Origin
Forest Hills, TN
Morning in Forest Hills on Tuesday
Local time
9:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Forest Hills, TN to Kingsport, 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
5h 28m
Distance
273.8 mi
441 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 15m
★
6 AM
5h 29m
8 AM
5h 56m
10 AM
5h 38m
12 PM
5h 36m
3 PM
5h 40m
5 PM
5h 54m
8 PM
5h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forest Hills, TN
Connor Scott McManus
Trip Overview
Forest Hills, TN to Kingsport, TN is 273.8 miles and takes about 5h 28m via I 40 and I 81, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, traversing the Southeast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey perfect for a single day of travel. Expect a steady pace with most of your time spent on major interstates. Consider this route if you need an efficient way to get from point A to point B without many detours.
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
136.9 miles from Forest Hills, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 54m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 101.2 mi | 1h 52m |
| I 81 | 50.5 mi | 54m |
| Crossville Highway | 20.9 mi | 31m |
| Sparta Highway | 14.9 mi | 18m |
| McMinnville Highway | 10.9 mi | 13m |
| Manchester Highway | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| New Tullahoma Highway | 8.3 mi | 11m |
| US 41A | 8 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 101.2 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forest Hills, TN and Kingsport, TN.
1
Start on Forest Avenue
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
Forest Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 41A
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Madison Street
3
Continue on UA 41A
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
UA 41A
4
Merge onto US 41A
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
US 41A
5
Turn left onto SR 55
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
·
West Carroll Street
6
Turn slight right onto SR 55
8.3 mi
·
11 min
·
New Tullahoma Highway
7
Continue on SR 55
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
McArthur Street
8
Continue on SR 55
11 mi
·
13 min
·
McMinnville Highway
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on SR 55
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Manchester Highway
10
Continue on SR 55
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
H T Pelham Memorial Parkway
11
Continue on US 70S
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway
12
Continue on US 70S
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
·
Sparta Street
13
Continue on US 70S
9.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Sparta Highway
14
Continue on US 70S
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Bone Cave Parkway
15
Continue on US 70S
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Memorial Highway
16
Merge onto US 70S; SR 111
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Spencer Highway
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
18
Keep slight right at fork
268 ft
·
7 sec
19
Turn straight onto TN 1
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Mayberry Street
20
Turn right onto US 70
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Bockman Way
21
Continue on US 70
21 mi
·
31 min
·
Crossville Highway
22
Continue on US 70
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Sparta Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
23
Continue on Elmore Road
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Elmore Road
24
Turn right onto US 127
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
25
Turn left onto SR 298
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Genesis Road
26
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
27
Merge onto I 40
64 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi
·
40 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
51 mi
·
54 min
·
I 81
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 50
Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
31
Keep slight right at fork
509 ft
·
14 sec
Exit 50
Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
32
Merge onto SR 93
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
·
SR 93
33
Continue on TN 93
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
TN 93
34
Continue on SR 93
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Sullivan Gardens Drive
35
Continue on SR 93
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Wilcox Drive
36
Continue on SR 93
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Sullivan Gardens Parkway
37
Turn left onto SR 126
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Wilcox Drive
Use the straight lane.
38
Turn left onto East Sullivan Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Sullivan Street
39
Turn slight left onto East Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
40
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Broad Street
41
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
46 ft
·
1 sec
·
Broad Street
42
Continue on Broad Street
433 ft
·
19 sec
·
Broad Street
43
Turn left onto TN 36
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Center Street
44
Arrive at destination
TN 36
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 28m duration, leaving Forest Hills in the morning should get you to Kingsport well before evening. This is a single-day trip, so you have flexibility with when you depart. Plan for one stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 101.2-mile stretch on I 40, as services can be more spread out on interstates. The fuel cost is estimated at $43, so budget accordingly.
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 136.9 miles from Forest Hills, TN, or about 2h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.2 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 60 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.9 miles or 2h 54m 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 31m
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 Forest Hills, 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 Forest Hills, TN
This is one driving day of about 273.8 miles and 5h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Forest Hills, 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 40 for about 101.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 136.9 miles from Forest Hills, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 101.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 78 and 261 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
78 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
173.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 35m 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
210.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 15m 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
260.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 10m 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
261 mi into trip
|
~5h 10m 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
$42.81 one way
$85.61 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $47.00 | $94.00 |
| premium | $4.89 | $52.69 | $105.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.45 | $120.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.1 | 1 | $28.75 | $13.14 |
| Efficient EV | 68.5 | 0 | $23.96 | $10.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.5 | 1 | $38.33 | $17.52 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 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.
Destination
Kingsport, TN
Morning in Kingsport on Tuesday
Local time
10:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Spring City, TN
137 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
4 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 28m 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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 198.3
View on nps.gov
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 64% of it on interstates like I 40 and I 81. You'll experience a significant stretch of 101.2 miles on I 40 without needing to exit, allowing for consistent speed. While much of the drive will be on these faster roads, the inclusion of Crossville Highway suggests some variation from the pure interstate experience. The overall feel is one of steady progress across the state.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
44 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 101.2 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 78 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 273.8 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 78 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 173.5 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 210.3 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
About the Cities
Arriving in Kingsport, TN
Full guide →Founded 1822
Kingsport (pop. 48,205) is a city in Eastern Tennessee.
Top landmarks
- • Long Island — island in the Holston River in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States
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 5h 28m. Total distance: 273.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 101.2 miles on I 40. 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 78 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 173.5 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 210.3 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 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.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Kingsport, TN
More from Forest Hills, TN
More trips to Kingsport, TN
Explore more options from Forest Hills, TN or browse trips ending in Kingsport, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.