Kingsport, TN to Middle Valley, TN is 200.1 miles and takes about 3h 55m via I-81 and I-40, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays entirely within Tennessee, moving from the Appalachian foothills of the Southeast region to the broader Southeast as well. Given its relatively short duration and mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward trip suitable for a single day. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
100.1 miles from Kingsport, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
73 mi
1h 21m
I 81
50.1 mi
53m
Rhea County Highway
31.9 mi
39m
Dayton Pike
15.3 mi
17m
North Gateway Avenue
6.2 mi
7m
Spring City Highway
4.4 mi
4m
South Wilcox Drive
4 mi
6m
Sullivan Gardens Drive
3.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 73 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kingsport, TN and Middle Valley, 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
20 mi·21 min·I 40
Toward Nashville
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 27, TN 61: Harriman, Rockwood
19
Turn left onto US 27
2.3 mi·2 min·South Roane Street
20
Continue on US 27
6.2 mi·7 min·North Gateway Avenue
21
Continue on US 27
4.4 mi·4 min·Spring City Highway
22
Continue on US 27
32 mi·39 min·Rhea County Highway
23
Continue on US 27
15 mi·17 min·Dayton Pike
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward Harrison Lane
25
Turn left onto Harrison Lane
0.3 mi·50 sec·Harrison Lane
26
At end of road, turn right onto Daisy Dallas Road
1.8 mi·4 min·Daisy Dallas Road
27
Turn right onto Middle Valley Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Middle Valley Road
28
Continue on Middle Valley Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Middle Valley Road
29
Turn right onto Crabtree Road
101 ft·4 sec·Crabtree Road
30
Arrive at destination
Crabtree Road
Trip Plan
For this 3h 55m drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and avoid potential evening traffic. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but planning one stop around the halfway point is wise. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $32, and it's good to know your range. The longest stretch without a major break is 73 miles on I-40, so plan your fuel and restroom breaks accordingly before entering that section.
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 100.1 miles from Kingsport, TN, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73 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 44 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.1 miles or 1h 53m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Middle Valley, 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 200.1 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 73 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 135.9 — 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
5
62.9 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
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
Toward Nashville
5
135.9 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Take the exit toward US 27, TN 61: Harriman, Rockwood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 27, TN 61: Harriman, Rockwood
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.38 one way
$66.76 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$36.42
$72.84
premium
$5.25
$41.38
$82.77
diesel
$6.28
$49.44
$98.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60
0
$21.01
$9.60
Efficient EV
50
0
$17.51
$8.00
EV Truck/SUV
80
1
$28.01
$12.81
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Kingsport, TN
Morning
in Kingsport on Thursday
Local time
8:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Middle Valley, TN
Morning
in Middle Valley on Thursday
Local time
8:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Sunny
NE 0 to 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
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
3h 55m 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.
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 75.9
Park Closure: Park Headquarters Road is closed
Park Closure: Straight Fork and the one-way section of Balsam Mountain Road closed.
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 64% of the drive on interstates. You'll encounter a stretch of 73 miles on I-40 without many breaks. The transition from interstate to surface roads on Rhea County Highway will be noticeable as exit density decreases. Be prepared for a significant portion of your time to be spent cruising on major freeways.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Broad Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 200.1 miles you will encounter 16 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 (Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Broad Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 62.9 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,555 ft702 ft
Total Climb
512 ft
Total Descent
1,019 ft
Highest Point
1,555 ft
~14.3 mi in
Elevation Range
853 ft
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 Middle Valley, TN, road signs point toward Nashville and Rockwood.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 55m. Total distance: 200.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73 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.
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 0.1 miles (Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Broad Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 62.9 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Middle Valley, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
