Spanning 283.4 miles across Tennessee, this trek from Portland to Kingsport typically takes about 5 hours and 19 minutes. Because the route is straightforward and mostly interstate-based, it is easily manageable as a one-day trip without the need for an overnight stop. You can expect to spend roughly $43 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly way to cross the state. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, the climate and road conditions remain relatively consistent throughout your travel. Whether you are heading east for business or a visit, this drive offers a reliable, no-fuss connection between these two Tennessee locales.
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
141.7 miles from Portland, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
189 mi
3h 26m
I 81
50.5 mi
54m
North Broadway
17.6 mi
20m
SR 109
10.7 mi
15m
South Wilcox Drive
4.1 mi
6m
Sullivan Gardens Drive
3.1 mi
3m
TN 93
2.4 mi
2m
South Water Avenue
2.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 189 mi, about 3h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portland, TN and Kingsport, TN.
1
Start on SR 109
18 mi·20 min·North Broadway
2
Take the exit
291 ft·8 sec
3
Merge onto SR 109
2.1 mi·2 min·South Water Avenue
4
Continue on SR 109
7.1 mi·11 min·SR 109
5
Continue on SR 109
3.6 mi·4 min·SR 109
6
Turn left
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville
7
Merge onto I 40
152 mi·2 hr 45 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·40 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
51 mi·54 min·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 50Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
11
Keep slight right at fork
509 ft·14 sec
Exit 50Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
12
Merge onto SR 93
0.6 mi·38 sec·SR 93
13
Continue on TN 93
2.4 mi·2 min·TN 93
14
Continue on SR 93
3.1 mi·3 min·Sullivan Gardens Drive
15
Continue on SR 93
1.5 mi·1 min·South Wilcox Drive
16
Continue on SR 93
1.4 mi·1 min·Sullivan Gardens Parkway
17
Turn left onto SR 126
2.6 mi·4 min·South Wilcox Drive
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn left onto East Sullivan Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·East Sullivan Street
19
Turn slight left onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
20
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Broad Street
21
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
46 ft·1 sec·Broad Street
22
Continue on Broad Street
433 ft·19 sec·Broad Street
23
Turn left onto TN 36
0.1 mi·23 sec·West Center Street
24
Arrive at destination
TN 36
Trip Plan
Planning for this 5-hour and 19-minute drive is simple, but keeping your momentum steady is key to a smooth arrival. Since you only need one planned stop to stay refreshed, choose a location that breaks up the longest 189-mile stretch on I-40 to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning to beat potential congestion on the main interstates, especially if your arrival time is flexible. Keep your gas gauge in mind as you transition between the primary highways, as fuel costs can fluctuate slightly depending on where you exit. Because this route is so direct, having your GPS ready for the final transition onto North Broadway will help you navigate the final miles into Kingsport with ease.
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 141.7 miles from Portland, TN, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 189 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 62 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.7 miles or 2h 40m 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 19m
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 Portland, 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 Portland, TN
This is one driving day of about 283.4 miles and 5h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Portland, 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 189 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 30.9 and 270.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
30.9 mi into trip|~39m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
183.1 mi into trip|~3h 25m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
219.9 mi into trip|~4h 6m 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
270.4 mi into trip|~5h 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
270.6 mi into trip|~5h 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
$44.31 one way
$88.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$48.65
$97.29
premium
$4.89
$54.54
$109.08
diesel
$5.61
$62.57
$125.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85
1
$29.76
$13.60
Efficient EV
70.9
0
$24.80
$11.34
EV Truck/SUV
113.4
1
$39.68
$18.14
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Portland, TN
Morning
in Portland on Sunday
Local time
11:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kingsport, TN
Afternoon
in Kingsport on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Spring City, TN
142 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
29 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 19m 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.
Stones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 29.3
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 205.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 90% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of I-40, I-81, and North Broadway, with the most significant portion being a 189-mile uninterrupted stretch along I-40. This creates a predictable rhythm, shifting from the faster-paced interstate segments into the local flow as you approach your destination. While the interstate dominates the majority of the trip, the transition onto North Broadway provides a shift in pace toward the end of your journey. It is a functional, efficient drive that prioritizes speed and direct navigation over winding secondary roads.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 189 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 30.9 miles in near I 40.
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 14 significant decision points across 283.4 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 30.9 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 183.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 219.9 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 19m. Total distance: 283.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 19m 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 189 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 30.9 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 183.1 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 219.9 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kingsport, TN before the return drive.
