How far is Chapel Hill, TN from Johnson City, TN?
The driving distance from Chapel Hill, TN to Johnson City, TN is about 404.3 miles (650.6 km), with a travel time of about 07h 33m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 346.5 miles (557.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 07m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 07h 33m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
City in Tennessee, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Chapel Hill and Johnson City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chapel Hill and Johnson City.
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1
Start on the route
989 ft · 44 sec
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2
At the end of the road, turn right onto Joe Horton Road
902 ft · 42 sec · Joe Horton Road
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3
Turn right onto Life Road
1.3 km · 1 min · Life Road
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4
Continue on Life Road
5 mi · 9 min · Life Road
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5
At the end of the road, turn right onto Lexington Bypass
1.3 mi · 2 min · Lexington Bypass
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6
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Broad Street
11.9 mi · 18 min · South Broad Street
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7
Take the ramp right toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington, Huntingdon
1179 ft · 25 sec
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8
Merge slight left
99.3 mi · 1 hr 47 min
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9
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 65 South: Knoxville, Huntsville
1305 ft · 25 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop
2.4 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop
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11
Continue on Downtown Loop
2764 ft · 43 sec · Downtown Loop
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12
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
173.8 mi · 3 hr 10 min
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13
Keep slight left
36.7 mi · 41 min
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14
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol
56.6 mi · 1 hr 1 min
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15
Take the exit slight right toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville
2112 ft · 40 sec
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16
Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway
14 mi · 17 min · James H. Quillen Parkway
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17
Take the exit slight right toward TN 91
614 ft · 15 sec
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18
Turn right onto East Market Street
1705 ft · 38 sec · East Market Street
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19
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
977 ft · 32 sec · Buffalo Street
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20
Turn right
132 m · 32 sec
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21
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Chapel Hill and Johnson City.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 40 East
Keep slight right to continue on I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
174 mi · 03h 10m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving Chapel Hill and Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Johnson City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Chapel Hill to Johnson City?
The road trip is about 404.3 miles (650.6 km) and usually takes 07h 33m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Cookeville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 201.9 miles from Chapel Hill and 202.4 miles from Johnson City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 346.5 miles (557.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 57.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $53.81 one way or $107.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 126.8 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Chapel Hill and Johnson City, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Chapel Hill and Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Johnson City.
Stop Ideas Near Cookeville
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Cookeville.
Nashville, TN
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Chapel Hill and Johnson City. Straight-line distance: 346.5 mi (557.64 km).
#1 Chapel Hill
Human settlement in Marshall County, Tennessee, United States of America
| Population | 1,571 |
| Coordinates | 35.5986800, -88.4867200 |
| Altitude | 167 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Johnson City
The most populous city in Washington County, Tennessee.
| Population | 66,906 |
| Coordinates | 36.3134400, -82.3534700 |
| Altitude | 498 |
| Country | United States |
End: Johnson City (-82.35347, 36.31344)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 651 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 13h 28m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 06m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 05m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 44m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 46m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 02m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $53.81 | $107.62 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $60.69 | $121.38 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $66.41 | $132.83 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $75.69 | $151.38 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Tennessee · Apr 11, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.