Kingsport, TN to Lewisburg, TN is 314.7 miles and takes about 5h 58m via I 40, I 81, and Tennessee National Guard Parkway, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the Southeast region, specifically traversing the state of Tennessee for its entirety. Given its highway-focused profile and manageable duration, it's a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in a single day. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making for efficient travel between these two Tennessee cities.
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
157.3 miles from Kingsport, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
185.5 mi
3h 22m
I 81
50.1 mi
53m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
34.1 mi
36m
Horton Highway
15.5 mi
23m
Nashville Highway
13.4 mi
19m
South Wilcox Drive
4 mi
6m
Sullivan Gardens Drive
3.1 mi
3m
TN 93
2.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 185.5 mi, about 3h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kingsport, TN and Lewisburg, TN.
1
Start on TN 36
0.1 mi·24 sec·West Center Street
2
Turn right onto Broad Street
436 ft·12 sec·Broad Street
3
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
49 ft·1 sec·Broad Street
4
Continue on Broad Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Broad Street
5
Turn left onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
6
Continue on East Sullivan Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·East Sullivan Street
7
Turn right onto TN 126
2.6 mi·4 min·South Wilcox Drive
8
Turn right onto TN 93
1.5 mi·1 min·Sullivan Gardens Parkway
9
Continue on SR 93
1.5 mi·1 min·South Wilcox Drive
10
Continue on SR 93
3.1 mi·3 min·Sullivan Gardens Drive
11
Continue on TN 93
2.3 mi·2 min·TN 93
12
Continue on SR 93
0.3 mi·21 sec·SR 93
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
14
Merge onto I 81
49 mi·52 min·I 81
15
Continue on I 81
0.7 mi·45 sec·I 81
Exit 1BToward I 40 West: Knoxville
16
Merge onto I 40
53 mi·59 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
133 mi·2 hr 22 min·I 40
Toward NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Exit 235Toward I 840 West: Memphis, MurfreesboroUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 840
34 mi·36 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.5 mi·48 sec
Exit 42Toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, LewisburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn left onto US 31A; US 41A
2.8 mi·4 min·Horton Highway
22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 31A
13 mi·18 min·Horton Highway
23
Continue on US 31A; SR 99
0.7 mi·1 min·North Horton Parkway
24
Continue on US 31A; SR 99
13 mi·19 min·Nashville Highway
25
Continue on US 31A Business; US 431 Business
0.4 mi·42 sec·Verona Avenue
26
Continue on US 31A Business; US 431 Business
0.5 mi·56 sec·North 2nd Avenue
27
Enter roundabout onto US 31A Business; US 431 Business
247 ft·5 sec·North 2nd Avenue
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 5h 58m drive, departing Kingsport, TN in the morning allows ample time to reach Lewisburg, TN before evening. With only one recommended stop and 87% of the route on highways, you can easily manage your pace. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the longest stretch without a break is 185.5 miles. Given the single-day feasibility and your estimated fuel cost of $49, flexibility is key; you can depart whenever suits you best, knowing the roads are primarily interstates.
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 157.3 miles from Kingsport, TN, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 185.5 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 69 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.3 miles or 2h 56m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lewisburg, 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 314.7 miles and 5h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Kingsport, 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 185.5 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 283.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Broad Street
Turn right onto Broad Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Broad Street
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
115.7 mi into trip|~2h 11m 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
8
248.4 mi into trip|~4h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
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.
Exit 235
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Murfreesboro
8
283.6 mi into trip|~5h 11m in
Take the exit toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, Lewisburg
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.
Exit 42
Toward US 31A, US 41A: Shelbyville, Lewisburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.20 one way
$98.40 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$54.02
$108.04
premium
$4.89
$60.56
$121.12
diesel
$5.61
$69.48
$138.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.4
1
$33.04
$15.11
Efficient EV
78.7
0
$27.54
$12.59
EV Truck/SUV
125.9
1
$44.06
$20.14
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
10:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lewisburg, TN
Night
in Lewisburg on Saturday
Local time
9:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Spring City, TN
157 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
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
5h 58m 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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 271.3
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 route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 87% of it being interstate travel. Expect long stretches of consistent speed, including one segment of 185.5 miles on I 40. The journey begins on I 81 before transitioning to I 40, offering a familiar interstate experience for most of the way. The inclusion of Tennessee National Guard Parkway provides a slight variation but remains within the efficient, high-speed character of the overall drive.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 185.5 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 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 Broad 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 314.7 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 (Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Broad Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 115.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kingsport, TN and Lewisburg, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Murfreesboro.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 58m. Total distance: 314.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 185.5 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Lewisburg, 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 (Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Broad Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 115.7 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lewisburg, TN before the return drive.
