Trip from Union City, TN to Kingsport, TN

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

8h 20m

Distance

431.5 mi

694 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$67

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min

4 AM

8h 13m ★

6 AM

8h 20m

8 AM

8h 35m

10 AM

8h 26m

12 PM

8h 24m

3 PM

8h 26m

5 PM

8h 35m

8 PM

8h 16m

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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town in Obion County, Tennessee, United States

Union City, TN

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Trip Overview

This 431.5-mile journey from Union City, TN to Kingsport, TN spans an estimated 8 hours and 20 minutes of driving time. Given the duration, it's best planned as a two-day trip to allow for comfortable pacing and rest. The primary highways guiding you are I-40, I-24, and I-81, making up about 76% of the drive. With an estimated fuel cost of $67, this route is a straightforward, highway-focused option for traversing Tennessee. You'll experience a consistent driving profile with two recommended stops, allowing you to break up the longest stretch of 129.9 miles on I-40.

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

215.8 miles from Union City, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 20m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 431.5-mile trip, with 76% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-40, I-24, and I-81. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 129.9 miles on I-40, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent speed. This profile suggests a generally smooth and predictable driving experience, characteristic of long-distance interstate travel. While primarily interstate, the journey does involve transitions between these major arteries, offering some variation in the immediate surroundings as you navigate through Tennessee.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 46 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 129.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 152.4 miles in near I 24.

Route Complexity 9/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 431.5 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 152.4 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 157.5 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 331.2 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 24 key points

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

152.4 mi into trip | ~3h 10m in | I 24

Keep slight right at fork onto I 24 toward I 24 East, I 65 South: Nashville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Exit 44A Toward I 24 East, I 65 South: Nashville

157.5 mi into trip | ~3h 17m in | I 24

Keep slight left at fork onto I 24 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 lane. Exit 50A Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattan...

331.2 mi into trip | ~6h 26m 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.

367.9 mi into trip | ~7h 7m 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

418.7 mi into trip | ~8h 2m in

Keep slight right at fork toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 50 Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Union City, TN and Kingsport, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville and Chattanooga.

Knoxville

154.7 mi in | ~3h 13m | via I 24

Chattanooga

157.5 mi in | ~3h 17m | via I 24

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 40	129.9 mi	2h 23m
I 24	119 mi	2h 9m
I 81	50.5 mi	54m
Main Street	28.1 mi	34m
Austin Peay Memorial Highway	25.1 mi	28m
Paris Highway	23.3 mi	34m
TN 22	19.9 mi	22m
Ashland City Road	5.6 mi	6m

Longest stretch: I 40 — 129.9 mi, about 2h 23m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Union City, TN and Kingsport, TN.

Start on East Church Street

74 ft · 7 sec · East Church Street

Turn right onto TN 5; TN 21

0.1 mi · 20 sec · South 1st Street

Continue on SR 21

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Turn straight onto SR 214

1.9 mi · 3 min · Nailling Drive

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward TN 22 South

Merge onto TN 22

15 mi · 16 min · TN 22

Keep slight left at fork onto TN 22

4.7 mi · 6 min · TN 22

Toward TN 22 South: Dresden

Turn left onto SR 239

1.3 mi · 2 min · Pikeview Street

At end of road, turn left onto TN 54; TN 89

0.4 mi · 35 sec · Pikeview Street

Turn right onto TN 54; TN 89

2.2 mi · 3 min · West Main Street

Continue on TN 54; TN 217

23 mi · 34 min · Paris Highway

Continue on US 79

25 mi · 27 min · Austin Peay Memorial Highway

Continue on US 79

0.2 mi · 11 sec · Fort Donelson Parkway

Continue on US 79

0.6 mi · 37 sec · Austin Peay Memorial Highway

Continue on US 79

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Lake Highway

Continue on US 79

1.7 mi · 1 min · Donelson Parkway

Continue on US 79

28 mi · 34 min · Main Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Merge onto US 41A; US 79

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Fort Campbell Boulevard

Continue on US 41A; US 79

1.6 mi · 2 min · Providence Boulevard

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 41A; US 79

340 ft · 7 sec · North 2nd Street

Use the left / straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto US 41A Bypass

2.4 mi · 4 min · North Riverside Drive

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on US 41A Bypass

5.6 mi · 6 min · Ashland City Road

Use the left / straight lanes.

