Germantown, TN to Kingsport, TN is 476.2 miles and takes about 8h 49m via I 40 and I 81, with a fuel budget near $75 and recommended for 2 days. This trip cuts across Tennessee, starting in the western part of the state and heading east through the heart of the Southeast region. With a mixed highway and surface road profile, it offers a blend of faster travel and more local cruising. Planning for an overnight stop is wise given the duration, making it a comfortable two-day drive rather than a rushed single day.
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
238.1 miles from Germantown, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
210.5 mi
3h 50m
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
190.6 mi
3h 25m
I 81
50.5 mi
54m
South Germantown Parkway
5.2 mi
8m
South Wilcox Drive
4.1 mi
6m
Sullivan Gardens Drive
3.1 mi
3m
Downtown Loop
2.9 mi
4m
TN 93
2.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 210.5 mi, about 3h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Germantown, TN and Kingsport, TN.
1
Start on Southern Avenue
0.1 mi·41 sec·Southern Avenue
2
Turn left onto Johnny Lane
0.1 mi·38 sec·Johnny Lane
3
Turn left onto Dogwood Road
0.2 mi·30 sec·Dogwood Road
4
At end of road, turn right onto South Germantown Road
2.2 mi·4 min·South Germantown Road
5
Continue on TN 177
5.2 mi·8 min·South Germantown Parkway
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
7
Merge onto I 40
191 mi·3 hr 25 min·Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
Merge onto I 40; I 65
2.4 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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.
11
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.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·40 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
51 mi·54 min·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 50Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
15
Keep slight right at fork
509 ft·14 sec
Exit 50Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
16
Merge onto SR 93
0.6 mi·38 sec·SR 93
17
Continue on TN 93
2.4 mi·2 min·TN 93
18
Continue on SR 93
3.1 mi·3 min·Sullivan Gardens Drive
19
Continue on SR 93
1.5 mi·1 min·South Wilcox Drive
20
Continue on SR 93
1.4 mi·1 min·Sullivan Gardens Parkway
21
Turn left onto SR 126
2.6 mi·4 min·South Wilcox Drive
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn left onto East Sullivan Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·East Sullivan Street
23
Turn slight left onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
24
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Broad Street
25
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
46 ft·1 sec·Broad Street
26
Continue on Broad Street
433 ft·19 sec·Broad Street
27
Turn left onto TN 36
0.1 mi·23 sec·West Center Street
28
Arrive at destination
TN 36
Trip Plan
Given the 8 hour 49 minute estimated drive time, splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart from Germantown in the morning to maximize daylight for your first leg. The longest stretch on I 40 is over 200 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you hit that segment. With a $75 fuel estimate, keep an eye on prices as you travel across Tennessee. Consider stopping for the night around the halfway point to break up the drive and avoid fatigue.
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 238.1 miles from Germantown, TN, or about 4h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 210.5 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 105 miles or 2h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 238.1 miles or 4h 25m 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 238.1 miles or 4h 25m
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 40m
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 Germantown, 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 Germantown, TN
Aim for roughly 238 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Kingsport, TN
Aim for roughly 238 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 105 miles from Germantown, 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 210.5 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 198.9 and 463.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
198.9 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
202 mi into trip|~3h 46m 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
375.9 mi into trip|~6h 56m 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
412.6 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
8
463.3 mi into trip|~8h 31m 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
$73.83 one way
$147.66 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg167 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$80.95
$161.91
premium
$4.93
$92.39
$184.78
diesel
$5.60
$104.97
$209.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$74
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$204–$314
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 166.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $50 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
142.9
1
$50.00
$22.86
Efficient EV
119.1
1
$41.67
$19.05
EV Truck/SUV
190.5
2
$66.67
$30.48
Gas CO2
167 kg
EV CO2
56 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 Aug 10, 2026
Origin
Germantown, TN
Late night
in Germantown on Wednesday
Local time
12:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 10 mph24% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 10 at 12:05PM CDT until August 10 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 10 at 12:05PM CDT until August 11 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Kingsport, TN
Late night
in Kingsport on Wednesday
Local time
1:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 10 at 12:05PM CDT until August 10 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 10 at 12:05PM CDT until August 11 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
66°F
Livingston, TN
238 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
8 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
8h 49m 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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 213.4
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...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
Free
near mile 394.1
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 57% of this drive on highways, primarily I 40 and I 81. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 210.5 miles on I 40, so expect extended periods of consistent cruising. The profile indicates a mix of highway and surface roads, meaning you'll transition from faster interstate travel to slower, more varied road conditions. Pay attention as you exit the major interstates, as surface road sections often mean more intersections and varying speed limits.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 210.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 198.9 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 476.2 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 198.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 202 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 375.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,872 ft338 ft
Total Climb
2,138 ft
Total Descent
1,311 ft
Highest Point
1,872 ft
~312 mi in
Elevation Range
1,534 ft
Notable High Points
1,872 ft at ~312 miles+834 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Germantown, TN and Kingsport, TN, road signs point toward Huntsville, Louisville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 210.5 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 238 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 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 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 198.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 202 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 375.9 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 8.8 hours each way, a round trip means 17.7 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.
