Origin
Shelbyville, TN
Night in Shelbyville on Friday
Local time
10:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shelbyville, TN to Kingsport, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 51m
Distance
280.8 mi
452 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 38m
★
6 AM
4h 51m
8 AM
5h 18m
10 AM
5h 1m
12 PM
4h 58m
3 PM
5h 2m
5 PM
5h 17m
8 PM
4h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shelbyville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Shelbyville, TN to Kingsport, TN covers 280.8 miles and takes about 4h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Spring Street, Lane Parkway, East Lane Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.90 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
140.4 miles from Shelbyville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 25m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 51m. Total distance: 280.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 51m drive with frequent turns across 280.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 51 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Spring 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.
This is a straightforward 4h 51m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Shelbyville, TN to Kingsport, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Spring Street | — | — |
| Lane Parkway | — | — |
| East Lane Street | — | — |
| North Jefferson Street | — | — |
| East Depot Street | — | — |
| Wartrace Pike | — | — |
| Madison Street | — | — |
| West Carroll Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Spring Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shelbyville, TN and Kingsport, TN.
1
Start on Public Square North
223 ft
·
11 sec
·
Public Square North
2
Turn right onto North Spring Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Spring Street
3
Turn right onto Lane Parkway
354 ft
·
8 sec
·
Lane Parkway
4
Continue on East Lane Street
479 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Lane Street
5
Continue on North Jefferson Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Jefferson Street
6
Turn left onto East Depot Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Depot Street
7
Continue on Wartrace Pike
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Wartrace Pike
8
Continue on East Depot Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East Depot Street
9
Turn right onto Madison Street
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Madison Street
10
Continue straight
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
11
Merge slight left
8.0 mi
·
9 min
12
Turn left onto West Carroll Street
0.8 mi
·
58 sec
·
West Carroll Street
13
Turn slight right onto New Tullahoma Highway
8.3 mi
·
11 min
·
New Tullahoma Highway
14
Continue on McArthur Street
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
McArthur Street
15
Continue on McMinnville Highway
11 mi
·
13 min
·
McMinnville Highway
16
Continue on Manchester Highway
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Manchester Highway
17
Continue on H T Pelham Memorial Parkway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
H T Pelham Memorial Parkway
18
Continue on Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway
19
Continue on Sparta Street
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
·
Sparta Street
20
Continue on Sparta Highway
9.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Sparta Highway
21
Continue on Bone Cave Parkway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Bone Cave Parkway
22
Continue on Memorial Highway
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Memorial Highway
23
Merge slight right onto Spencer Highway
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Spencer Highway
24
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
25
Keep slight right
269 ft
·
7 sec
26
Turn straight onto Mayberry Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Mayberry Street
27
Turn right onto West Bockman Way
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Bockman Way
28
Continue on Crossville Highway
21 mi
·
31 min
·
Crossville Highway
29
Continue on Sparta Highway
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Sparta Highway
30
Continue on Elmore Road
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Elmore Road
31
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
32
Turn left onto Genesis Road
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Genesis Road
33
Take the ramp right
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
34
Merge slight left
64 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
35
Keep slight left
37 mi
·
40 min
36
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol
51 mi
·
54 min
·
I 81 North: Bristol
37
Take the exit slight right toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
38
Keep slight right to continue on SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
509 ft
·
15 sec
·
SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
39
Merge slight left
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
40
Continue straight
2.4 mi
·
2 min
41
Continue on Sullivan Gardens Drive
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Sullivan Gardens Drive
42
Continue on South Wilcox Drive
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Wilcox Drive
43
Continue on Sullivan Gardens Parkway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Sullivan Gardens Parkway
44
Turn left onto South Wilcox Drive
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Wilcox Drive
45
Turn left onto East Sullivan Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Sullivan Street
46
Turn slight left onto East Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
47
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Broad Street
48
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Broad Street
46 ft
·
1 sec
·
Broad Street
49
Exit the roundabout onto Broad Street
433 ft
·
19 sec
·
Broad Street
50
Turn left onto West Center Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Center Street
51
Arrive at your 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 140.4 miles from Shelbyville, TN, or about 2h 25m 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 62 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.4 miles or 2h 25m 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 58m
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 Shelbyville, 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 Shelbyville, TN
This is one driving day of about 280.8 miles and 4h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Shelbyville, 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 140.4 mi from Shelbyville, TN · 2h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
140 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 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 140.4 miles from Shelbyville, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$43.90 one way
$87.80 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
98 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $48.20 | $96.40 |
| premium | $4.89 | $54.04 | $108.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $62.00 | $123.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.2 | 1 | $29.48 | $13.48 |
| Efficient EV | 70.2 | 0 | $24.57 | $11.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 112.3 | 1 | $39.31 | $17.97 |
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Destination
Kingsport, TN
Night in Kingsport on Friday
Local time
11:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Johnson, TN
140 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
20 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 51m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Shelbyville, TN to Kingsport, TN covers 280.8 miles and takes about 4h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Spring Street, Lane Parkway, East Lane Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 140.4 miles from Shelbyville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.90 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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.
This is a straightforward 4h 51m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Shelbyville, TN to Kingsport, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Shelbyville, TN to Kingsport, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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