Origin
Woodbury, TN
Afternoon in Woodbury on Saturday
Local time
2:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Woodbury, 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
4h 56m
Distance
250.7 mi
403 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 43m
★
6 AM
4h 57m
8 AM
5h 24m
10 AM
5h 6m
12 PM
5h 3m
3 PM
5h 7m
5 PM
5h 22m
8 PM
4h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Woodbury, TN
Kelly
Johnson City, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Woodbury, TN to Johnson City, TN covers 250.7 miles and takes about 4h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 40, I 81, US 70S for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 101.2 miles on I 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.19 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
125.4 miles from Woodbury, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 37m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 101.2 mi | 1h 52m |
| I 81 | 56.6 mi | 1h |
| US 70S | 24.7 mi | 28m |
| Crossville Highway | 20.9 mi | 31m |
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 14 mi | 16m |
| Nashville Highway | 10.1 mi | 11m |
| McMinnville Highway | 8.2 mi | 10m |
| Sparta Highway | 4.9 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 101.2 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodbury, TN and Johnson City, TN.
1
Start on US 70S
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Continue on US 70S; SR 53
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
McMinnville Highway
3
Continue on US 70S
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Nashville Highway
4
Continue on US 70S
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
West Main Street
5
Take the exit onto US 70S
25 mi
·
28 min
·
US 70S
6
Merge onto US 70S; SR 111
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Spencer Highway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
8
Keep slight right at fork
268 ft
·
7 sec
9
Turn straight onto TN 1
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Mayberry Street
10
Turn right onto US 70
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Bockman Way
11
Continue on US 70
21 mi
·
31 min
·
Crossville Highway
12
Continue on US 70
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Sparta Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Continue on Elmore Road
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Elmore Road
14
Turn right onto US 127
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
15
Turn left onto SR 298
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Genesis Road
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
17
Merge onto I 40
64 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi
·
40 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
57 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 81
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 57A
Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
21
Merge onto I 26; US 23
14 mi
·
16 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
22
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 23
Toward TN 91
23
Turn right onto SR 91
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Market Street
24
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Buffalo Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
25
Turn right
433 ft
·
31 sec
26
Arrive at 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 125.4 miles from Woodbury, TN, or about 2h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.2 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 55 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.4 miles or 2h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 5m
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 Woodbury, 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 Woodbury, TN
This is one driving day of about 250.7 miles and 4h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Woodbury, 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 40 for about 101.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
125 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 125.4 miles from Woodbury, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 101.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 46.7 and 235.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
46.7 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
77.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
|
I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
142.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 55m 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
179 mi into trip
|
~3h 36m 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
235.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 37m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.19 one way
$78.39 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $43.03 | $86.07 |
| premium | $4.89 | $48.24 | $96.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.35 | $110.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.2 | 0 | $26.32 | $12.03 |
| Efficient EV | 62.7 | 0 | $21.94 | $10.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.3 | 1 | $35.10 | $16.04 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 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
Afternoon in Johnson City on Saturday
Local time
3:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Johnson, TN
125 mi in
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
25 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
4h 56m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
250.7 mi in 4h 56m, mostly highway — 101.2 mi of that is on I 40.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 101.2 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 46.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 250.7 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 46.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 77.8 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 142.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Woodbury, TN to Johnson City, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.
Asheville
235.6 mi in
|
~4h 37m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 56m. Total distance: 250.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 101.2 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Johnson City, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 46.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 77.8 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 142.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Johnson City, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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