Origin
Johnson City, TN
Morning in Johnson City on Sunday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Johnson City, TN to Graysville, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 38m
Distance
190.4 mi
306 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 26m
★
6 AM
3h 39m
8 AM
4h 4m
10 AM
3h 48m
12 PM
3h 45m
3 PM
3h 49m
5 PM
4h 3m
8 PM
3h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Johnson City, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Graysville, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
This 190.4-mile drive from Johnson City, TN, to Graysville, TN, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 38 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-40 and I-81 before transitioning to Rhea County Highway. With a fuel cost estimated around $30, this route offers an economical option for traveling within the Southeast region. The drive is designed for efficiency, making it a practical choice if you're looking to cover ground without extensive detours. Plan for a single, well-timed stop to break up the journey.
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
95.2 miles from Johnson City, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 40 | 73 mi | 1h 21m |
| I 81 | 57.1 mi | 1h 1m |
| Rhea County Highway | 31.4 mi | 39m |
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 13.7 mi | 16m |
| North Gateway Avenue | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| Spring City Highway | 4.4 mi | 4m |
| South Roane Street | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Dayton Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 73 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City, TN and Graysville, 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 right at fork onto I 40
20 mi
·
21 min
·
I 40
Toward Nashville
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward US 27, TN 61: Harriman, Rockwood
14
Turn left onto US 27
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Roane Street
15
Continue on US 27
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
North Gateway Avenue
16
Continue on US 27
4.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Spring City Highway
17
Continue on US 27
31 mi
·
39 min
·
Rhea County Highway
18
Turn right onto SR 303
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Dayton Avenue
19
Continue on SR 303
348 ft
·
12 sec
·
Dayton Avenue
20
Turn left onto Pikeville Avenue
316 ft
·
8 sec
·
Pikeville Avenue
21
Continue on Pikeville Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Pikeville Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Pikeville Avenue
Trip Plan
For this relatively short, 3.5-hour drive, starting in the morning allows ample time to reach Graysville without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, consider making it around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refuel if needed. The fuel cost is estimated at $30, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you depart Johnson City. A specific tip for this route: be mindful of the transition from I-40 to Rhea County Highway; it requires your attention as you shift to local road driving.
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 95.2 miles from Johnson City, TN, or about 1h 47m 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 42 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.2 miles or 1h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Graysville, 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 190.4 miles and 3h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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 40 for about 73 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
95 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 95.2 miles from Johnson City, 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 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 125.1 — 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
5
72.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
125.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 20m in
|
I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Nashville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.77 one way
$59.53 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.68 | $65.37 |
| premium | $4.89 | $36.64 | $73.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.04 | $84.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.1 | 0 | $19.99 | $9.14 |
| Efficient EV | 47.6 | 0 | $16.66 | $7.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.2 | 0 | $26.66 | $12.19 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Graysville, TN
Morning in Graysville on Sunday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
31 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
3h 38m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with about 75% of the drive occurring on major interstates like I-40 and I-81. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 73 miles on I-40, offering a chance to maintain a consistent speed. As you progress, the character shifts from interstate travel to more local roads as you approach Graysville. This blend means you'll experience periods of brisk travel followed by a more relaxed pace closer to your destination.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. You will hit about 13 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 190.4 miles you will encounter 13 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Johnson City, TN and Graysville, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Rockwood.
Nashville
125.1 mi in
|
~2h 20m
|
via I 40
Rockwood
145.3 mi in
|
~2h 42m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 38m. Total distance: 190.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73 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.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Graysville, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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