Kingsport, TN to Seymour, TN is 90.4 miles and takes about 1h 49m via I 81, I 40, and Boyds Creek Highway, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive entirely within the Southeast region of the United States, specifically across Tennessee. With a high percentage of highway driving, this route is designed for efficient travel. It's a good option if you're looking for a quick trip between these two points without much fuss. Plan for this to be a single-day journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.2 miles from Kingsport, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
50.1 mi
53m
I 40
13.3 mi
14m
Boyds Creek Highway
9.6 mi
16m
Winfield Dunn Parkway
4.3 mi
5m
South Wilcox Drive
4 mi
6m
Sullivan Gardens Drive
3.1 mi
3m
TN 93
2.3 mi
2m
Sullivan Gardens Parkway
1.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 50.1 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kingsport, TN and Seymour, 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
13 mi·14 min·I 40
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward SR 66: Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, GatlinburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward SR 66: Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg
19
Continue on SR 66
4.3 mi·5 min·Winfield Dunn Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Turn right onto SR 338
9.6 mi·16 min·Boyds Creek Highway
21
Arrive at destination
SR 338
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times. Leaving in the morning will get you to Seymour with plenty of daylight remaining. Your fuel cost is estimated at just $14, so you won't need to worry much about refueling stops, though it's always wise to start with a full tank. Pay attention to the transition from I 40 to Boyds Creek Highway; it's a key point where the character of the drive changes slightly. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan your breaks as needed.
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 45.2 miles from Kingsport, TN, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.1 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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.2 miles or 52m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seymour, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kingsport, TN
This is one driving day of about 90.4 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Kingsport, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 50.1 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 76.4 — 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
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|East Main Street
Turn left onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
7
76.2 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward SR 66: Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg
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 SR 66: Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlin...
7
76.4 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 66: Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SR 66: Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlin...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.13 one way
$28.27 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.52
$31.03
premium
$4.89
$17.40
$34.79
diesel
$5.61
$19.96
$39.92
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.1
0
$9.49
$4.34
Efficient EV
22.6
0
$7.91
$3.62
EV Truck/SUV
36.2
0
$12.66
$5.79
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Morning
in Kingsport on Sunday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Seymour, TN
Morning
in Seymour on Sunday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
East Ridge, TN
45 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
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
1h 49m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 79% of the drive on major interstates like I 81 and I 40. You'll experience a consistent pace for much of the 1 hour and 49-minute trip. The longest continuous stretch without a major road change is 50.1 miles on I 81. As you transition to Boyds Creek Highway, expect a slight shift in the driving experience, though the overall profile remains highway-centric. This means you're mostly looking at open road and steady speeds.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.1 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 40. You will hit about 12 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 90.4 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.3 miles (East Main Street): Navigation decision point.
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 Seymour, TN, road signs point toward Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 90.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.1 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 0.3 miles (East Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Seymour, TN before heading back.
