Origin
Bristol, TN
Late night in Bristol on Tuesday
Local time
5:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bristol, TN to Johnson City, TN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
27.9 mi
45 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bristol, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Johnson City, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel between Bristol and Johnson City, Tennessee, you are looking at a quick, 27.9-mile journey that typically takes about 39 minutes. This short trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. Budgeting around $4 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire distance. Since both cities are located within the Southeast, the transition between them is seamless and straightforward. It serves as an efficient connection, making it an easy choice whether you are commuting or just exploring the local area. This route is ideal for those who prefer a hassle-free, short-distance drive without the need for complex planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol Highway | 12.3 mi | 18m |
| Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Virginia Avenue | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| North Roan Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Carl Moore Parkway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| West State Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Bristol Highway
— 12.3 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bristol, TN and Johnson City, TN.
1
Start on West State Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West State Street
2
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 421
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 421
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Maple Street
5
Turn right onto US 421
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Virginia Avenue
6
Continue on US 421
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
Carl Moore Parkway
7
Turn right onto TN 394
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Use the left lane.
9
Merge onto US 11E; US 19
12 mi
·
17 min
·
Bristol Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 11E; US 19W
206 ft
·
6 sec
·
Bristol Highway
11
Turn left onto US 11E; US 19W; SR 36
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Roan Street
12
Take the exit onto US 19W
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 19W
13
Merge onto I 26; US 19W; US 23
2.6 mi
·
3 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
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 27.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 421 / Pennsylvania Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 421 / Pennsylvania Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
11 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
11.3 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
US 11E; US 19 / Bristol Highway
Merge onto US 11E; US 19 / Bristol Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
27.2 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward TN 91
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 23
Toward TN 91
5
27.7 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
Buffalo Street
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.36 one way
$8.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.79 | $9.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.37 | $10.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.16 | $12.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.93 | $1.34 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.44 | $1.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.91 | $1.79 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Late night in Johnson City on Tuesday
Local time
5:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
39m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you navigate your way through the region. You will spend roughly 40% of your time on highways, utilizing a combination of the Bristol Highway, Tennessee Ernie Ford Parkway, and the James H. Quillen Parkway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 12.3-mile segment along the Bristol Highway, which allows for a steady pace. Because this is a shorter drive, the road character shifts quickly from parkway flow to local transitions. You can anticipate a blend of highway transit and more localized driving conditions that keep the trip engaging without becoming a monotonous interstate grind.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.3 mi on Bristol Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 0.8 miles in near US 421 / Pennsylvania Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 27.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 39m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (US 421 / Pennsylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles (US 11E; US 19 / Bristol Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Bristol, TN
Full guide →Bristol is a city in Southwest Virginia and Eastern Tennessee, United States of America.
Arriving in Johnson City, TN
Full guide →Johnson City is a city in Eastern Tennessee. With a population of 71,000 in 2020, the city is the 8th largest in the state.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 27.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.3 miles on Bristol Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (US 421 / Pennsylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles (US 11E; US 19 / Bristol Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Johnson City, TN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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