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Trip from Seymour, TN to Johnson City, TN

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

1h 57m

Distance

99.1 mi

160 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 49m ★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 14m
10 AM
2h 3m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 4m
5 PM
2h 13m
8 PM
1h 52m

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 Seymour, TN, TN

Seymour, TN

Kelly

Downtown Johnson City, TN, TN

Johnson City, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Seymour, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 99.1 miles and takes about 1h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 81, James H. Quillen Parkway, I 40 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56.6 miles on I 81. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.49 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

49.6 miles from Seymour, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 1h 57m highway drive covering 99.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 81 and James H. Quillen Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 56.6 miles on I 81.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 56.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and James H. Quillen Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.7 miles in.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 99.1 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 13.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.4 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 84.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
13.7 mi into trip | ~22m in

Take the exit toward I 40 East: Asheville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 40 East: Asheville
6
27.4 mi into trip | ~37m 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
84.1 mi into trip | ~1h 38m 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...
5
98.4 mi into trip | ~1h 55m in

Take the exit toward TN 91

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 23 Toward TN 91
5
98.9 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in | Buffalo Street

Turn left onto Buffalo Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.

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 Seymour, TN to Johnson City, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.

Asheville

84.1 mi in | ~1h 38m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 81 56.6 mi 1h
James H. Quillen Parkway 14 mi 16m
I 40 13.4 mi 14m
Boyds Creek Highway 9.6 mi 16m
Winfield Dunn Parkway 4.1 mi 5m
East Market Street 0.3 mi <1m
Buffalo Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 81 — 56.6 mi, about 1h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on SR 338

9.6 mi · 16 min · Boyds Creek Highway
2

Turn left onto SR 66

4.1 mi · 5 min · Winfield Dunn Parkway
Use the straight lane.
3

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 45 sec
Toward I 40 East: Asheville Use the slight right lane.
4

Merge onto I 40

13 mi · 14 min · I 40
5

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

57 mi · 1 hr · I 81
Exit 421 Toward I 81 North: Bristol
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 40 sec
Exit 57A Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
7

Merge onto I 26; US 23

14 mi · 16 min · James H. Quillen Parkway
8

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Exit 23 Toward TN 91
9

Turn right onto SR 91

0.3 mi · 38 sec · East Market Street
10

Turn left onto Buffalo Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Buffalo Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
11

Turn right

433 ft · 31 sec
12

Arrive at destination

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 49.6 miles from Seymour, TN, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.6 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 80 miles or 1h 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 49.6 miles or 1h 1m 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 35m

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 Seymour, 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 Seymour, TN

This is one driving day of about 99.1 miles and 1h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Seymour, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 56.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 49.6 mi from Seymour, TN · 1h 1m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kingsport, TN

50 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.

Popular next leg

Kingsport, TN to Johnson City, TN

23.4 mi · 31m

Pacing Suggestions

Kingsport, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kingsport, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 49.6 miles from Seymour, 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.

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...

23 mi from route ~57 min detour Free near mile 6.8
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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.49 one way

$30.99 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $17.01 $34.02
premium $4.89 $19.07 $38.14
diesel $5.61 $21.88 $43.76

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 34.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29.7 0 $10.41 $4.76
Efficient EV 24.8 0 $8.67 $3.96
EV Truck/SUV 39.6 0 $13.87 $6.34

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Seymour, TN

Night in Seymour on Tuesday

Local time

10:13 PM

EDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Johnson City, TN

Night in Johnson City on Tuesday

Local time

10:13 PM

EDT

Current temp

75°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

4 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 57m 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 Seymour, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 99.1 miles and takes about 1h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, James H. Quillen Parkway, I 40. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49.6 miles from Seymour, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.49 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 99.1 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.4 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 84.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Seymour, TN to Johnson City, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.

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