Origin
Surgoinsville, TN
Late night in Surgoinsville on Sunday
Local time
12:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Surgoinsville, 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
50m
Distance
40.4 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Surgoinsville, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Johnson City, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Surgoinsville to Johnson City, you are looking at a straightforward 40.4-mile trek through Southeast Tennessee. This drive typically takes about 50 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a quick day trip rather than an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize Phipps Bend Road, I-26 East, and James H to complete the journey. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $6, it is an economical route for commuters or casual travelers. Since both towns reside within the Southeast, the journey remains consistent in terms of regional character and climate. It is a practical, efficient connection that gets you between these two points with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| James H. Quillen Parkway | 22.5 mi | 26m |
| US 11W | 14.5 mi | 16m |
| West Main Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| East Market Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Phipps Bend Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Buffalo Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
James H. Quillen Parkway
— 22.5 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Surgoinsville, TN and Johnson City, TN.
1
Start on SR 346
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
2
Turn left onto Phipps Bend Road
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Phipps Bend Road
3
Turn right onto US 11W
14 mi
·
16 min
·
US 11W
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 26; US 23
22 mi
·
26 min
·
James H. Quillen Parkway
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 23
Toward TN 91
7
Turn right onto SR 91
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Market Street
8
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Buffalo Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Turn right
433 ft
·
31 sec
10
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.2 miles from Surgoinsville, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 40.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Phipps Bend Road
Turn left onto Phipps Bend Road
Navigation decision point
4
2.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 11W
Turn right onto US 11W
Navigation decision point
7
16.9 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City
5
39.7 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward TN 91
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 23
Toward TN 91
5
40.1 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
Buffalo Street
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.32 one way
$12.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.93 | $13.87 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.77 | $15.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.92 | $17.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.24 | $1.94 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.53 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Late night in Johnson City on Sunday
Local time
12:46 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
4 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
50m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate away from Surgoinsville. Because the highway share is 0%, you won't be spending much time on high-speed interstates, which contributes to the technical feel of the road. There is no significant longest stretch to speak of, as the winding nature of Phipps Bend Road keeps you engaged behind the wheel. The transition from local roads to the final approach into Johnson City requires constant focus on the road's curves. While it lacks the monotony of a long-distance interstate grind, the lack of long, straight stretches ensures you remain alert throughout the entire 50-minute duration.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.5 mi on James H. Quillen Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on James H. Quillen Parkway and US 11W. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near Phipps Bend Road.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Surgoinsville, TN to Johnson City, TN is easy. At 50m with 92% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles (Phipps Bend Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (US 11W): Navigation decision point; at 16.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 40.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.5 miles on James H. Quillen Parkway. 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: at 2.2 miles (Phipps Bend Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (US 11W): Navigation decision point; at 16.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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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