Trip from Johnson City, TN to Sewanee, TN

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 4m

Distance

266.6 mi

429 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$39

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 51m ★

6 AM

5h 5m

8 AM

5h 32m

10 AM

5h 14m

12 PM

5h 12m

3 PM

5h 16m

5 PM

5h 30m

8 PM

4h 57m

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

Johnson City, TN

Wikimedia Commons

census-designated place in Franklin County, Tennessee

Sewanee, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Johnson City to Sewanee covers 266.6 miles across the state of Tennessee, typically taking about 5 hours and 4 minutes of drive time. Because this journey is manageable in a single day, you can easily complete it without needing an overnight stay, though you should budget approximately $40 for fuel. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, utilizing I-81, I-40, and I-75 to traverse the Southeast region. It is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that prioritizes efficiency over backroads. If you value a direct path across the state, this interstate-heavy connection is your most practical option.

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

133.3 miles from Johnson City, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m 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	51.7 mi	1h
James H. Quillen Parkway	13.7 mi	16m
Sewanee Highway	1.8 mi	2m
West Main Street	1.6 mi	2m
Sollace M Freeman Highway	1.5 mi	2m

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

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

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 Sewanee, TN.

Start on this road

433 ft · 35 sec · this road

Turn left onto Buffalo Street

0.3 mi · 56 sec · Buffalo Street

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto North Roan Street

0.3 mi · 36 sec · North Roan Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto SR 400

0.3 mi · 45 sec · East Watauga Avenue

Turn left onto Oak Street

441 ft · 10 sec · Oak Street

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Merge onto I 26; US 19W; US 23

14 mi · 16 min · James H. Quillen Parkway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 37 sec

Exit 8A Toward I 81 South: Knoxville

Merge onto I 81

56 mi · 1 hr · I 81

Continue on I 81

0.7 mi · 45 sec · I 81

Exit 1B Toward I 40 West: Knoxville

Merge onto I 40

53 mi · 59 min · I 40

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 75

83 mi · 1 hr 31 min · I 75

Toward I 75 South: Chattanooga Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 56 sec

Toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 24

52 mi · 1 hr · I 24

Toward Chattanooga, Nashville Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Exit 134 Toward 41A: Monteagle, Sewanee

Turn slight right

50 ft · 9 sec

Turn left onto US 41A

1.6 mi · 2 min · West Main Street

Continue on US 41A

0.4 mi · 36 sec · David Crockett Highway

Continue on US 41A

1.8 mi · 2 min · Sewanee Highway

Continue on US 41A

1.5 mi · 2 min · Sollace M Freeman Highway

Turn right onto University Avenue

0.6 mi · 2 min · University Avenue

Arrive at destination

University Avenue

Trip Plan

To keep your trip efficient, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs during the 266.6-mile trek. Since the vast majority of your time is spent on interstates, monitor traffic patterns on I-40 and I-75, which can become congested depending on your departure time. Filling your tank before hitting the highway will help you stay within your $40 fuel estimate. Given that this is a one-day trip, leaving early in the morning offers you the most flexibility to navigate the longer stretches of the drive without rushing. Use the longest 83.1-mile stretch on I-75 as a milestone to gauge your progress toward Sewanee.

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 133.3 miles from Johnson City, TN, or about 2h 29m 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 59 miles or 1h 7m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 133.3 miles or 2h 29m 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 Sewanee, 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 266.6 miles and 5h 4m.

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 75 for about 83.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Johnson, TN

133 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

Bean Station, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brentwood, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 133.3 miles from Johnson City, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

0.7 mi from route

Rest Area and Tennessee Welcome Center

2.4 mi from route

Frank Lorino Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~11 min detour

Early stretch 4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour

Morristown, Tennessee

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+14235816451

Visit website

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 260.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

Turn left onto Buffalo Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | North Roan Street

Turn left onto North Roan Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

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

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

260.5 mi into trip | ~4h 53m in

Take the exit toward 41A: Monteagle, Sewanee

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

Exit 134 Toward 41A: Monteagle, Sewanee

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$39.37 one way

$78.74 round trip

$3.75/gal 25.4 MPG avg 93 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.14	$43.46	$86.93
premium	$4.72	$49.50	$99.00
diesel	$4.80	$50.34	$100.68

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$39

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$64–$89

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 93.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	80	0	$27.99	$12.80
Efficient EV	66.7	0	$23.33	$10.66
EV Truck/SUV	106.6	1	$37.32	$17.06

Gas CO2

93 kg

EV CO2

31 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

6:07 AM

EDT

Current temp

72°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

0 mph 60% chance Live forecast

Destination

Sewanee, TN

Late night in Sewanee on Sunday

Local time

5:07 AM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Patchy Fog

0 mph 13% chance Live forecast

87°F

Johnson, TN

133 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

1 hour earlier

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

3 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

5h 4m 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...

28 mi from route ~69 min detour Free near mile 82.7

Park Closure: Abrams Falls Trail Closed

Park Closure: Seasonal road closures

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a high-speed, interstate-focused experience, as 97% of this drive is spent on major highways. You will settle into a steady rhythm on I-81, I-40, and I-75, which carry the bulk of the traffic for your 5-hour journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-75, where you will remain on the highway for 83.1 miles at a time. Because the route is almost entirely highway-based, the drive feels consistent and focused rather than technical or winding. You should be prepared for a utilitarian experience that emphasizes speed and connectivity between these two Tennessee points.

97% 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: 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 Effort 7/10

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 266.6 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 125.1 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,930 ft 641 ft

Total Climb

1,953 ft

Total Descent

1,650 ft

Highest Point

1,930 ft

~266.6 mi in

Elevation Range

1,289 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 Sewanee, 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

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 Sewanee, TN

Full guide →

Sewanee is a small town in south-central Tennessee. It is known primarily for its natural scenery and association with the University of the South. There are roughly 2,500 residents, of whom about 1,500 are students at the University. Sewanee is positioned about halfway between Nashville and Chattanooga. The town and the roughly 13,000 acres surrounding it -- all of which are owned directly by the University -- are quaintly called "The Domain" by residents.

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 5h 4m. Total distance: 266.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 4m 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 83.1 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 35 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 Sewanee, 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 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sewanee, TN before the return drive.

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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.

Trip from Johnson City, TN to Sewanee, TN

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-24

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

I-81 Rest Area - Greene County West

I-81 Jefferson County West

Rest Area

Rest Area

Rest Area

ONE9 Travel Center

ONE9 Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

McMinn County Rest Area Northbound

Tennessee Welcome Center

Pilot Travel Center

I-81 Rest Area - Greene County East

Pilot Travel Center

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Flying J Travel Center

TA

Pilot Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

McMinn County Rest Area Southbound

Love's Travel Stop

Buc-ee's

Pilot Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

TA

Pilot Travel Center

Jefferson County I-40 East Rest Area

Pilot Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Love's Travel Stop

Rest Area

Grundy Count Rest Area - East Bound

Tennessee Welcome Center

Grundy Count Rest Area - West Bound

Rest Area and Tennessee Welcome Center

Frank Lorino Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Johnson City, TN

Sewanee, TN

1 hour earlier

3 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 4m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Johnson City, TN

Arriving in Sewanee, TN

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Sewanee, TN

More from Johnson City, TN

More trips to Sewanee, TN