Kingsport to Red Bank is 205.5 miles and takes about 3h 57m via I-81, I-40, and I-75, with a fuel budget near $31 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 Chattanooga area. Given its relatively short length and predominantly highway profile, it’s a straightforward trip. You'll find it's a practical option for getting between these two points without significant detours or extended travel time.
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
102.7 miles from Kingsport, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
77.1 mi
1h 23m
I 40
52.8 mi
59m
I 81
50.1 mi
53m
South Wilcox Drive
4 mi
6m
TN 153
4 mi
5m
Bonny Oaks Drive
3.8 mi
6m
Sullivan Gardens Drive
3.1 mi
3m
TN 93
2.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 77.1 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kingsport, TN and Red Bank, 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 left at fork onto I 75
77 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 75
Toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
18
Take the exit onto US 11; US 64; SR 317
0.2 mi·44 sec·US 11; US 64; SR 317
Toward Secondary SR 317 West, US 11 South, US 64 West: Bonny Oaks Drive, Old Lee HighwayUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 11; US 64; SR 317
0.2 mi·24 sec·US 11; US 64; SR 317
20
Continue on TN 317
3.8 mi·6 min·Bonny Oaks Drive
21
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward TN 153 North
22
Merge onto TN 153
4.0 mi·5 min·TN 153
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn left onto Hamill Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Hamill Road
24
At end of road, turn left onto Hixson Pike
0.7 mi·1 min·Hixson Pike
25
Turn right onto Ashland Terrace
1.8 mi·4 min·Ashland Terrace
26
Turn left onto Dayton Boulevard
0.7 mi·1 min·Dayton Boulevard
27
Turn right onto Euclid Avenue West
88 ft·3 sec·Euclid Avenue West
28
Arrive at destination
Euclid Avenue West
Trip Plan
For this 205.5-mile drive, leaving Kingsport in the morning is advisable to allow for any unexpected delays. Since the total travel time is under 4 hours, you likely won't need more than one brief stop for fuel or a quick break. The majority of your travel will be on I-81, I-40, and I-75, so keep an eye on posted speed limits and traffic conditions, especially around larger towns. With a fuel cost estimated at $31, plan your fill-up accordingly before you depart or at a convenient point along the interstate.
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 102.7 miles from Kingsport, TN, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.1 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 45 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.7 miles or 1h 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 3h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Red Bank, 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 205.5 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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 75 for about 77.1 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 192.9 — 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 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
7
192.9 mi into trip|~3h 34m in|US 11; US 64; SR 317
Take the exit onto US 11; US 64; SR 317 toward Secondary SR 317 West, US 11 South, US 64 West: Bonny Oaks Drive, Old Lee Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Secondary SR 317 West, US 11 South, US 6...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.35 one way
$60.70 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$33.50
$67.01
premium
$4.72
$38.16
$76.31
diesel
$4.80
$38.80
$77.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.7
0
$21.58
$9.86
Efficient EV
51.4
0
$17.98
$8.22
EV Truck/SUV
82.2
1
$28.77
$13.15
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Kingsport, TN
Late night
in Kingsport on Sunday
Local time
2:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
W 5 to 10 mph62% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Red Bank, TN
Late night
in Red Bank on Sunday
Local time
2:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 0 to 5 mph44% 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
2 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
3h 57m 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 77.9
Park Closure: Seasonal road closures
Park Closure: Ramsey Prong Road and Ramsey Cascade Trail Closed
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 92% of the 205.5 miles on major interstates like I-81, I-40, and I-75. Expect a longest stretch of 77.1 miles on I-75, indicating long periods of consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads will be minimal, primarily occurring as you approach your destination in Red Bank. You'll notice a high volume of exits and interchanges throughout much of the route.
92% 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: 77.1 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 40. You will hit about 19 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 Effort6/10
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 205.5 miles you will encounter 19 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
1,592 ft728 ft
Total Climb
819 ft
Total Descent
1,300 ft
Highest Point
1,592 ft
~14.7 mi in
Elevation Range
864 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 Red Bank, TN, road signs point toward Secondary Sr 317 West and Old Lee Highway.
Red Bank is a hip city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, in the United States. It is the Garden State's answer to Greenwich Village. Red Bank is famous for being the home of legendary big band leader Count Basie and the stomping grounds of celebrities Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, and raunchy filmmaker Kevin Smith. Several of Kevin Smith's movies are set or filmed in Red Bank, most notably Chasing Amy and the TV series Comic Book Men. In 2012, Smithsonian Magazine listed Red Bank as the 3rd best small town in America, citing its numerous theaters, galleries, and art festivals.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 57m. Total distance: 205.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.1 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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 Red Bank, 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 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 4.0 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 Red Bank, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
