Waynesboro, TN to Johnson City, TN is 379.4 miles and takes about 7h 9m via I 40, I 81, and Tennessee National Guard Parkway, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, traversing the Southeast region from west to east. With over 90% of the route on highways, expect a straightforward drive that's mostly about covering ground efficiently. This makes it a solid option for a single-day trip if you're looking to reach your destination without much fuss.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
189.7 miles from Waynesboro, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
185.8 mi
3h 23m
I 81
56.6 mi
1h
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
45 mi
48m
Lawrenceburg Highway
30.3 mi
34m
United States Route 64
14.4 mi
16m
James H. Quillen Parkway
14 mi
16m
I 65
12.1 mi
12m
TN 240
10 mi
17m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 185.8 mi, about 3h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waynesboro, TN and Johnson City, TN.
1
Start on TN 13
222 ft·6 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn right onto Hill Street
197 ft·3 sec·Hill Street
3
Turn straight onto Dexter L Woods Memorial Boulevard
1.2 mi·1 min·Dexter L Woods Memorial Boulevard
4
Continue on US 64
14 mi·16 min·United States Route 64
5
Turn left onto SR 240
4.9 mi·8 min·SR 240
6
Turn straight onto TN 240
10 mi·17 min·TN 240
7
Continue on SR 20; SR 240
1.3 mi·1 min·SR 20; SR 240
8
Turn straight onto TN 20
0.7 mi·1 min·TN 20
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 43
30 mi·34 min·Lawrenceburg Highway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
11
Merge onto I 65
12 mi·12 min·I 65
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Exit 59A-BToward I 840: Memphis, KnoxvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·41 sec
Exit 59AToward 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro
14
Merge onto I 840
45 mi·48 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 76AToward I 40 East: Knoxville, LebanonUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto I 40
149 mi·2 hr 42 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 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·40 sec
Exit 57AToward 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 23Toward 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
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, consider leaving early in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic. With a fuel cost estimated around $58, make sure your tank is full before you depart Waynesboro. You'll have two designated stops, but with over 185 miles on I 40 before the first potential break, plan your first stop strategically. The drive is manageable in one day, so you have flexibility, but be aware that the longest stretch is on I 40, so ensure you're comfortable with that duration on a single highway.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 189.7 miles from Waynesboro, TN, or about 3h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 185.8 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 83 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.7 miles or 3h 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 6h 2m
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 Waynesboro, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waynesboro, TN
This is one driving day of about 379.4 miles and 7h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Waynesboro, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 40 for about 185.8 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 75.4 and 307.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
75.4 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 840: Memphis, Knoxville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 59A-B
Toward I 840: Memphis, Knoxville
7
75.6 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 59A
Toward 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro
9
121.2 mi into trip|~2h 25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 76A
Toward I 40 East: Knoxville, Lebanon
6
271 mi into trip|~5h 9m 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
307.7 mi into trip|~5h 49m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.03 one way
$112.06 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg133 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$61.85
$123.71
premium
$4.72
$70.44
$140.89
diesel
$4.80
$71.64
$143.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113.8
1
$39.84
$18.21
Efficient EV
94.9
1
$33.20
$15.18
EV Truck/SUV
151.8
1
$53.12
$24.28
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Waynesboro, TN
Late night
in Waynesboro on Monday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Areas Of Fog
0 mph13% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Johnson City, TN
Late night
in Johnson City on Monday
Local time
5:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph1% 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
7h 9m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 104.7
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...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 300.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 91% of your time on highways, covering a significant portion of the 379.4 miles on I 40. The longest continuous stretch without needing to exit is 185.8 miles on I 40. After that, you'll transition to other major highways like I 81 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway, likely encountering more frequent exits as you approach your destination. Given the highway focus, anticipate steady cruising with periods of higher traffic merging.
91% 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: 185.8 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 75.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 379.4 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 75.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 121.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,889 ft544 ft
Total Climb
2,444 ft
Total Descent
1,570 ft
Highest Point
1,889 ft
~189.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,345 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Waynesboro, TN and Johnson City, TN, road signs point toward Knoxville, 840: Knoxville, Murfreesboro and Lebanon.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 9m. Total distance: 379.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 9m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 185.8 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 32 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 32 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 75.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 121.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Johnson City, TN before the return drive.
