If you are planning to travel from Knoxville to Kingsport, you are looking at a straightforward 97.6-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 51 minutes. Since the entire trip stays within the Southeast region of Tennessee, it works perfectly as a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel, making this an economical option for a quick transit between these two cities. Because the route is compact and efficient, you can easily complete the drive in a single day without feeling rushed. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection that gets you from point A to point B with minimal logistical complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.8 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
50.5 mi
54m
I 40
33.2 mi
36m
South Wilcox Drive
4.1 mi
6m
Sullivan Gardens Drive
3.1 mi
3m
TN 93
2.4 mi
2m
Sullivan Gardens Parkway
1.4 mi
1m
East Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
SR 93
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 50.5 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Kingsport, TN.
1
Start on US 441
0.2 mi·19 sec·Henley Street
2
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 40, I 275 North: Nashville, Asheville, Lexington
3
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I 40 East: Asheville
4
Merge onto I 40
33 mi·36 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
51 mi·54 min·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 50Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
7
Keep slight right at fork
509 ft·14 sec
Exit 50Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
8
Merge onto SR 93
0.6 mi·38 sec·SR 93
9
Continue on TN 93
2.4 mi·2 min·TN 93
10
Continue on SR 93
3.1 mi·3 min·Sullivan Gardens Drive
11
Continue on SR 93
1.5 mi·1 min·South Wilcox Drive
12
Continue on SR 93
1.4 mi·1 min·Sullivan Gardens Parkway
13
Turn left onto SR 126
2.6 mi·4 min·South Wilcox Drive
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto East Sullivan Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·East Sullivan Street
15
Turn slight left onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
16
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Broad Street
17
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
46 ft·1 sec·Broad Street
18
Continue on Broad Street
433 ft·19 sec·Broad Street
19
Turn left onto TN 36
0.1 mi·23 sec·West Center Street
20
Arrive at destination
TN 36
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule. With no mandatory stops required to complete the 97.6-mile distance, you can power through the entire route in under two hours if you prefer. Keep in mind that the majority of your travel occurs on I-81, so stay alert for typical interstate traffic patterns that might influence your arrival time. Because the route is so direct, fueling up before you leave Knoxville should easily get you to Kingsport without needing to pull over for gas. Use this efficiency to your advantage by choosing a departure time that helps you avoid peak commuting hours in either city.
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 48.8 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.5 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 21 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.8 miles or 54m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kingsport, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Knoxville, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Knoxville, TN
This is one driving day of about 97.6 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Knoxville, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 50.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 84.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the exit toward I 40, I 275 North: Nashville, Asheville, Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 40, I 275 North: Nashville, Asheville,...
5
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Asheville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 40 East: Asheville
6
34.1 mi into trip|~38m in|I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 North: Bristol
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
6
84.6 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 50
Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
8
84.8 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 50
Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.26 one way
$30.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.75
$33.51
premium
$4.89
$18.78
$37.56
diesel
$5.61
$21.55
$43.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.3
0
$10.25
$4.68
Efficient EV
24.4
0
$8.54
$3.90
EV Truck/SUV
39
0
$13.66
$6.25
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Knoxville, TN
Morning
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kingsport, TN
Morning
in Kingsport on Sunday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live 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
8 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 51m 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.
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
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 20.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 90% of your time spent on major thoroughfares like I-40, I-81, and South Wilcox Drive. You will spend the bulk of your journey on the interstate, including a significant 50.5-mile uninterrupted stretch on I-81. Expect a consistent, fast-paced experience as you navigate these high-speed lanes across the Tennessee landscape. The road personality is defined by its efficiency rather than technical curves or local backroads, so prepare for a steady cruise. It is a functional route designed for travelers who prioritize speed and direct access over scenic detours.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.5 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 97.6 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 0.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 34.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,622 ft858 ft
Total Climb
965 ft
Total Descent
655 ft
Highest Point
1,622 ft
~83.7 mi in
Elevation Range
764 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 Knoxville, TN to Kingsport, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Fall Branch along the way.
Knoxville, in Knox County, is the third-largest city in Tennessee. It is the home of the University of Tennessee's primary campus (UTK) and site of the 1982 World's Fair.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 97.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.5 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Kingsport, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 34.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kingsport, TN before heading back.
