Aim for roughly 240 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Johnson City, TN
Aim for roughly 240 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 106 miles from Rossville, TN.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 365.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 240.3 mi from Rossville, TN · 4h 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
240 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Sparta, TNOvernight Options
Night 1
240 mi · about 4.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Sparta, TN after about 240 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 106 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 240.3 miles from Rossville, 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 365.9 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 240 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.
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.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Johnson City, TN with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$75.14 one way
$150.27 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
168 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $82.50 | $164.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $92.49 | $184.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $106.11 | $212.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$75
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$205–$315
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 168.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $50 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 144.2 | 1 | $50.46 | $23.07 |
| Efficient EV | 120.2 | 1 | $42.05 | $19.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 192.2 | 2 | $67.28 | $30.76 |
Gas CO2
168 kg
EV CO2
56 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Johnson City, TN
Evening in Johnson City on Wednesday
Local time
6:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Sparta, TN
240 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
10 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
9h on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Rossville, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 480.6 miles and takes about 9h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 81, TN 76. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 240 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 240.3 miles from Rossville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $75.14 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 480.6 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: at 195.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 372.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Rossville, TN and Johnson City, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
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