This 472.6-mile journey from Bartlett, TN to Kingsport, TN is a significant drive, best tackled over two days to make the most of it. Expect to spend about 8 hours and 43 minutes behind the wheel, with a fuel cost estimated at $74. The route primarily utilizes major interstates, making it a straightforward trip through the Southeast region of Tennessee. With two planned stops and a longest uninterrupted stretch of 210.5 miles, you'll have opportunities to break up the drive. This is a solid option for those looking for a direct, no-fuss connection across the state.
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
236.3 miles from Bartlett, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
210.5 mi
3h 50m
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
189.2 mi
3h 24m
I 81
50.5 mi
54m
Stage Road
5.8 mi
10m
South Wilcox Drive
4.1 mi
6m
Sullivan Gardens Drive
3.1 mi
3m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
4m
TN 93
2.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 210.5 mi, about 3h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bartlett, TN and Kingsport, TN.
1
Start on TN 15
5.8 mi·10 min·Stage Road
2
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward Nashville
3
Merge onto I 40
189 mi·3 hr 24 min·Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 208AToward I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, HuntsvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 40
0.5 mi·42 sec·Downtown Loop
Exit 211B; 211AToward I 24 West, I 40 East, I 24 East: Clarksville, Louisville, Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
174 mi·3 hr 9 min·I 40
Exit 211AToward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, ChattanoogaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·40 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
51 mi·54 min·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 50Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
11
Keep slight right at fork
509 ft·14 sec
Exit 50Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
12
Merge onto SR 93
0.6 mi·38 sec·SR 93
13
Continue on TN 93
2.4 mi·2 min·TN 93
14
Continue on SR 93
3.1 mi·3 min·Sullivan Gardens Drive
15
Continue on SR 93
1.5 mi·1 min·South Wilcox Drive
16
Continue on SR 93
1.4 mi·1 min·Sullivan Gardens Parkway
17
Turn left onto SR 126
2.6 mi·4 min·South Wilcox Drive
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn left onto East Sullivan Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·East Sullivan Street
19
Turn slight left onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
20
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Broad Street
21
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
46 ft·1 sec·Broad Street
22
Continue on Broad Street
433 ft·19 sec·Broad Street
23
Turn left onto TN 36
0.1 mi·23 sec·West Center Street
24
Arrive at destination
TN 36
Trip Plan
Given the 8 hour 43 minute duration, planning for an overnight stop is highly recommended. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize your daylight driving and allow for two less strenuous driving days. With two stops suggested, factor in time for fuel and rest every few hours, especially during the longest 210.5-mile stretch on I-40. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can be spaced out on interstate segments. Breaking this trip into two manageable days will make the 472.6 miles much more enjoyable and less fatiguing.
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 236.3 miles from Bartlett, TN, or about 4h 21m 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 104 miles or 1h 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 236.3 miles or 4h 21m 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 236.3 miles or 4h 21m
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 34m
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 Bartlett, 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 Bartlett, TN
Aim for roughly 236 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Kingsport, TN
Aim for roughly 236 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 104 miles from Bartlett, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 195.3 and 459.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
195.3 mi into trip|~3h 35m 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
198.5 mi into trip|~3h 39m 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
372.3 mi into trip|~6h 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
409.1 mi into trip|~7h 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
8
459.8 mi into trip|~8h 25m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$73.89 one way
$147.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg165 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$81.12
$162.25
premium
$4.89
$90.95
$181.90
diesel
$5.61
$104.34
$208.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$74
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$204–$314
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 165.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $50 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
141.8
1
$49.62
$22.68
Efficient EV
118.2
1
$41.35
$18.90
EV Truck/SUV
189
2
$66.16
$30.25
Gas CO2
165 kg
EV CO2
55 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bartlett, TN
Evening
in Bartlett on Saturday
Local time
8:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kingsport, TN
Night
in Kingsport on Saturday
Local time
9:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Lafayette, TN
236 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.
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
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
8h 43m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 211.9
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...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 391.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The drive is a mixed bag, with 56% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a considerable amount of time on interstates, including I-40 and I-81, punctuated by stretches on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 210.5 miles on I-40, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. While predominantly highway, the 'mixed drive' profile suggests you might encounter some variations in road type as you progress across Tennessee. It’s a functional drive designed for efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 210.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 195.3 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
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 472.6 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 195.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.5 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 372.3 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.
Between Bartlett, TN and Kingsport, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 210.5 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 236 miles on day one.
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 Kingsport, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 195.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198.5 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 372.3 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.7 hours each way, a round trip means 17.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kingsport, TN before the return drive.
