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Trip from Smyrna, TN to Johnson City, TN

Drive Time

7h 33m

Distance

398.9 mi

642 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$61

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
7h 24m ★
6 AM
7h 34m
8 AM
7h 54m
10 AM
7h 41m
12 PM
7h 39m
3 PM
7h 42m
5 PM
7h 53m
8 PM
7h 28m

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 Smyrna, TN, TN

Smyrna, TN

Josef Traxler

Downtown Johnson City, TN, TN

Johnson City, TN

Kelly

Trip Overview

The drive from Smyrna, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 398.9 miles and takes about 7h 33m 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, James H. Quillen Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 291.9 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $60.59 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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

199.4 miles from Smyrna, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 53m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 7h 33m highway drive covering 398.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch is about 291.9 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 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 291.9 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 113.4 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 398.9 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 113.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 290.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

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

9
113.4 mi into trip | ~2h 18m 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
116.6 mi into trip | ~2h 23m 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
290.4 mi into trip | ~5h 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
327.2 mi into trip | ~6h 13m 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
383.8 mi into trip | ~7h 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...

Towns Along This Route

Between Smyrna, TN and Johnson City, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.

Huntsville

113.4 mi in | ~2h 18m

Louisville

116.1 mi in | ~2h 22m | via I 40

Knoxville

116.1 mi in | ~2h 22m | via I 40

Chattanooga

116.1 mi in | ~2h 22m | via I 40

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 291.9 mi 5h 18m
I 81 56.6 mi 1h
James H. Quillen Parkway 14 mi 16m
US 641 13.8 mi 15m
Broadway of America 5.4 mi 8m
SR 114 4.1 mi 7m
Downtown Loop 2.9 mi 4m
Buena Vista Road 2.5 mi 6m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 291.9 mi, about 5h 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Buck Ditch Road

58 ft · 4 sec · Buck Ditch Road
2

Turn left onto Smyrna Road

2.0 mi · 7 min · Smyrna Road
3

At end of road, turn right onto Buena Vista Road

2.5 mi · 6 min · Buena Vista Road
4

At end of road, turn left onto SR 114

4.1 mi · 7 min · SR 114
5

At end of road, turn right onto US 70; SR 114

2.4 mi · 3 min · Broad Street
6

Continue on US 70

5.4 mi · 8 min · Broadway of America
7

Turn right onto US 70

1.6 mi · 2 min · US 70
8

Turn right onto US 641

14 mi · 15 min · US 641
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
10

Merge onto I 40

81 mi · 1 hr 27 min · I 40
Use the straight lane.
11

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.
12

Merge onto I 40; I 65

2.4 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

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.
14

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.
15

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

37 mi · 40 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

57 mi · 1 hr · I 81
Exit 421 Toward I 81 North: Bristol
17

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 40 sec
Exit 57A Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
18

Merge onto I 26; US 23

14 mi · 16 min · James H. Quillen Parkway
19

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Exit 23 Toward TN 91
20

Turn right onto SR 91

0.3 mi · 38 sec · East Market Street
21

Turn left onto Buffalo Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Buffalo Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
22

Turn right

433 ft · 31 sec
23

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 199.4 miles from Smyrna, TN, or about 3h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 291.9 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 88 miles or 1h 51m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 199.4 miles or 3h 53m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 26m

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 Smyrna, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Smyrna, TN

This is one driving day of about 398.9 miles and 7h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Smyrna, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 291.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 199.4 mi from Smyrna, TN · 3h 53m into the drive

Downtown Johnson, TN, TN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Johnson, TN

199 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

Franklin, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 88 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Johnson, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 199.4 miles from Smyrna, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 291.9 miles.

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.

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River National Battlefield

National Battlefield

The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...

21 mi from route ~53 min detour Free near mile 137.5
View on nps.gov
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 ~69 min detour Free near mile 316.3
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$60.59 one way

$121.18 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 140 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $66.79 $133.58
premium $4.80 $75.30 $150.61
diesel $5.64 $88.62 $177.24

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$61

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$86–$111

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 139.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 119.7 1 $41.88 $19.15
Efficient EV 99.7 1 $34.90 $15.96
EV Truck/SUV 159.6 1 $55.85 $25.53

Gas CO2

140 kg

EV CO2

47 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.

Forecast data refreshed 57 minutes ago

Origin

Smyrna, TN

Morning in Smyrna on Monday

Local time

9:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Johnson City, TN

Morning in Johnson City on Monday

Local time

10:12 AM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

W 5 to 10 mph 15% chance Live forecast

Along the Route

61°F

Johnson, TN

199 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

18 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

7h 33m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Smyrna, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 398.9 miles and takes about 7h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, I 81, James H. Quillen Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 199.4 miles from Smyrna, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $60.59 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 19 significant decision points across 398.9 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 113.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 290.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Smyrna, TN and Johnson City, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.

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