This 358.8-mile drive from Hohenwald, TN, to Johnson City, TN, is a straightforward journey that can be completed in about 6 hours and 38 minutes. It's primarily an interstate route, making it a feasible day trip, though you could easily break it up if you prefer a more relaxed pace. You'll be on major highways for 91% of the trip, with the longest continuous stretch being 185.8 miles on I-40. With an estimated fuel cost of $56, this is a budget-friendly option for exploring Tennessee. Both your starting and ending points are within the Southeast region, so you'll remain in familiar territory throughout.
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
179.4 miles from Hohenwald, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
185.8 mi
3h 23m
I 81
56.6 mi
1h
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
45 mi
48m
US 412
14.1 mi
16m
James H. Quillen Parkway
14 mi
16m
Hampshire Pike
13.3 mi
15m
Columbia Highway
13 mi
16m
I 65
12.1 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 185.8 mi, about 3h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hohenwald, TN and Johnson City, TN.
1
Start on US 412
2.0 mi·2 min·East Main Street
2
Continue on US 412
13 mi·16 min·Columbia Highway
3
Continue on US 412
13 mi·15 min·Hampshire Pike
4
Take the exit onto US 412
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 412
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 412
14 mi·16 min·US 412
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
7
Merge onto I 65
12 mi·12 min·I 65
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 59A-BToward I 840: Memphis, KnoxvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·41 sec
Exit 59AToward 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro
10
Merge onto I 840
45 mi·48 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 76AToward I 40 East: Knoxville, LebanonUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 40
149 mi·2 hr 42 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·40 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
57 mi·1 hr·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·40 sec
Exit 57AToward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
16
Merge onto I 26; US 23
14 mi·16 min·James H. Quillen Parkway
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 23Toward TN 91
18
Turn right onto SR 91
0.3 mi·38 sec·East Market Street
19
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Buffalo Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Turn right
433 ft·31 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour and 38-minute drive, starting early will give you ample daylight to reach Johnson City comfortably. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with stops; plan for one primary stop, perhaps around the halfway mark, to stretch your legs and refuel. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 185.8 miles on I-40, so be mindful of planning your breaks accordingly to avoid fatigue. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $56 for the 358.8 miles, and ensure you're topped off before embarking on longer highway segments. A good tip is to utilize the rest areas found along I-40 and I-81; they are generally well-maintained and conveniently located.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 179.4 miles from Hohenwald, TN, or about 3h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 185.8 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 79 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 179.4 miles or 3h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 30m
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 Hohenwald, 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 Hohenwald, TN
This is one driving day of about 358.8 miles and 6h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Hohenwald, 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 185.8 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 54.8 and 287.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
54.8 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 840: Memphis, Knoxville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 59A-B
Toward I 840: Memphis, Knoxville
7
55 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 59A
Toward 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro
9
100.6 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 76A
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
6
250.4 mi into trip|~4h 37m 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
287.1 mi into trip|~5h 18m 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
$56.09 one way
$112.19 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg126 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$61.59
$123.18
premium
$4.89
$69.05
$138.10
diesel
$5.61
$79.22
$158.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 125.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
107.6
1
$37.67
$17.22
Efficient EV
89.7
1
$31.40
$14.35
EV Truck/SUV
143.5
1
$50.23
$22.96
Gas CO2
126 kg
EV CO2
42 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Hohenwald, TN
Night
in Hohenwald on Saturday
Local time
11:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Johnson City, TN
Late night
in Johnson City on Sunday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 0 to 10 mph22% chanceLive forecast
74°F
Lafayette, TN
179 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
2 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
6h 38m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 74.2
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 272.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience on this trip, with 91% of your journey taking place on interstates like I-40 and I-81. The predominant character of this drive is efficient travel, designed for covering distance. You'll encounter one substantial segment of 185.8 miles on I-40 without needing to divert. While largely interstate, there are moments where you'll transition onto roads like the Tennessee National Guard Parkway, offering slight variations before rejoining the main arteries. The overall feel is one of steady progress across the state.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 185.8 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 54.8 miles in.
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 16 significant decision points across 358.8 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 54.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.6 miles: 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 Hohenwald, TN and Johnson City, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville, 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro and Lebanon.
Knoxville
54.8 mi in|~1h 4m
840: Knoxville
55 mi in|~1h 4m
Murfreesboro
55 mi in|~1h 4m
Lebanon
100.6 mi in|~1h 53m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 38m. Total distance: 358.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 38m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 185.8 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 54.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.6 miles: 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 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.3 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.
