Collegedale to Kingsport is 193 miles and takes about 3h 38m via I 75 and I 81, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a primarily highway-focused journey, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. You'll spend most of your time on interstates, so expect efficient travel. Given its relatively short duration, this route is ideal if you're looking for a quick transit between these two cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
96.5 miles from Collegedale, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
89.1 mi
1h 37m
I 81
50.5 mi
54m
I 40
36.7 mi
40m
South Wilcox Drive
4.1 mi
6m
Sullivan Gardens Drive
3.1 mi
3m
TN 93
2.4 mi
2m
Main Street
1.7 mi
3m
Sullivan Gardens Parkway
1.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 89.1 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Collegedale, TN and Kingsport, TN.
1
Start on Colcord Drive
70 ft·7 sec·Colcord Drive
2
Turn left onto SR 317
0.8 mi·1 min·Apison Pike
3
At end of road, turn left onto SR 317
0.3 mi·32 sec·Apison Pike
4
Turn right onto SR 321
1.7 mi·3 min·Main Street
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto US 11; US 64
0.5 mi·1 min·Lee Highway
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 75
89 mi·1 hr 37 min·I 75
Use the slight right lane.
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
Since this is a manageable 1-day trip, you have the flexibility to leave when you're ready, but an early start will give you ample daylight. With a duration of under 4 hours, you'll likely only need one planned stop for fuel or a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto the longer stretches, as services can sometimes be spaced out on interstates. The $30 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always check current prices before you depart.
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 96.5 miles from Collegedale, TN, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.1 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 42 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.5 miles or 1h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 55m
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 Collegedale, 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 Collegedale, TN
This is one driving day of about 193 miles and 3h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Collegedale, 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 75 for about 89.1 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 180.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|SR 321 / Main Street
Turn right onto SR 321 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
92.7 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
129.5 mi into trip|~2h 25m 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
180 mi into trip|~3h 19m in
Take the exit toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 50
Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
8
180.2 mi into trip|~3h 19m 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
$30.17 one way
$60.35 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$33.13
$66.26
premium
$4.89
$37.14
$74.28
diesel
$5.61
$42.61
$85.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.9
0
$20.26
$9.26
Efficient EV
48.3
0
$16.89
$7.72
EV Truck/SUV
77.2
0
$27.02
$12.35
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Collegedale, TN
Late night
in Collegedale on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kingsport, TN
Late night
in Kingsport on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°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.
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
33 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
3h 38m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
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...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 122.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the journey on major interstates. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including one segment of 89.1 miles on I 75. The primary roads are I 75 and I 81, with a brief connection on I 40. Expect a driving experience characterized by efficiency and minimal interruptions. The landscape is likely to be consistent with interstate travel through the Southeast.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89.1 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near SR 321 / Main Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 193 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 1.1 miles (SR 321 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 92.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 129.5 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Collegedale, TN to Kingsport, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Fall Branch along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 38m. Total distance: 193 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 89.1 miles on I 75. 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 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 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 1.1 miles (SR 321 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 92.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 129.5 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Kingsport, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
