Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Johnson City, TN to Collegedale, TN

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 46m

Distance

201.9 mi

325 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 34m ★
6 AM
3h 47m
8 AM
4h 12m
10 AM
3h 56m
12 PM
3h 53m
3 PM
3h 57m
5 PM
4h 11m
8 PM
3h 39m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Johnson City, TN, TN

Johnson City, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Collegedale, TN, TN

Collegedale, TN

Davide Comunian

Trip Overview

The drive from Johnson City, TN to Collegedale, TN covers 201.9 miles and takes about 3h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 75, I 81, I 40 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.30 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

101 miles from Johnson City, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 73 mi 1h 18m
I 81 57.1 mi 1h 1m
I 40 52.8 mi 59m
James H. Quillen Parkway 13.7 mi 16m
Main Street 1.7 mi 3m
Apison Pike 1.1 mi 2m
Lee Highway 0.7 mi 1m
East Watauga Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 73 mi, about 1h 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City, TN and Collegedale, TN.

1

Start on this road

433 ft · 35 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto Buffalo Street

0.3 mi · 56 sec · Buffalo Street
Use the straight lane.
3

Turn left onto North Roan Street

0.3 mi · 36 sec · North Roan Street
Use the left lane.
4

Turn right onto SR 400

0.3 mi · 45 sec · East Watauga Avenue
5

Turn left onto Oak Street

441 ft · 10 sec · Oak Street
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 23 sec
7

Merge onto I 26; US 19W; US 23

14 mi · 16 min · James H. Quillen Parkway
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 37 sec
Exit 8A Toward I 81 South: Knoxville
9

Merge onto I 81

56 mi · 1 hr · I 81
10

Continue on I 81

0.7 mi · 45 sec · I 81
Exit 1B Toward I 40 West: Knoxville
11

Merge onto I 40

53 mi · 59 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75

73 mi · 1 hr 18 min · I 75
Toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Exit 11 Toward US 11 North, US 64 East: Collegedale, Ooltewah
14

Turn left onto Lee Highway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lee Highway
Use the left lane.
15

Turn right onto SR 321

1.7 mi · 3 min · Main Street
16

Turn left onto SR 317

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Apison Pike
Use the left lane.
17

Continue on SR 317

0.8 mi · 1 min · Apison Pike
18

Turn right onto Colcord Drive

70 ft · 3 sec · Colcord Drive
19

Arrive at destination

Colcord Drive

Trip Plan

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 101 miles from Johnson City, TN, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73 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 44 miles or 51m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 101 miles or 1h 53m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Collegedale, TN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Johnson City, 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 Johnson City, TN

This is one driving day of about 201.9 miles and 3h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Johnson City, 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 73 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Grainger County, Tennessee, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Blaine, TN

101 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

Greeneville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Knoxville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 101 miles from Johnson City, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73 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 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 198.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Buffalo Street

Turn left onto Buffalo Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | North Roan Street

Turn left onto North Roan Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
15 mi into trip | ~19m in

Take the exit toward I 81 South: Knoxville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 8A Toward I 81 South: Knoxville
6
198.1 mi into trip | ~3h 39m in

Take the exit toward US 11 North, US 64 East: Collegedale, Ooltewah

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 11 Toward US 11 North, US 64 East: Collegedale, Oo...
6
198.5 mi into trip | ~3h 40m in | Lee Highway

Turn left onto Lee Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.30 one way

$62.60 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 71 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.32 $34.32 $68.65
premium $4.93 $39.17 $78.34
diesel $5.60 $44.51 $89.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 70.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 60.6 0 $21.20 $9.69
Efficient EV 50.5 0 $17.67 $8.08
EV Truck/SUV 80.8 1 $28.27 $12.92

Gas CO2

71 kg

EV CO2

24 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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 Sep 1, 2026

Origin

Johnson City, TN

Night in Johnson City on Friday

Local time

10:59 PM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Clear

0 mph 17% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued August 31 at 12:07PM CDT until August 31 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued August 31 at 12:07PM CDT until September 1 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN

Destination

Collegedale, TN

Night in Collegedale on Friday

Local time

10:59 PM

EDT

Current temp

72°F

Mostly Clear

0 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued August 31 at 12:07PM CDT until August 31 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued August 31 at 12:07PM CDT until September 1 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN

68°F

Blaine, TN

101 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

4 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

3h 46m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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

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 83.6
Park Closure: Missing person: Have you seen Marcin Bachleda-Blaszczak?
Park Closure: Abrams Falls Trail Closed
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

201.9 mi in 3h 46m, mostly highway — 73 mi of that is on I 75.

97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73 mi on I 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 81. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Buffalo Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 201.9 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (Buffalo Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (North Roan Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,628 ft 704 ft

Total Climb

261 ft

Total Descent

1,100 ft

Highest Point

1,628 ft

Elevation Range

924 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Johnson City, TN

Full guide →

Founded 1856

Johnson City is a city in Eastern Tennessee. With a population of 71,000 in 2020, the city is the 8th largest in the state.

Top landmarks

  • • Mountain Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers — old soldiers' home opened in 1904 in Mountain Home, Johnson City, Tennessee

Arriving in Collegedale, TN

Full guide →

Founded 1916

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 3h 46m. Total distance: 201.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 73 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.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Buffalo Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (North Roan Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 15 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Yes — Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Collegedale, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, 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

Explore More

Continue From Collegedale, TN

Grant, TN 30.1 mi · 53m Huntingdon Forest, TN 19.7 mi · 35m Northwoods, TN 16.2 mi · 26m

More from Johnson City, TN

Memphis, TN 496.1 mi · 9h 6m Lakeland, TN 473.4 mi · 8h 39m Troy, TN 472.9 mi · 8h 40m Munford, TN 472.5 mi · 8h 57m Union City, TN 463.3 mi · 8h 30m Somerville, TN 459.1 mi · 8h 29m

More trips to Collegedale, TN

Bartlett, TN 339.7 mi Jackson, TN 271.6 mi
Escape planner: Johnson City, TN Scenic drives in TN

Explore more options from Johnson City, TN or browse trips ending in Collegedale, TN.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.