Embarking from Winchester, TN, to Kingsport, TN, covers 268.8 miles and takes approximately 5 hours and 10 minutes. This drive is best suited for a single day, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. You'll primarily be on major interstates, with about 90% of the journey on highways, including I-75 and I-81. Budget around $42 for fuel for this journey. The overall feel is a straightforward highway-focused drive through the Southeast region of Tennessee. Consider this a solid option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
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
134.4 miles from Winchester, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
99.2 mi
1h 49m
I 24
50.5 mi
58m
I 81
50.5 mi
54m
I 40
36.7 mi
40m
Sewanee Highway
6.8 mi
10m
South Wilcox Drive
4.1 mi
6m
Sullivan Gardens Drive
3.1 mi
3m
Cowan Highway
2.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 99.2 mi, about 1h 49m
Traffic on I-24
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,974 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,367
Quietest
2 AM
~348 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winchester, TN and Kingsport, TN.
1
Start on US 41A
75 ft·7 sec·South Jefferson Street
2
Turn left onto US 41A; US 64 Business; SR 50
243 ft·5 sec·1st Avenue Southeast
3
Turn right onto US 41A; US 64 Business
1.7 mi·2 min·South College Street
4
Continue on US 41A; US 64 Business
2.7 mi·4 min·Cowan Highway
5
Continue on US 41A
2.6 mi·3 min·Cumberland Street West
6
Continue on US 41A
5.0 mi·7 min·Sewanee Highway
7
Continue on US 41A
2.0 mi·2 min·Sollace M Freeman Highway
8
Continue on US 41A
1.8 mi·2 min·Sewanee Highway
9
Continue on US 41A
0.4 mi·36 sec·David Crockett Highway
10
Continue on US 41A
1.3 mi·1 min·West Main Street
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
12
Merge onto I 24; US 64
51 mi·58 min·I 24;US 64
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 185 BToward I 75 North: KnoxvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 75
99 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·40 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
51 mi·54 min·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 50Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
18
Keep slight right at fork
509 ft·14 sec
Exit 50Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
19
Merge onto SR 93
0.6 mi·38 sec·SR 93
20
Continue on TN 93
2.4 mi·2 min·TN 93
21
Continue on SR 93
3.1 mi·3 min·Sullivan Gardens Drive
22
Continue on SR 93
1.5 mi·1 min·South Wilcox Drive
23
Continue on SR 93
1.4 mi·1 min·Sullivan Gardens Parkway
24
Turn left onto SR 126
2.6 mi·4 min·South Wilcox Drive
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn left onto East Sullivan Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·East Sullivan Street
26
Turn slight left onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
27
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Broad Street
28
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
46 ft·1 sec·Broad Street
29
Continue on Broad Street
433 ft·19 sec·Broad Street
30
Turn left onto TN 36
0.1 mi·23 sec·West Center Street
31
Arrive at destination
TN 36
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 10-minute drive, departing in the morning will allow you to reach Kingsport with ample daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your break strategically, perhaps midway to stretch your legs and refuel. The longest stretch without a major break is over 99 miles on I-75, so be mindful of that when planning your stops. Given the highway-focused nature, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is advisable, especially as you near the 99-mile mark between services. The relatively short duration makes it easy to manage in a single day without feeling rushed.
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 134.4 miles from Winchester, TN, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.2 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 59 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.4 miles or 2h 39m 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 14m
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 Winchester, 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 Winchester, TN
This is one driving day of about 268.8 miles and 5h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Winchester, 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 75 for about 99.2 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 68.5 and 256 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
68.5 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 185 B
Toward I 75 North: Knoxville
6
168.5 mi into trip|~3h 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
205.3 mi into trip|~3h 57m 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
255.8 mi into trip|~4h 52m 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
256 mi into trip|~4h 52m 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
$39.70 one way
$79.39 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$43.82
$87.65
premium
$4.72
$49.91
$99.82
diesel
$4.80
$50.75
$101.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.6
0
$28.22
$12.90
Efficient EV
67.2
0
$23.52
$10.75
EV Truck/SUV
107.5
1
$37.63
$17.20
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Winchester, TN
Late night
in Winchester on Monday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Areas Of Fog
0 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Kingsport, TN
Late night
in Kingsport on Monday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph6% chanceLive forecast
87°F
Athens, TN
134 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 10m 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
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 194.7
Park Closure: Heintooga Ridge Road is currently closed
Park Closure: Ramsey Cascades Trail temporarily closed
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route predominantly features highway driving, with a 90% highway share. Expect long stretches of interstate travel, including a notable 99.2-mile segment on I-75. The character of the drive is largely consistent, focusing on covering ground quickly rather than winding scenic byways. While you'll spend most of your time on major interstates like I-24 and I-81, it's a predictable and efficient path. The journey offers a straightforward driving experience with minimal navigational complexity, allowing you to settle into a rhythm.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.2 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 24. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 68.5 miles in.
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 15 significant decision points across 268.8 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 68.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.5 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 205.3 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 10m. Total distance: 268.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 10m 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 99.2 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 35 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 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. There are 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 68.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.5 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 205.3 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 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.
