Origin
Morristown, TN
Morning in Morristown on Sunday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Morristown, TN to Johnson City, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
65.9 mi
106 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Morristown, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Johnson City, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel between Morristown and Johnson City, expect a straightforward 65.9-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 16 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to easily manage the drive without needing to book an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $10, it remains a highly economical choice for regional travel within Tennessee. Since both cities are located in the Southeast, the drive keeps you within the heart of the region throughout the transit. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major corridors, making this a reliable connection for those prioritizing efficiency over backroad detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 44.3 mi | 47m |
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 14 mi | 16m |
| Enka Highway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| North Cumberland Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Gov Dewitt Clinton Sentor Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Market Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Newport Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Buffalo Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 44.3 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Morristown, TN and Johnson City, TN.
1
Start on North Henry Street
125 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Henry Street
2
Turn left onto SR 66
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
West 1st North Street
3
Turn right onto SR 343
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Cumberland Street
4
Continue on SR 343
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Newport Highway
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward SR 160 South
6
Merge onto SR 160
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Gov Dewitt Clinton Sentor Highway
7
Continue on SR 160
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Enka Highway
8
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
9
Merge onto I 81
44 mi
·
47 min
·
I 81
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 57A
Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
11
Merge onto I 26; US 23
14 mi
·
16 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 23
Toward TN 91
13
Turn right onto SR 91
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Market Street
14
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Buffalo Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn right
433 ft
·
31 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33 miles from Morristown, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 65.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SR 66 / West 1st North Street
Turn left onto SR 66 / West 1st North Street
Navigation decision point
6
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward SR 160 South
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward SR 160 South
6
50.8 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 57A
Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, As...
5
65.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward TN 91
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 23
Toward TN 91
5
65.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
Buffalo Street
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.30 one way
$20.61 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.31 | $22.62 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.68 | $25.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.55 | $29.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.92 | $3.16 |
| Efficient EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.23 | $4.22 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Johnson City, TN
Morning in Johnson City on Sunday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
33 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 16m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 88% of the distance spent on high-speed roads. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-81, which accounts for a 44.3-mile stretch of the journey. As you transition off the interstate, the route incorporates the James H. Quillen Parkway and Enka Highway to reach your destination. Expect a consistent, fast-paced driving experience that favors highway efficiency over technical or winding local roads. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that keeps you moving steadily toward Johnson City.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.3 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and James H. Quillen Parkway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 66 / West 1st North Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 16m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SR 66 / West 1st North Street): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 50.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Morristown, TN to Johnson City, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.
Asheville
50.8 mi in
|
~57m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 65.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.3 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: near the start (SR 66 / West 1st North Street): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 50.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Johnson City, TN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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