Spanning 137.4 miles across Southeast Tennessee, this journey from Johnson City to Jacksboro is a straightforward trek that typically takes about 2 hours and 38 minutes. Because the drive is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $21 on fuel for the excursion. By utilizing major corridors like I-81 and I-40, the route prioritizes speed and efficiency over secondary roads. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick change of scenery, this highway-focused transit offers a reliable way to connect these two Tennessee hubs.
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
68.7 miles from Johnson City, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
57.1 mi
1h 1m
I 40
27.9 mi
30m
James H. Quillen Parkway
13.7 mi
16m
US 25W
7.1 mi
8m
West Central Avenue
2.9 mi
3m
East Watauga Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
North Roan Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Buffalo Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 57.1 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City, TN and Jacksboro, 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 8AToward 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 1BToward I 40 West: Knoxville
11
Merge onto I 40
28 mi·30 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 25W
6.9 mi·8 min·US 25W
Exit 393Toward I 640 West: Lexington
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward I 275 South, I 75 North: Knoxville, LexingtonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
27 mi·33 min
Toward I 75 North: Lexington
15
Take the exit onto US 25W
0.2 mi·20 sec·US 25W
Toward US 25W North, TN 63 East: Caryville, Jacksboro, La Follette
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 25W
239 ft·5 sec·US 25W
17
Merge onto US 25W; TN 63
2.9 mi·3 min·West Central Avenue
18
Turn right onto Paris Nance Road
0.2 mi·42 sec·Paris Nance Road
19
At end of road, turn left onto Main Street
275 ft·12 sec·Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable trip under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Planning for at least one stop is a smart move to break up the interstate cruising and keep you refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longer highway segments, ensuring you have the $21 budget accounted for in your planning. Because you are primarily utilizing major interstates, check local traffic reports before you leave to avoid potential congestion on I-81 or I-40. Taking advantage of the route's short duration allows you to arrive in Jacksboro with plenty of time to spare in your day.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.7 miles from Johnson City, TN, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.1 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 30 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.7 miles or 1h 17m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jacksboro, 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 137.4 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 81 for about 57.1 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 107.1 — 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.
7
107.1 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward I 275 South, I 75 North: Knoxville, Lexington
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.
Toward I 275 South, I 75 North: Knoxville, Lexi...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.48 one way
$42.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.59
$47.17
premium
$4.89
$26.44
$52.88
diesel
$5.61
$30.34
$60.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.2
0
$14.43
$6.60
Efficient EV
34.4
0
$12.02
$5.50
EV Truck/SUV
55
0
$19.24
$8.79
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Johnson City, TN
Late night
in Johnson City on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jacksboro, TN
Late night
in Jacksboro on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°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
5 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
2h 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a focused interstate experience, as 77% of this trip is spent on high-speed highways. Your journey begins with a significant 57.1-mile stretch along I-81, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the drive. The route relies heavily on major arteries, including I-40 and the James H. Quillen Parkway, creating a consistent rhythm behind the wheel. While the highway-dominant profile keeps your travel time predictable, you should prepare for the steady pace typical of interstate travel. Transitioning between these major roads defines the character of the drive, keeping you moving steadily toward your destination in Jacksboro.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.1 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Buffalo Street.
Driving Effort9/10
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 17 significant decision points across 137.4 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 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.
On the drive from Johnson City, TN to Jacksboro, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Lexington along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 137.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57.1 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Jacksboro, 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 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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jacksboro, TN before heading back.