Continue on TN 76

3.1 mi · 3 min · TN 76

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec

Merge onto I 24

33 mi · 35 min · I 24

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 24

2.3 mi · 3 min · I 24

Exit 44A Toward I 24 East, I 65 South: Nashville Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Continue on I 24

2.8 mi · 3 min · I 24

Exit 86 Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga, Knoxville Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 24

81 mi · 1 hr 27 min · I 24

Exit 50A Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga Use the slight left lane.

Continue on I 40

93 mi · 1 hr 42 min · I 40

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

37 mi · 40 min · I 40

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

51 mi · 54 min · I 81

Exit 421 Toward I 81 North: Bristol

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec

Exit 50 Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch

Keep slight right at fork

509 ft · 14 sec

Exit 50 Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch

Merge onto SR 93

0.6 mi · 38 sec · SR 93

Continue on TN 93

2.4 mi · 2 min · TN 93

Continue on SR 93

3.1 mi · 3 min · Sullivan Gardens Drive

Continue on SR 93

1.5 mi · 1 min · South Wilcox Drive

Continue on SR 93

1.4 mi · 1 min · Sullivan Gardens Parkway

Turn left onto SR 126

2.6 mi · 4 min · South Wilcox Drive

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto East Sullivan Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · East Sullivan Street

Turn slight left onto East Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Turn right onto Broad Street

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Broad Street

Enter roundabout onto Broad Street

46 ft · 1 sec · Broad Street

Continue on Broad Street

433 ft · 19 sec · Broad Street

Turn left onto TN 36

0.1 mi · 23 sec · West Center Street

Arrive at destination

TN 36

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 8-hour and 20-minute drive, splitting it into two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight hours and get a significant portion of the 431.5 miles completed. Plan your two stops strategically to break up the journey, especially considering the 129.9-mile stretch on I-40. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $67, and ensure you're aware of service area availability along the I-40, I-24, and I-81 corridors.

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 215.8 miles from Union City, TN, or about 4h 20m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.9 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 95 miles or 2h 2m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 215.8 miles or 4h 20m 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 215.8 miles or 4h 20m

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 11m

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 Union City, 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 Union City, TN

Aim for roughly 216 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Kingsport, TN

Aim for roughly 216 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 95 miles from Union City, 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 129.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 215.8 mi from Union City, TN · 4h 20m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Hendersonville, TN

216 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

Overnight Options

Night 1

Hendersonville, TN

216 mi · about 4.2h in

A practical overnight split lands near Hendersonville, TN after about 216 miles or 4.2 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Clarksville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 95 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hendersonville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 215.8 miles from Union City, 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 129.9 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 216 miles or 4.2 hours on the road.

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.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Kingsport, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$67.46 one way

$134.92 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 151 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$74.07	$148.14
premium	$4.89	$83.04	$166.08
diesel	$5.61	$95.27	$190.54

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$67

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$197–$307

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 151 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	129.5	1	$45.31	$20.71
Efficient EV	107.9	1	$37.76	$17.26
EV Truck/SUV	172.6	2	$60.41	$27.62

Gas CO2

151 kg

EV CO2

50 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 2 hours ago

Origin

Union City, TN

Late night in Union City on Wednesday

Local time

5:37 AM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kingsport, TN

Morning in Kingsport on Wednesday

Local time

6:37 AM

EDT

Current temp

70°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.

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

7 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

8h 20m 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 Union City, TN to Kingsport, TN covers 431.5 miles and takes about 8h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 40, I 24, 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 216 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 215.8 miles from Union City, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $67.46 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.

Between Union City, TN and Kingsport, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville and Chattanooga.

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Trip from Union City, TN to Kingsport, TN

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Kingsport, TN

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Union City, TN

Kingsport, TN

1 hour later

7 degrees cooler at arrival

8h 20m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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