This 257.5-mile drive from Hartsville, TN to Johnson City, TN will take you approximately 4 hours and 55 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, it's a straightforward journey primarily on I-40 and I-81, with a brief segment on James H. Quillen Parkway. The estimated fuel cost is around $39, making it an economical option. This highway-focused route keeps you moving efficiently through Tennessee, offering a practical way to cover ground. It's a good choice if you're looking for a direct and uncomplicated trip within the Southeast region.
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
128.8 miles from Hartsville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
162.7 mi
2h 58m
I 81
56.6 mi
1h
James H. Quillen Parkway
14 mi
16m
Dixon Springs Highway
10.6 mi
16m
TN 25
4.9 mi
7m
East McMurry Boulevard
4.7 mi
6m
East Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
Upper Ferry Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 162.7 mi, about 2h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hartsville, TN and Johnson City, TN.
1
Start on SR 141
1.2 mi·2 min·East Main Street
2
Turn straight onto TN 25
4.7 mi·6 min·East McMurry Boulevard
3
Continue on TN 25
10 mi·15 min·Dixon Springs Highway
4
Continue on Dixon Springs Highway
0.2 mi·29 sec·Dixon Springs Highway
5
Continue on Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
6
Continue on Upper Ferry Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Upper Ferry Road
7
Turn right onto TN 25
4.9 mi·7 min·TN 25
Use the right lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
9
Merge onto I 40
126 mi·2 hr 17 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·40 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
57 mi·1 hr·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·40 sec
Exit 57AToward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
13
Merge onto I 26; US 23
14 mi·16 min·James H. Quillen Parkway
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 23Toward TN 91
15
Turn right onto SR 91
0.3 mi·38 sec·East Market Street
16
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Buffalo Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Turn right
433 ft·31 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 55-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Hartsville to maximize daylight and potentially avoid heavier traffic. With only one planned stop suggested, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. The estimated fuel cost of $39 is manageable, but it's always wise to fill up before leaving Hartsville, especially given the 162.7-mile stretch on I-40 where services might be more spaced out. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition onto I-81 and James H. Quillen Parkway.
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 128.8 miles from Hartsville, TN, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 162.7 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 57 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.8 miles or 2h 32m 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 2m
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 Hartsville, 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 Hartsville, TN
This is one driving day of about 257.5 miles and 4h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Hartsville, 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 162.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 18 and 242.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
18 mi into trip|~29m in|TN 25
Turn right onto TN 25
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
23.1 mi into trip|~37m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
149.1 mi into trip|~2h 54m 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
185.8 mi into trip|~3h 35m 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
242.4 mi into trip|~4h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 57A
Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, As...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.26 one way
$80.51 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$44.20
$88.40
premium
$4.89
$49.55
$99.11
diesel
$5.61
$56.85
$113.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.3
0
$27.04
$12.36
Efficient EV
64.4
0
$22.53
$10.30
EV Truck/SUV
103
1
$36.05
$16.48
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Hartsville, TN
Late night
in Hartsville on Sunday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Johnson City, TN
Morning
in Johnson City on Sunday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph34% chanceLive forecast
75°F
Spring City, TN
129 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
19 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
4h 55m 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
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 168.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a largely highway-focused experience, with 92% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-40 and I-81. This means consistent speeds and predictable driving conditions for most of the 257.5 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 162.7 miles on I-40, so plan your breaks accordingly. While primarily interstate, the inclusion of James H. Quillen Parkway at the end offers a slight variation in the driving experience as you approach your destination. It's a route built for covering distance efficiently.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 162.7 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 18 miles in near TN 25.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 257.5 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 18 miles (TN 25): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 149.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Hartsville, TN to Johnson City, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.
Asheville
242.4 mi in|~4h 36m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 55m. Total distance: 257.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 162.7 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 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 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 18 miles (TN 25): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.1 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 149.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Johnson City, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
