Fayetteville, TN to Kingsport, TN is 300.7 miles and takes about 5h 46m via I-24 and I-81, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect mostly highway driving, which means you'll cover a lot of ground efficiently. It's a straightforward drive that's easily manageable in a single day if you're looking for a direct route between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
150.4 miles from Fayetteville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
99.2 mi
1h 49m
I 24
50.5 mi
58m
I 81
50.5 mi
54m
I 40
36.7 mi
40m
Winchester Highway
16.8 mi
19m
David Crockett Highway
13.5 mi
15m
Sewanee Highway
6.8 mi
10m
South Wilcox Drive
4.1 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 99.2 mi, about 1h 49m
Traffic on I-24
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,972 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,410
Quietest
2 AM
~353 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fayetteville, TN and Kingsport, TN.
1
Start on US 431
79 ft·5 sec·Main Avenue South
2
Turn right onto US 64 Business
0.2 mi·21 sec·College Street East
3
Continue on US 64 Business
0.5 mi·47 sec·Mulberry Avenue
4
Continue on US 64 Business
17 mi·19 min·Winchester Highway
5
Continue on US 64
13 mi·14 min·David Crockett Highway
6
Continue on US 64
3.7 mi·4 min·Veterans Memorial Drive
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
8
Keep slight right at fork
184 ft·5 sec
9
Turn straight onto US 41A
1.7 mi·2 min·Cowan Highway
10
Continue on US 41A
2.6 mi·3 min·Cumberland Street West
11
Continue on US 41A
5.0 mi·7 min·Sewanee Highway
12
Continue on US 41A
2.0 mi·2 min·Sollace M Freeman Highway
13
Continue on US 41A
1.8 mi·2 min·Sewanee Highway
14
Continue on US 41A
0.4 mi·36 sec·David Crockett Highway
15
Continue on US 41A
1.3 mi·1 min·West Main Street
16
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
17
Merge onto I 24; US 64
51 mi·58 min·I 24;US 64
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 185 BToward I 75 North: KnoxvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 75
99 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·40 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
51 mi·54 min·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 50Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
23
Keep slight right at fork
509 ft·14 sec
Exit 50Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
24
Merge onto SR 93
0.6 mi·38 sec·SR 93
25
Continue on TN 93
2.4 mi·2 min·TN 93
26
Continue on SR 93
3.1 mi·3 min·Sullivan Gardens Drive
27
Continue on SR 93
1.5 mi·1 min·South Wilcox Drive
28
Continue on SR 93
1.4 mi·1 min·Sullivan Gardens Parkway
29
Turn left onto SR 126
2.6 mi·4 min·South Wilcox Drive
Use the straight lane.
30
Turn left onto East Sullivan Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·East Sullivan Street
31
Turn slight left onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
32
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Broad Street
33
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
46 ft·1 sec·Broad Street
34
Continue on Broad Street
433 ft·19 sec·Broad Street
35
Turn left onto TN 36
0.1 mi·23 sec·West Center Street
36
Arrive at destination
TN 36
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5h 46m drive, consider leaving early in the morning to avoid any potential rush hour traffic, especially as you get closer to Kingsport. With a drive this length, you can comfortably complete it in one day, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, stopping for a meal or a short break around the halfway point makes sense. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, particularly during the 99.2-mile stretch on I-75, as services can be spaced out. The $47 fuel estimate is a good baseline for planning your budget.
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 150.4 miles from Fayetteville, TN, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.2 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 66 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.4 miles or 2h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 43m
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 Fayetteville, 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 Fayetteville, TN
This is one driving day of about 300.7 miles and 5h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Fayetteville, 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 99.2 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 100.3 and 287.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
100.3 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 185 B
Toward I 75 North: Knoxville
6
200.4 mi into trip|~3h 53m 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
237.1 mi into trip|~4h 33m 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
287.6 mi into trip|~5h 27m 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
287.9 mi into trip|~5h 28m 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
$50.16 one way
$100.32 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$54.52
$109.03
premium
$5.26
$62.26
$124.52
diesel
$6.18
$73.15
$146.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.2
1
$31.57
$14.43
Efficient EV
75.2
0
$26.31
$12.03
EV Truck/SUV
120.3
1
$42.10
$19.24
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Fayetteville, TN
Late night
in Fayetteville on Monday
Local time
5:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Sunny
ESE 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Kingsport, TN
Morning
in Kingsport on Monday
Local time
6:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
74°F
Cleveland, TN
150 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.
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 46m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 228.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 80% of your time on the interstate, covering 240.5 miles of highway driving. The longest stretch without an exit is 99.2 miles on I-75. Once you exit the main highways, expect more local traffic and potentially more frequent stops. Drivers will notice a significant number of exits and merges as you navigate through different stretches of the route.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.2 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 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 100.3 miles in.
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 16 significant decision points across 300.7 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 100.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 200.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 237.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 46m. Total distance: 300.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.2 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 100.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 200.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 237.1 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 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.
