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Trip from Spencer, 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

4h 18m

Distance

216.9 mi

349 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

26 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 5m ★
6 AM
4h 19m
8 AM
4h 45m
10 AM
4h 28m
12 PM
4h 25m
3 PM
4h 29m
5 PM
4h 44m
8 PM
4h 11m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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town in Tennessee, USA

Spencer, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Johnson City, TN, TN

Johnson City, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 216.9-mile drive from Spencer, Tennessee, to Johnson City, Tennessee, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 18 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-40 and I-81, with a brief segment on Crossville Highway, this route offers a straightforward highway-focused experience. With a projected fuel cost of around $34, it's an economical option for a quick trip within the Southeast region. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 101.2 miles on I-40, so plan for a comfortable, albeit mostly highway-centric, journey. This route is ideal if you're looking for efficiency and a clear path to your destination.

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

108.4 miles from Spencer, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 17m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 40 101.2 mi 1h 52m
I 81 56.6 mi 1h
Crossville Highway 20.9 mi 31m
James H. Quillen Parkway 14 mi 16m
SR 111 12 mi 16m
Sparta Highway 4.9 mi 7m
Genesis Road 2.1 mi 3m
Mayberry Street 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 40 — 101.2 mi, about 1h 52m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Spencer, TN and Johnson City, TN.

1

Start on Sparta Street

42 ft · 6 sec · Sparta Street
2

Turn left onto SR 30

0.2 mi · 22 sec · SR 30
3

Turn left onto Burritt College Drive

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Burritt College Drive
4

Turn right onto Spring Street

0.2 mi · 56 sec · Spring Street
5

Turn left onto SR 111

12 mi · 16 min · SR 111
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
7

Keep slight right at fork

268 ft · 7 sec
8

Turn straight onto TN 1

0.9 mi · 1 min · Mayberry Street
9

Turn right onto US 70

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Bockman Way
10

Continue on US 70

21 mi · 31 min · Crossville Highway
11

Continue on US 70

4.9 mi · 7 min · Sparta Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
12

Continue on Elmore Road

0.3 mi · 34 sec · Elmore Road
13

Turn right onto US 127

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Main Street
14

Turn left onto SR 298

2.1 mi · 3 min · Genesis Road
15

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec
16

Merge onto I 40

64 mi · 1 hr 11 min · I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
17

Keep slight left at fork onto I 40

37 mi · 40 min · I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

57 mi · 1 hr · I 81
Exit 421 Toward I 81 North: Bristol
19

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 40 sec
Exit 57A Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
20

Merge onto I 26; US 23

14 mi · 16 min · James H. Quillen Parkway
21

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Exit 23 Toward TN 91
22

Turn right onto SR 91

0.3 mi · 38 sec · East Market Street
23

Turn left onto Buffalo Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Buffalo Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
24

Turn right

433 ft · 31 sec
25

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 4-hour and 18-minute duration, this trip is very manageable as a single-day excursion. Aim to depart in the morning to allow ample time for any unforeseen delays and to arrive with daylight. With only one recommended stop on a route of this length, you have flexibility; consider stopping roughly midway to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 101.2-mile stretch on I-40, to ensure you don't need to go too far out of your way for services. The $34 fuel cost is an estimate, so factor in current prices and your vehicle's efficiency.

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 108.4 miles from Spencer, TN, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.2 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 48 miles or 1h 11m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 108.4 miles or 2h 17m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 33m

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 Spencer, 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 Spencer, TN

This is one driving day of about 216.9 miles and 4h 18m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Spencer, 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 101.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

suburb of Nashville, Tennessee, located in Williamson County, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brentwood, TN

108 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

Spring City, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Knoxville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 108.4 miles from Spencer, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 40 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 101.2 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Coffee Stop

Capybara Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Knoxville, Tennessee

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 108.4

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

Visit website

Capybara Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 108.4

Knoxville, Tennessee

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

Visit website

Market Square

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour Inexpensiv mile 108.4

Knoxville, Tennessee

+18652154248

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 12.9 and 201.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
12.9 mi into trip | ~18m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
43.9 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | I 40

Merge onto I 40

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
108.4 mi into trip | ~2h 17m 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
145.2 mi into trip | ~2h 58m 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
201.8 mi into trip | ~3h 59m 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

$33.91 one way

$67.82 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 76 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $37.23 $74.46
premium $4.89 $41.74 $83.48
diesel $5.61 $47.89 $95.78

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 75.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

26 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Buc-ee's - Tesla Supercharger

Crossville, TN

Tesla

16 DCFC

Food City - Tesla Supercharger

Kingston, TN

Tesla

16 DCFC

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Knoxville, TN

Tesla

16 DCFC

Stonehaus Winery - Tesla Supercharger

Crossville, TN

Tesla

8 DCFC

Pavilion of Turkey Creek - Tesla Supercharger

Knoxville, TN

Tesla

8 DCFC

Brookview Town Centre - Tesla Supercharger

Knoxville, TN

Tesla

8 DCFC

Downtown Knoxville

Knoxville, TN

ZEFNET

8 DCFC

Flying J 722

Knoxville, TN

eVgo Network

4 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 8 MERCEDES_BENZ: 6 Tesla: 6 Blink Network: 2 eVgo Network: 1 Electrify America: 1 Non-Networked: 1 ZEFNET: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 65.1 0 $22.77 $10.41
Efficient EV 54.2 0 $18.98 $8.68
EV Truck/SUV 86.8 1 $30.37 $13.88

Gas CO2

76 kg

EV CO2

25 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 Apr 19, 2026

Origin

Spencer, TN

Morning in Spencer on Sunday

Local time

7:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Sunny

NNW 5 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Dense Fog Advisory

Dense Fog Advisory issued April 19 at 5:37AM CDT until April 19 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Nashville TN

Dense Fog Advisory

Dense Fog Advisory issued April 19 at 5:37AM CDT until April 19 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Nashville TN

Destination

Johnson City, TN

Morning in Johnson City on Sunday

Local time

8:52 AM

EDT

Current temp

77°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

1 hour later

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

16 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 18m 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

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 ~69 min detour Free near mile 134.6
Park Closure: Abrams Falls Trail Closed
Park Closure: Seasonal road closures
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect an 85% highway-focused drive on this route. You'll spend the majority of your time on Interstates, specifically I-40 and I-81, which offer consistent speeds and a predictable driving experience. The longest continuous segment you'll navigate is 101.2 miles on I-40, meaning extended periods of highway travel are to be expected. While the profile is largely highway, there's a brief introduction via Crossville Highway before merging onto the main interstates. This means you'll likely experience a shift from local road conditions to the more open, high-speed environment of the interstates as you progress eastward.

85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 101.2 mi on I 40.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

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 12.9 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 216.9 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 12.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 43.9 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Spencer, TN to Johnson City, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Asheville along the way.

Asheville

201.8 mi in | ~3h 59m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 18m. Total distance: 216.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 101.2 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 12.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 43.9 miles (I 40): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.4 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 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Johnson City, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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