Origin
Union, TN
Night in Union on Friday
Local time
9:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union, TN to Johnson City, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 50m
Distance
199.6 mi
321 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 38m
★
6 AM
3h 50m
8 AM
4h 16m
10 AM
3h 59m
12 PM
3h 57m
3 PM
4h 1m
5 PM
4h 15m
8 PM
3h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union, TN
Soundarapandian MS
Johnson City, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Union, TN to Johnson City, TN is 199.6 miles and takes about 3h 50m via I-75, I-81, and I-40, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. You'll primarily be on interstate highways, making for a straightforward, efficient journey. Given the relatively short duration, this is an easy same-day drive, allowing for a relaxed pace. Plan for a direct route that prioritizes getting you to your destination without significant detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
99.8 miles from Union, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 59m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 50m. Total distance: 199.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the route utilizing interstates. You'll encounter a 75.8-mile stretch on I-75, which represents the longest uninterrupted segment. Expect a consistent, fast-paced journey for the majority of the trip. The character of the drive is predominantly interstate cruising, offering smooth travel and minimal traffic delays. As you transition between I-75, I-81, and I-40, the road remains primarily high-speed highway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 75.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 199.6 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 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 15.4 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 91.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
15.1 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
15.4 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
91.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m 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
127.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 30m 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
184.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 31m 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 Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Union, TN to Johnson City, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.
Asheville
184.6 mi in
|
~3h 31m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 75.8 mi | 1h 22m |
| I 81 | 56.6 mi | 1h |
| I 40 | 36.7 mi | 40m |
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 14 mi | 16m |
| Spring Place Road Southeast | 8.2 mi | 14m |
| 25th Street Northeast | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Hughes Lake Road Southeast | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Appalachian Highway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 75.8 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, TN and Johnson City, TN.
1
Start on Hughes Lake Road Southeast
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Hughes Lake Road Southeast
2
Turn slight left onto SR 74
8.2 mi
·
14 min
·
Spring Place Road Southeast
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
4
Merge onto US 74; US 64 Bypass; TN 60
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Appalachian Highway
5
Continue on TN 60
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
25th Street Northeast
6
Continue on TN 60
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
25th Street NW
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on TN 60
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
25th Street Northwest
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
9
Merge onto I 75
76 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
I 75
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi
·
40 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
57 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 81
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 57A
Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
13
Merge onto I 26; US 23
14 mi
·
16 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 23
Toward TN 91
15
Turn right onto SR 91
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Market Street
16
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Buffalo Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Turn right
433 ft
·
31 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 199.6-mile drive, consider departing mid-morning to avoid rush hour and arrive with ample daylight. With a total duration of under 4 hours, you'll likely only need one planned stop for fuel or a quick break. The longest stretch without exiting is 75.8 miles on I-75, so be sure to fuel up before embarking on that portion if needed. Because this is a short, highway-centric trip, you have the flexibility to leave whenever it suits your schedule. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as interstate travel can consume fuel more rapidly.
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 99.8 miles from Union, TN, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.8 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 44 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.8 miles or 1h 59m 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 8m
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 Union, 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 Union, TN
This is one driving day of about 199.6 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Union, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 75.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 99.8 mi from Union, TN · 1h 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
100 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 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 99.8 miles from Union, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75.8 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.21 one way
$62.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
70 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $34.26 | $68.52 |
| premium | $4.89 | $38.41 | $76.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $44.07 | $88.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.9 | 0 | $20.96 | $9.58 |
| Efficient EV | 49.9 | 0 | $17.47 | $7.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.8 | 0 | $27.94 | $12.77 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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
Johnson City, TN
Night in Johnson City on Friday
Local time
9:57 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
9 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
3h 50m 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 Union, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 199.6 miles and takes about 3h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, I 81, I 40. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 99.8 miles from Union, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.21 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 199.6 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 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 15.4 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 91.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Union, TN to Johnson City, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.
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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