Crossing Tennessee from Collierville to Johnson City covers 486 miles and requires about 7 hours and 10 minutes of driving time. Because this route relies on local roads rather than interstates, it is best suited for a full, single-day push rather than a casual morning cruise. Budget approximately $74 for fuel to complete the trip, which keeps you entirely within the Southeast region. While the journey is manageable in one day, the turn-heavy nature of the path means you should be prepared for active steering rather than highway cruising. If you prefer a relaxed pace, consider breaking the trip into two days to account for the frequent turns and local traffic patterns.
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
242.9 miles from Collierville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
392.3 mi
7h 6m
I 81
56.6 mi
1h
Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway
15.1 mi
17m
James H. Quillen Parkway
14 mi
16m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
4m
East Poplar Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
East Market Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Buffalo Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 392.3 mi, about 7h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Collierville, TN and Johnson City, TN.
1
Start on North Rowlett Street
321 ft·19 sec·North Rowlett Street
2
Turn right onto North Center Street
246 ft·12 sec·North Center Street
3
Turn right onto East Mulberry Street
382 ft·21 sec·East Mulberry Street
4
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North Main Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto TN 57
1.3 mi·2 min·East Poplar Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on TN 57
0.2 mi·19 sec·TN 57
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
8
Merge onto I 269
15 mi·17 min·Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 East: Nashville
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 40 East: Nashville
11
Merge onto I 40
182 mi·3 hr 15 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
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.
13
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
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.
15
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.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·40 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
57 mi·1 hr·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·40 sec
Exit 57AToward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
19
Merge onto I 26; US 23
14 mi·16 min·James H. Quillen Parkway
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 23Toward TN 91
21
Turn right onto SR 91
0.3 mi·38 sec·East Market Street
22
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Buffalo Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Turn right
433 ft·31 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Plan to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight hours, as the technical nature of these local roads is best navigated with clear visibility. You should account for at least two planned stops to stretch your legs and manage the fatigue that comes with a 7-hour and 10-minute drive on non-highway routes. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge throughout the trip, ensuring you have the $74 budget readily available for refills along these smaller roads. Since this route is defined by its turns and local navigation, use a reliable GPS to stay on track through the various street transitions.
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 242.9 miles from Collierville, TN, or about 4h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 392.3 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 107 miles or 2h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 242.9 miles or 4h 28m 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 242.9 miles or 4h 28m
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 48m
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 Collierville, 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 Collierville, TN
Aim for roughly 243 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Johnson City, TN
Aim for roughly 243 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 107 miles from Collierville, 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 392.3 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 0.4 and 414.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
9
200.5 mi into trip|~3h 41m 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
203.6 mi into trip|~3h 45m 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
377.4 mi into trip|~6h 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
414.2 mi into trip|~7h 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$75.96 one way
$151.93 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg170 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$83.41
$166.81
premium
$4.89
$93.51
$187.01
diesel
$5.61
$107.28
$214.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$76
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$206–$316
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 170 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $51 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
145.8
1
$51.02
$23.32
Efficient EV
121.5
1
$42.52
$19.44
EV Truck/SUV
194.4
2
$68.03
$31.10
Gas CO2
170 kg
EV CO2
57 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 15, 2026
Origin
Collierville, TN
Evening
in Collierville on Saturday
Local time
8:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Johnson City, TN
Night
in Johnson City on Saturday
Local time
9:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Lafayette, TN
243 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
22 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 56m 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
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 217.8
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 402.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a hands-on experience as you navigate this route via North Center Street, East Mulberry Street, and North Main Street. With a 0% highway share, you will spend the entire 486 miles on local roads, making this a turn-heavy drive that demands your full attention. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this journey keeps you engaged with its technical profile and constant transitions through local thoroughfares. The lack of high-speed highway stretches means your progress will be steady but slower, allowing you to experience the internal geography of the state firsthand.
98% 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: 392.3 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 0.4 miles in near TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue.
Driving Effort10/10
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 485.9 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 0.4 miles (TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 200.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Collierville, TN and Johnson City, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Huntsville
200.5 mi in|~3h 41m
Louisville
203.1 mi in|~3h 45m|via I 40
Knoxville
203.1 mi in|~3h 45m|via I 40
Chattanooga
203.1 mi in|~3h 45m|via I 40
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 392.3 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 243 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 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 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 0.4 miles (TN 57 / East Poplar Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 200.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 8.9 hours each way, a round trip means 17.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Johnson City, TN before the return drive.
