Origin
Unicoi, TN
Evening in Unicoi on Sunday
Local time
8:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Unicoi, TN to Kingsport, TN
Drive Time
42m
Distance
32.6 mi
52 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Unicoi to Kingsport, you are looking at a manageable 32.6-mile journey that typically takes about 42 minutes to complete. This route keeps you entirely within the Southeast region of Tennessee, making it a perfect candidate for a quick day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via James H, South Wilcox Drive, and East Sullivan Street rather than relying on major interstates. With a fuel budget of just $5, it is an incredibly economical way to travel between these two points. Because the distance is so short, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your departure time to fit your own schedule without feeling rushed.
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
16.3 miles from Unicoi, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating local roads that demand more attention than a straight-line highway trek. Since there are no designated stops along the way, you should prepare for a continuous drive from start to finish. The character of the road remains consistent throughout the 32.6 miles, focusing on local traffic patterns and town navigation. It is a practical, functional transit that prioritizes local connectivity over the high-speed transit often found on major regional corridors.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
James H. Quillen Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 27 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on James H. Quillen Parkway and South Wilcox Drive. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near SR 173.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 32.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (SR 173): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 26; US 19W; US 23 / James H. Quillen Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
SR 173
Turn left onto SR 173
Navigation decision point
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 26; US 19W; US 23 / James H. Quillen Parkway
Merge onto I 26; US 19W; US 23 / James H. Quillen Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
28.7 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 4
5
32.4 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
Broad Street
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
32.5 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
TN 36 / West Center Street
Turn left onto TN 36 / West Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 27 mi | 31m |
| South Wilcox Drive | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| East Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Unicoi Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| SR 173 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Sullivan Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Broad Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Center Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
James H. Quillen Parkway
— 27 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Unicoi, TN and Kingsport, TN.
1
Start on SR 173
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Unicoi Drive
2
Turn left onto SR 173
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
SR 173
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
4
Merge onto I 26; US 19W; US 23
27 mi
·
31 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
Use the none lane.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 4
6
Keep slight left at fork
237 ft
·
7 sec
Exit 4
7
Continue on SR 126
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Wilcox Drive
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto East Sullivan Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Sullivan Street
9
Turn slight left onto East Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
10
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Broad Street
11
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
46 ft
·
1 sec
·
Broad Street
12
Continue on Broad Street
433 ft
·
19 sec
·
Broad Street
13
Turn left onto TN 36
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Center Street
Use the none lane.
14
Arrive at destination
TN 36
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 42-minute trip, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever works best for your itinerary. Because the entire route consists of local roads, keep a close watch on your speed and navigation, as turn-heavy routes can sometimes be tricky to follow during peak traffic hours. You won't need to worry about planning for rest stops or long-distance fuel management, given the low $5 cost for the trip. A solid tip for this drive is to double-check your GPS before you head out, as the reliance on local streets like South Wilcox Drive and East Sullivan Street means you will be making several turns to reach your destination in Kingsport.
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 16.3 miles from Unicoi, TN, or about 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27 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 32.6 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 16.3 miles or 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 33m
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 Unicoi, 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 Unicoi, TN
This is one driving day of about 32.6 miles and 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Unicoi, 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 James H. Quillen Parkway for about 27 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.3 mi from Unicoi, TN · 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.3 miles from Unicoi, 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
$4.95 one way
$9.90 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $5.46 | $10.92 |
| premium | $4.80 | $6.15 | $12.31 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.24 | $14.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.42 | $1.56 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.85 | $1.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13 | 0 | $4.56 | $2.09 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Kingsport, TN
Evening in Kingsport on Sunday
Local time
8:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
2 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
42m 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 Unicoi, TN to Kingsport, TN covers 32.6 miles and takes about 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are James H. Quillen Parkway, South Wilcox Drive, East Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.3 miles from Unicoi, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.95 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 32.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (SR 173): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 26; US 19W; US 23 / James H. Quillen Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Unicoi, TN to Kingsport, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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