This 250.9-mile drive from Red Boiling Springs to Johnson City, Tennessee, is designed as a single-day adventure, taking approximately 4 hours and 52 minutes. You'll primarily navigate local roads, indicated by a 0% highway share, making it a more hands-on driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $38, it's an economical trip. This route stays within the Southeast region, offering a consistent feel throughout. Plan for frequent turns as you make your way across the state. It's a great option if you're looking for a full day of driving without the need for an overnight stay.
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
125.4 miles from Red Boiling Springs, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
141 mi
2h 35m
I 81
56.6 mi
1h
James H. Quillen Parkway
14 mi
16m
Jennings Creek Highway
12.6 mi
18m
North Grundy Quarles Memorial Highway
12.1 mi
18m
Gundy Quarels Memorial Highway
5.4 mi
8m
Red Boiling Springs Highway
4.7 mi
7m
North Springs Road
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 141 mi, about 2h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Red Boiling Springs, TN and Johnson City, TN.
1
Start on SR 56
433 ft·12 sec·Main Street
2
Continue on SR 151
0.9 mi·1 min·East Main Street
3
Continue on SR 151
1.7 mi·2 min·North Springs Road
4
Continue on SR 151
0.3 mi·26 sec·Red Boiling Sprgs Highway
5
Continue on SR 151
4.7 mi·7 min·Red Boiling Springs Highway
6
Turn left onto SR 56
13 mi·18 min·Jennings Creek Highway
7
Continue on SR 53; SR 56
12 mi·18 min·North Grundy Quarles Memorial Highway
8
Continue on SR 56
5.4 mi·8 min·Gundy Quarels Memorial Highway
9
Continue on SR 56
0.1 mi·15 sec·Gainesboro Highway
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
11
Merge onto I 40
104 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·40 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
57 mi·1 hr·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·40 sec
Exit 57AToward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
15
Merge onto I 26; US 23
14 mi·16 min·James H. Quillen Parkway
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 23Toward TN 91
17
Turn right onto SR 91
0.3 mi·38 sec·East Market Street
18
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Buffalo Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Turn right
433 ft·31 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour, 52-minute duration, starting your drive in the morning from Red Boiling Springs will allow ample time to reach Johnson City comfortably. While there's only one suggested stop, you might want to plan for additional brief breaks given the turn-heavy nature of the route, especially since there are no long highway stretches to break up the driving. Keep an eye on your fuel level, with an estimated cost of $38 for the trip, and consider topping off before you leave Red Boiling Springs. A good tip is to ensure your GPS or navigation system is fully charged and updated, as you'll be relying on it frequently for the numerous turns.
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 125.4 miles from Red Boiling Springs, TN, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 141 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 55 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.4 miles or 2h 32m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Johnson City, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Red Boiling Springs, 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 Red Boiling Springs, TN
This is one driving day of about 250.9 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Red Boiling Springs, 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 141 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 38 and 235.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
38 mi into trip|~56m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
38.2 mi into trip|~57m in|I 40
Merge onto I 40
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
142.4 mi into trip|~2h 51m 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
179.2 mi into trip|~3h 32m 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
235.8 mi into trip|~4h 32m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.85 one way
$83.71 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$45.67
$91.33
premium
$5.25
$51.89
$103.78
diesel
$6.28
$61.99
$123.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.3
0
$26.34
$12.04
Efficient EV
62.7
0
$21.95
$10.04
EV Truck/SUV
100.4
1
$35.13
$16.06
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 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
Red Boiling Springs, TN
Morning
in Red Boiling Springs on Friday
Local time
6:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Areas Of Fog then Sunny
WNW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Johnson City, TN
Morning
in Johnson City on Friday
Local time
7:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Areas Of Frost then Sunny
NE 0 to 5 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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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
4h 52m 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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 164.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the entirety of this 250.9-mile journey. With no highway segments, you'll be consistently engaging with the road, navigating a series of local streets and highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't a significant factor here, as the route is characterized by frequent directional changes. This profile means you'll likely experience a changing landscape as you move through different communities, rather than long, monotonous stretches.
84% 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: 141 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 81. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 38 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 250.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 38 miles: Navigation decision point; at 38.2 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 142.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,887 ft514 ft
Total Climb
2,323 ft
Total Descent
1,463 ft
Highest Point
1,887 ft
~71.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,373 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 Red Boiling Springs, TN to Johnson City, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 52m. Total distance: 250.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 141 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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 Johnson City, 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 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 38 miles: Navigation decision point; at 38.2 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 142.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Johnson City, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
