Johnson City, TN to New Hope, TN is 240.6 miles and takes about 4h 36m via I-75, I-81, and I-40, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, offering a straightforward drive across Tennessee. You'll primarily be on well-maintained interstate highways, making it an efficient way to travel between these two points. With a recommended one-day drive, you can expect a practical journey focused on covering ground rather than extensive sightseeing.
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
120.3 miles from Johnson City, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
83.1 mi
1h 31m
I 81
57.1 mi
1h 1m
I 40
52.8 mi
59m
I 24
23.7 mi
28m
James H. Quillen Parkway
13.7 mi
16m
Old Ladds Road
6.2 mi
10m
Shellmound Road
0.7 mi
1m
TN 156
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 83.1 mi, about 1h 31m
Traffic on I-24
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 9 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,974 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,367
Quietest
2 AM
~348 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City, TN and New Hope, 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 left at fork onto I 75
83 mi·1 hr 31 min·I 75
Toward I 75 South: ChattanoogaUse the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi·56 sec
Toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 24
24 mi·28 min·I 24
Toward Chattanooga, NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward TN 156: Haletown, New Hope
16
Turn left
76 ft·6 sec
17
Turn left onto TN 156
0.7 mi·1 min·Shellmound Road
18
Continue on TN 156
6.2 mi·10 min·Old Ladds Road
19
Continue on SR 156
0.3 mi·31 sec·SR 156
20
Continue on TN 156
0.6 mi·1 min·TN 156
21
Arrive at destination
TN 156
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 36m duration, you can comfortably complete this drive in a single day. Consider an early morning departure from Johnson City to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential rush hour traffic around larger towns. With only one recommended stop, you'll want to make it count for fuel and a quick stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before the 83.1-mile stretch on I-75, as services might be less frequent in certain sections.
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 120.3 miles from Johnson City, TN, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.1 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 53 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.3 miles or 2h 15m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Hope, 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 240.6 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 83.1 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 208.2 — 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 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
7
208.2 mi into trip|~3h 52m in
Take the exit toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
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 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.53 one way
$71.06 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$39.23
$78.45
premium
$4.72
$44.67
$89.34
diesel
$4.80
$45.43
$90.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.2
0
$25.26
$11.55
Efficient EV
60.2
0
$21.05
$9.62
EV Truck/SUV
96.2
1
$33.68
$15.40
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Johnson City, TN
Morning
in Johnson City on Sunday
Local time
6:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 0 to 10 mph59% chanceLive forecast
Destination
New Hope, TN
Late night
in New Hope on Sunday
Local time
5:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 0 to 5 mph31% 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
1 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 36m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-75, I-81, and I-40. Expect consistent speeds and minimal traffic lights for most of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 83.1 miles on I-75, so plan your breaks accordingly. The profile suggests a drive that's largely about efficient travel, with the highway character dominating the entire trip.
96% 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: 83.1 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 81. 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 240.6 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,664 ft687 ft
Total Climb
403 ft
Total Descent
1,330 ft
Highest Point
1,664 ft
~17.2 mi in
Elevation Range
978 ft
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 New Hope, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Chattanooga.
Nashville
208.2 mi in|~3h 52m
Chattanooga
208.9 mi in|~3h 53m|via I 24
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 36m. Total distance: 240.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.1 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 31 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 New Hope, 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 31 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 — Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at New Hope, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
