Kingsport, TN to Tullahoma, TN is 256.6 miles and takes about 5h 8m via I-81 and I-40, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, connecting the Southeast region from one point to another. Most of the route is on well-maintained interstate highways, making for a straightforward trip. With a relatively short duration and manageable distance, this route is ideal for a single-day drive.
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
128.3 miles from Kingsport, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
98.7 mi
1h 48m
I 81
50.1 mi
53m
Sparta Highway
29.1 mi
42m
Manchester Highway
11.7 mi
13m
Bone Cave Parkway
9.4 mi
10m
Memorial Highway
7.9 mi
9m
McMinnville Highway
7.6 mi
9m
South Wilcox Drive
4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 98.7 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kingsport, TN and Tullahoma, 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
46 mi·49 min·I 40
Toward Nashville
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward TN 101: Crossville
19
Turn left onto SR 101
0.4 mi·41 sec·Peavine Road
20
Enter roundabout onto US 70; SR 101
48 ft·1 sec·US 70; SR 101
21
Continue on US 70; SR 101
2.5 mi·5 min·US 70; SR 101
22
Turn right onto US 70
1.4 mi·2 min·West Avenue
23
Turn left onto US 70
26 mi·38 min·Sparta Highway
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on US 70
0.8 mi·1 min·West Bockman Way
25
Turn left onto TN 1
1.0 mi·1 min·Mayberry Street
26
Continue on TN 1
0.1 mi·14 sec·Broadway of America
27
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
28
Merge onto US 70S; SR 111
2.6 mi·3 min·Spencer Highway
29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 70S
7.9 mi·9 min·Memorial Highway
30
Continue on US 70S
9.4 mi·10 min·Bone Cave Parkway
31
Continue on US 70S
3.3 mi·3 min·Sparta Highway
32
Continue on US 70S
0.5 mi·36 sec·Sparta Street
33
Continue on US 70S
3.8 mi·4 min·Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway
34
Continue on SR 55
3.7 mi·4 min·H T Pelham Memorial Parkway
35
Continue on SR 55
12 mi·13 min·Manchester Highway
36
Merge onto SR 55
7.6 mi·9 min·McMinnville Highway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
37
Continue on SR 55
2.1 mi·3 min·McArthur Street
38
Continue on SR 55
3.0 mi·3 min·New Tullahoma Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
39
Continue on SR 55
3.4 mi·4 min·New Manchester Highway
40
Continue on SR 55
2.7 mi·3 min·East Carroll Street
41
Turn right onto US 41A; SR 55; SR 130
0.4 mi·31 sec·South Jackson Street
42
Turn right onto West Lauderdale Street
520 ft·20 sec·West Lauderdale Street
43
Turn left onto Southwest Atlantic Street
199 ft·5 sec·Southwest Atlantic Street
44
Arrive at destination
Southwest Atlantic Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour drive time, leaving Kingsport in the morning will allow you to reach Tullahoma with plenty of daylight to spare. You'll have one recommended stop, so plan for a break around the halfway point or when you feel ready. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 98.7-mile stretch on I-40, as the $39 fuel cost estimate is based on current averages. The flexibility of a single-day trip means you can adjust your stop timing based on your needs.
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 128.3 miles from Kingsport, TN, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.7 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 56 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.3 miles or 2h 24m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tullahoma, 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 256.6 miles and 5h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 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 98.7 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 162.3 — 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
162.3 mi into trip|~3h 1m in|US 70; SR 101
Enter roundabout onto US 70; SR 101
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.94 one way
$77.89 round trip
$3.86/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$43.51
$87.02
premium
$4.73
$47.75
$95.51
diesel
$5.99
$60.53
$121.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.8 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77
0
$26.94
$12.32
Efficient EV
64.2
0
$22.45
$10.26
EV Truck/SUV
102.6
1
$35.92
$16.42
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Monday
Local time
8:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
36°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tullahoma, TN
Morning
in Tullahoma on Monday
Local time
7:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Patchy Fog
0 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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
5 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 8m 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.
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...
28 mi from route
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 79.6
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 67% of the driving on interstates like I-40 and I-81. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 98.7 miles on I-40 before transitioning to surface roads like Sparta Highway. Expect a significant amount of interstate cruising, with exits spaced at typical highway intervals. The highway portion will feel familiar to anyone accustomed to US interstates.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
44 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.7 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 22 significant decision points across 256.6 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 62.9 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,870 ft780 ft
Total Climb
1,503 ft
Total Descent
1,639 ft
Highest Point
1,870 ft
~183.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,090 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Kingsport, TN to Tullahoma, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Nashville along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 8m. Total distance: 256.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.7 miles on I 40. 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 Tullahoma, 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Tullahoma, TN before the return drive.
