Spanning 432.3 miles across Tennessee, this cross-state drive connects Bolivar to Kingsport in approximately 8 hours and 8 minutes. Given the significant distance, you should plan for this to be a two-day journey rather than a single-day sprint to ensure you stay alert behind the wheel. Budgeting around $66 for fuel is a solid starting point for your planning. You will primarily utilize I-40 and I-81, making this a straightforward, highway-focused transit across the Southeast. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, breaking the trip into two days allows you to manage the duration comfortably without feeling rushed.
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
216.1 miles from Bolivar, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
331.1 mi
6h
I 81
50.5 mi
54m
TN 18
20.3 mi
30m
South Wilcox Drive
4.1 mi
6m
Whitehall Street
4 mi
6m
South Highland Avenue
3.9 mi
6m
North Main Street
3.1 mi
4m
Sullivan Gardens Drive
3.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 331.1 mi, about 6h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bolivar, TN and Kingsport, TN.
1
Start on SR 18; SR 125
3.1 mi·4 min·North Main Street
2
Continue on TN 18
20 mi·30 min·TN 18
3
Turn left onto US 45
3.3 mi·5 min·South Highland Avenue
4
Continue on US 45
0.6 mi·56 sec·South Highland Avenue
5
Turn right onto US 45 Bypass
492 ft·8 sec·South Church Street
6
Turn right onto US 70
0.1 mi·7 sec·South Cumberland Street
7
Merge onto US 70
2.6 mi·3 min·East Chester Street
8
Turn right onto US 70
4.0 mi·6 min·Whitehall Street
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
10
Merge onto I 40
121 mi·2 hr 9 min·I 40
Use the straight lane.
11
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.
12
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
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.
14
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.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·40 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
51 mi·54 min·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 50Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
18
Keep slight right at fork
509 ft·14 sec
Exit 50Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
19
Merge onto SR 93
0.6 mi·38 sec·SR 93
20
Continue on TN 93
2.4 mi·2 min·TN 93
21
Continue on SR 93
3.1 mi·3 min·Sullivan Gardens Drive
22
Continue on SR 93
1.5 mi·1 min·South Wilcox Drive
23
Continue on SR 93
1.4 mi·1 min·Sullivan Gardens Parkway
24
Turn left onto SR 126
2.6 mi·4 min·South Wilcox Drive
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn left onto East Sullivan Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·East Sullivan Street
26
Turn slight left onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
27
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Broad Street
28
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
46 ft·1 sec·Broad Street
29
Continue on Broad Street
433 ft·19 sec·Broad Street
30
Turn left onto TN 36
0.1 mi·23 sec·West Center Street
31
Arrive at destination
TN 36
Trip Plan
To keep your energy levels high, plan for at least two deliberate stops throughout your 8-hour journey. Since the drive is heavily weighted toward interstate travel, try to depart early in the morning to avoid heavy traffic congestion that often builds up on major corridors like I-40. Use the first day to cover the longest portion of the route, leaving a shorter, more relaxed drive for your second day. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that primary 331.1-mile interstate stretch, to ensure you are refueling at well-spaced intervals. Flexibility is key on a drive of this length, so keep your schedule loose enough to account for unexpected road delays.
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 216.1 miles from Bolivar, TN, or about 4h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 331.1 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 1h 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 216.1 miles or 4h 8m 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 216.1 miles or 4h 8m
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 6h 59m
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 Bolivar, 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 Bolivar, TN
Aim for roughly 216 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Kingsport, TN
Aim for roughly 216 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 95 miles from Bolivar, 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 331.1 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 155 and 419.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
155 mi into trip|~3h 1m 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
158.1 mi into trip|~3h 5m 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
332 mi into trip|~6h 15m 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
368.7 mi into trip|~6h 56m 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
419.4 mi into trip|~7h 50m 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
$67.59 one way
$135.17 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg151 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$74.21
$148.41
premium
$4.89
$83.19
$166.38
diesel
$5.61
$95.45
$190.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$68
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$198–$308
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 151.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
129.7
1
$45.39
$20.75
Efficient EV
108.1
1
$37.83
$17.29
EV Truck/SUV
172.9
2
$60.52
$27.67
Gas CO2
151 kg
EV CO2
51 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Bolivar, TN
Evening
in Bolivar on Saturday
Local time
8:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kingsport, TN
Night
in Kingsport on Saturday
Local time
9:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
74°F
Lafayette, TN
216 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
3 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 8m 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 178.9
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 357.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a heavy emphasis on interstate travel, as 94% of your journey is spent on major highways. The road's personality is defined by a massive 331.1-mile stretch on I-40, which serves as the backbone of your trip before you transition to I-81. You will start with a short leg on TN-18, but the vast majority of your time will be spent maintaining highway speeds on wide, multi-lane roads. It is a no-nonsense, efficient route that prioritizes speed and directness over technical or winding backroads. Prepare for a consistent, steady pace that remains predictable from start to finish.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 331.1 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 155 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 432.3 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 155 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 158.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 332 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 Bolivar, TN and Kingsport, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
The longest stretch is about 331.1 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 216 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 155 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 158.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 332 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 8.1 hours each way, a round trip means 16.3 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.
