Origin
Spencer, TN
Afternoon in Spencer on Wednesday
Local time
4:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Spencer, TN to Johnson City, TN
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
4h 18m
Distance
216.9 mi
349 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 5m
★
6 AM
4h 19m
8 AM
4h 45m
10 AM
4h 28m
12 PM
4h 25m
3 PM
4h 29m
5 PM
4h 44m
8 PM
4h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Spencer, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Johnson City, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Spencer, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 216.9 miles and takes about 4h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Burritt College Drive, Spring Street, Mayberry Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.91 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
108.4 miles from Spencer, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 18m drive with frequent turns across 216.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Burritt College Drive 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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 18m 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 Spencer, TN to Johnson City, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Burritt College Drive | — | — |
| Spring Street | — | — |
| Mayberry Street | — | — |
| West Bockman Way | — | — |
| Crossville Highway | — | — |
| Sparta Highway | — | — |
| Elmore Road | — | — |
| North Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Burritt College Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spencer, TN and Johnson City, TN.
1
Start on Sparta Street
43 ft
·
7 sec
·
Sparta Street
2
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
3
Turn left onto Burritt College Drive
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Burritt College Drive
4
Turn right onto Spring Street
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
Spring Street
5
Turn left
12 mi
·
16 min
6
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
7
Keep slight right
269 ft
·
7 sec
8
Turn straight onto Mayberry Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Mayberry Street
9
Turn right onto West Bockman Way
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Bockman Way
10
Continue on Crossville Highway
21 mi
·
31 min
·
Crossville Highway
11
Continue on Sparta Highway
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Sparta Highway
12
Continue on Elmore Road
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Elmore Road
13
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
14
Turn left onto Genesis Road
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Genesis Road
15
Take the ramp right
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
16
Merge slight left
64 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
17
Keep slight left
37 mi
·
40 min
18
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol
57 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 81 North: Bristol
19
Take the exit slight right toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
20
Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway
14 mi
·
16 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
21
Take the exit slight right toward TN 91
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
TN 91
22
Turn right onto East Market Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Market Street
23
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Buffalo Street
24
Turn right
433 ft
·
32 sec
25
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 108.4 miles from Spencer, TN, or about 2h 9m 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 48 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.4 miles or 2h 9m 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 32m
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 Spencer, 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 Spencer, TN
This is one driving day of about 216.9 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Spencer, 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 108.4 mi from Spencer, TN · 2h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 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 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 108.4 miles from Spencer, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.91 one way
$67.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
76 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $37.23 | $74.46 |
| premium | $4.89 | $41.74 | $83.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.89 | $95.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.1 | 0 | $22.77 | $10.41 |
| Efficient EV | 54.2 | 0 | $18.98 | $8.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.8 | 1 | $30.37 | $13.88 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
5:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
30 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
4h 18m 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 Spencer, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 216.9 miles and takes about 4h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Burritt College Drive, Spring Street, Mayberry Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 108.4 miles from Spencer, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.91 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 18m 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 Spencer, TN to Johnson City, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Spencer, TN to Johnson City, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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