Johnson City, TN to Mount Juliet, TN is 269.5 miles and takes about 4h 57m via I 40 and I 81, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, connecting two points in the Southeast region. For the most part, you'll be on major highways, making for a straightforward transit. With a recommended one-day drive time, you can easily complete this route without needing an overnight stop.
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
134.8 miles from Johnson City, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
194.8 mi
3h 32m
I 81
57.1 mi
1h 1m
James H. Quillen Parkway
13.7 mi
16m
North Mount Juliet Road
2.1 mi
3m
East Watauga Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
North Roan Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Buffalo Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Oak Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 194.8 mi, about 3h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City, TN and Mount Juliet, 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
53 mi·59 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
142 mi·2 hr 32 min·I 40
Toward NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 226Toward TN 171: Mount JulietUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto SR 171
2.1 mi·3 min·North Mount Juliet Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Arrive at destination
SR 171
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 57m estimated drive time, leaving Johnson City in the morning allows ample time to reach Mount Juliet before evening. You'll only need one stop for fuel or a break, so plan that around the halfway point or when you feel you need it. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the 194.8-mile stretch on I 40, where services might be more spaced out. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart when you're ready.
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 134.8 miles from Johnson City, TN, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 194.8 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 59 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.8 miles or 2h 31m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mount Juliet, 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 269.5 miles and 4h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 194.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 267.1 — 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
7
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. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Nashville
7
267.1 mi into trip|~4h 53m in
Take the exit toward TN 171: Mount Juliet
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 226
Toward TN 171: Mount Juliet
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.96 one way
$89.91 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$49.05
$98.10
premium
$5.25
$55.74
$111.47
diesel
$6.28
$66.59
$133.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.9
0
$28.30
$12.94
Efficient EV
67.4
0
$23.58
$10.78
EV Truck/SUV
107.8
1
$37.73
$17.25
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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 Oct 23, 2026
Origin
Johnson City, TN
Late night
in Johnson City on Sunday
Local time
1:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Sunny
NE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Mount Juliet, TN
Late night
in Mount Juliet on Sunday
Local time
12:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
ENE 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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
4h 57m 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.
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...
21 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 260.2
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 83.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 99% of your time on highways, so expect a lot of consistent cruising. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 194.8 miles on I 40. You'll primarily be on I 81 and I 40, which means you'll encounter a good number of exits and potential for merging traffic as you approach larger towns. The James H. Quillen Parkway is a brief segment early in the trip.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 194.8 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 12 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 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 269.5 miles you will encounter 12 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
Gently rolling terrain
1,876 ft535 ft
Total Climb
1,326 ft
Total Descent
2,402 ft
Highest Point
1,876 ft
~192.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,341 ft
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 Mount Juliet, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Nashville along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 57m. Total distance: 269.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 194.8 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 30 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Mount Juliet, 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. There are 30 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 — Stones River National Battlefield and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 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 Mount Juliet, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
