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Trip from Tiptonville, TN to Johnson City, TN

Drive Time

9h 1m

Distance

482.8 mi

777 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$73

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
8h 54m ★
6 AM
9h 2m
8 AM
9h 18m
10 AM
9h 8m
12 PM
9h 6m
3 PM
9h 8m
5 PM
9h 17m
8 PM
8h 57m

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 Tiptonville, TN, TN

Tiptonville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Johnson City, TN, TN

Johnson City, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Tiptonville, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 482.8 miles and takes about 9h 1m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on I 40, US 412, I 81 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 210.5 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $73.33 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

241.4 miles from Tiptonville, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 35m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 9h 1m highway drive covering 482.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 40 and US 412. The longest continuous stretch is about 210.5 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 210.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and US 412. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 25.9 miles in near US 412.

Route Complexity 9/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 482.8 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 25.9 miles (US 412): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69 miles (US 412): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 197.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

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

6
25.9 mi into trip | ~36m in | US 412

Take the exit onto US 412 toward US 51 South, US 412 East: Dyersburg, Jackson

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 15 Toward US 51 South, US 412 East: Dyersburg, Jac...
6
69 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in | US 412

Turn left onto US 412 toward I-40 East, US 412 East: Nashville

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I-40 East, US 412 East: Nashville
9
197.4 mi into trip | ~3h 46m 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
200.6 mi into trip | ~3h 51m 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
374.4 mi into trip | ~7h 1m 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.

Towns Along This Route

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

Jackson

25.9 mi in | ~36m | via US 412

Huntsville

197.4 mi in | ~3h 46m

Louisville

200 mi in | ~3h 50m | via I 40

Knoxville

200 mi in | ~3h 50m | via I 40

Chattanooga

200 mi in | ~3h 50m | via I 40

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 210.5 mi 3h 50m
US 412 171.5 mi 3h 9m
I 81 56.6 mi 1h
State Route 78 20.9 mi 29m
James H. Quillen Parkway 14 mi 16m
Downtown Loop 2.9 mi 4m
I 155 2.3 mi 2m
Headden Drive 1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 210.5 mi, about 3h 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on TN 21

0.3 mi · 52 sec · Church Street
2

Turn right onto TN 78

0.6 mi · 52 sec · Carl Perkins Parkway
3

Continue on TN 78

6.8 mi · 10 min · State Route 78
4

Continue on TN 78

1.0 mi · 1 min · Headden Drive
5

Continue on TN 78

14 mi · 19 min · State Route 78
6

Continue on TN 78

0.5 mi · 1 min · Lake Road
7

Turn left

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward Union City
8

Merge onto I 155; US 412

2.3 mi · 2 min · I 155; US 412
9

Take the exit onto US 412

14 mi · 16 min · US 412
Exit 15 Toward US 51 South, US 412 East: Dyersburg, Jackson
10

Continue on US 412

29 mi · 34 min · US 412
11

Turn left onto US 412

128 mi · 2 hr 18 min · US 412
Toward I-40 East, US 412 East: Nashville 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 241.4 miles from Tiptonville, TN, or about 4h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 210.5 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 8m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 241.4 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 241.4 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 54m

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 Tiptonville, 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 Tiptonville, TN

Aim for roughly 241 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Johnson City, TN

Aim for roughly 241 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 106 miles from Tiptonville, 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 210.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 241.4 mi from Tiptonville, TN · 4h 35m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Hendersonville, TN

241 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 Hendersonville, TN

Popular next leg

Hendersonville, TN to Johnson City, TN

287.4 mi · 5h 23m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Hendersonville, TN

241 mi · about 4.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Hendersonville, TN after about 241 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Clarksville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 106 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hendersonville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 241.4 miles from Tiptonville, 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 210.5 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 241 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.

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 ~52 min detour Free near mile 216.4
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 ~68 min detour Free near mile 399.6
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$73.33 one way

$146.66 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 169 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $80.84 $161.68
premium $4.80 $91.14 $182.29
diesel $5.64 $107.26 $214.52

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$73

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$203–$313

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 168.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $51 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 144.8 1 $50.69 $23.17
Efficient EV 120.7 1 $42.25 $19.31
EV Truck/SUV 193.1 2 $67.59 $30.90

Gas CO2

169 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 hours ago

Origin

Tiptonville, TN

Afternoon in Tiptonville on Monday

Local time

12:26 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Johnson City, TN

Afternoon in Johnson City on Monday

Local time

1:26 PM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

W 5 to 10 mph 15% chance 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.

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

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

9h 1m 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 Tiptonville, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 482.8 miles and takes about 9h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 40, US 412, I 81. 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 241 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 241.4 miles from Tiptonville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $73.33 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 16 significant decision points across 482.8 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 25.9 miles (US 412): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69 miles (US 412): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 197.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Tiptonville, TN and Johnson City, TN, road signs point toward Jackson, Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Johnson City, TN to Tiptonville, TN

Plan the drive back the other way.

483.1 mi 9h 3m

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