If you are planning a trip from Kingsport to LaFollette, expect a 108.7-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 11 minutes to complete. This route keeps you entirely within the Southeast region of Tennessee, making it an ideal choice for a straightforward day trip. With a fuel cost estimate of $17, it is an affordable excursion that does not require an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via the Appalachian Highway, West Stone Drive, and West Main Street. Because the drive is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your own schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.3 miles from Kingsport, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Appalachian Highway
40.8 mi
47m
West Stone Drive
24 mi
29m
West Main Street
16.1 mi
19m
General Carl W Stiner Highway
10 mi
11m
US 25E
7.1 mi
9m
Rogersville Bypass
5.2 mi
5m
Cumberland Gap Parkway
2 mi
2m
East Central Avenue
1.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Appalachian Highway
— 40.8 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kingsport, TN and LaFollette, TN.
1
Start on TN 36
0.5 mi·1 min·West Center Street
2
Turn right onto TN 36
0.6 mi·55 sec·Lynn Garden Drive
3
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·19 sec
4
Turn right onto US 11W
24 mi·29 min·West Stone Drive
5
Continue on US 11W; SR 1
5.2 mi·5 min·Rogersville Bypass
6
Continue on US 11W; SR 1
16 mi·19 min·West Main Street
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 11W; SR 1
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 11W; SR 1
8
Merge onto US 11W; US 25E; SR 1; SR 32; ADHS S
2.2 mi·2 min·Appalachian Highway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 25E; SR 32; ADHS S
20 mi·24 min·Appalachian Highway
10
At end of road, turn right onto US 25E; SR 32
7.1 mi·9 min·US 25E; SR 32
11
Continue on US 25E; SR 32
2.0 mi·2 min·Cumberland Gap Parkway
12
Continue on US 25E; SR 32; SR 63
0.2 mi·22 sec·Cumberland Gap Highway
13
Turn left onto SR 63
18 mi·20 min·Appalachian Highway
14
Continue on SR 63
10 mi·11 min·General Carl W Stiner Highway
15
Continue on SR 63
1.7 mi·1 min·East Central Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
SR 63
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick trip, you have the advantage of being able to leave whenever fits your plans best. With no mandatory stops required by the route distance, you can easily manage the 2 hours and 11 minutes of driving in one go. Keep your $17 fuel budget in mind as you prepare to head out, and ensure your vehicle is ready for a winding, turn-heavy path. Because this route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, give yourself a little extra time if you are traveling during peak local traffic hours. A great way to handle this drive is to treat it as a direct transit, allowing you to arrive in LaFollette with plenty of energy left for your destination.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 54.3 miles from Kingsport, TN, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.8 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 24 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.3 miles or 1h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near LaFollette, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kingsport, 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 Kingsport, TN
This is one driving day of about 108.7 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Kingsport, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Appalachian Highway for about 40.8 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 69.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|US 11W / West Stone Drive
Turn right onto US 11W / West Stone Drive
Navigation decision point
4
46.5 mi into trip|~57m in|US 11W; SR 1
Keep slight right at fork onto US 11W; SR 1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
3
46.8 mi into trip|~58m in|US 11W; US 25E; SR 1; SR 32; ADHS S / Appalachian Highway
Merge onto US 11W; US 25E; SR 1; SR 32; ADHS S / Appalachian Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
49.1 mi into trip|~1h in|US 25E; SR 32; ADHS S / Appalachian Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 25E; SR 32; ADHS S / Appalachian Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
69.5 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|US 25E; SR 32 / US 25E
At end of road, turn right onto US 25E; SR 32 / US 25E
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.99 one way
$33.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.66
$37.32
premium
$4.89
$20.92
$41.84
diesel
$5.61
$24.00
$48.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.6
0
$11.41
$5.22
Efficient EV
27.2
0
$9.51
$4.35
EV Truck/SUV
43.5
0
$15.22
$6.96
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Kingsport, TN
Night
in Kingsport on Saturday
Local time
10:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
LaFollette, TN
Night
in LaFollette on Saturday
Local time
10:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Tazewell, TN
54 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
27 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 11m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Cumberland Gap was the first great gateway to the west. Come follow the path of bison, Native Americans, longhunters, and pioneers. Walk where 300,000 people crossed the Appalachians to settle America...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 78.7
Park Closure: Little Yellow Creek Bridge Closure - Construction Underway
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route offers a more technical experience, as only 9% of the trip takes place on highways. You will spend the most consistent time on the road during your 40.8-mile stretch along the Appalachian Highway. As you transition between these local roads, the driving environment shifts frequently, offering a contrast to high-speed travel. Staying alert is key, as the winding nature of the path requires consistent navigation through the local terrain.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.8 mi on Appalachian Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near US 11W / West Stone Drive.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 11m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (US 11W / West Stone Drive): Navigation decision point; at 46.5 miles (US 11W; SR 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 46.8 miles (US 11W; US 25E; SR 1; SR 32; ADHS S / Appalachian Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.8 miles on Appalachian Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.2 miles (US 11W / West Stone Drive): Navigation decision point; at 46.5 miles (US 11W; SR 1): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 46.8 miles (US 11W; US 25E; SR 1; SR 32; ADHS S / Appalachian Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes — Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at LaFollette, TN before heading back.
