How far is Cleveland, TN from Johnson City, TN?

Fastest route

directions from Cleveland, Tennessee to Johnson City, Tennessee:

  • Distance: 187 miles
  • Estimated travel time: 2 hours and 45 minutes
  • Fastest route: via I-75 N and I-81 N

Directions

  1. Start by getting on I-75 N from Georgetown Rd NW.
  2. Head northwest on Inman St W toward Broad St SW.
  3. Continue straight past Starbucks onto 1st St NW/Harrison Pike.
  4. Turn right onto Georgetown Rd NW.
  5. Turn left onto 25th St NW/Georgetown Rd NW.
  6. Turn right onto the ramp to Knoxville.
  7. Follow I-75 N, I-40 E, and I-81 N to TN-91 S/E Market St in Johnson City. Take exit 23 from I-26 E/US-23 S.
  8. Use the left two lanes to take exit 421 for I-81 N toward Bristol.
  9. Take exit 57A to merge onto I-26 E/US-23 S toward Asheville/Johnson City.
  10. Take exit 23 to merge onto TN-91 S/E Market St.
  11. Take E State of Franklin Rd to Cherry St.
  12. Merge onto TN-91 S/E Market St.
  13. Turn left onto Colonial Way.
  14. Turn right onto E State of Franklin Rd.
  15. Turn left onto Buffalo St.
  16. Turn right onto Cherry St.
  17. Arrive at Johnson City, Tennessee.

Tips & Suggestions

  • πŸš— Make sure to follow the signs for I-75 N and I-81 N to stay on the fastest route.
  • β›½ Plan for gas and restroom breaks along the way.
  • 🚦 Be prepared for potential traffic conditions and adjust your travel time accordingly.
  • πŸ“± Use a navigation app or GPS device for real-time updates on the route.
  • 🍽️ Consider stopping at restaurants or attractions along the way to enhance your journey.
  • πŸ›£οΈ Stay alert and obey traffic laws while driving.
  • πŸ—ΊοΈ Familiarize yourself with the general area and major landmarks to stay on track.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
187.61 mi
02h 48m
Flight
162.41 mi
261.38 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cleveland.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
162.41 mi
Kilometers
261.38 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
187.61 mi
Kilometers
301.93 km
Drive Time
02h 48m

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 02h 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Johnson City
Sun, May 31, 5:31 AM EDT
Return by in Cleveland
Sun, May 31, 8:19 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cleveland
2026-05-31T02:42
Arrive Johnson City
Sun, May 31, 5:31 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 48m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:48 AM to 12:48 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:54 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cleveland
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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.

Mid-route stop
Mascot
TN

Census-designated place in Knox County, Tennessee

From Cleveland
93.7 mi
01h 24m
To Johnson City
94 mi
01h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81Β°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph S
Destination
77Β°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cleveland and Johnson City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cleveland and Johnson City.

  1. 1

    Start on Inman Street West

    2183 ft Β· 40 sec Β· Inman Street West

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Keith Street

    1.5 mi Β· 2 min Β· Keith Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 25th Street Northwest

    1607 ft Β· 35 sec Β· 25th Street Northwest

  4. 4

    Continue on 25th Street NW

    2998 ft Β· 59 sec Β· 25th Street NW

  5. 5

    Continue on 25th Street Northwest

    839 ft Β· 18 sec Β· 25th Street Northwest

  6. 6

    Take the exit right

    1431 ft Β· 35 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    75.8 mi Β· 1 hr 23 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    36.7 mi Β· 41 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol

    56.6 mi Β· 1 hr 1 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville

    2112 ft Β· 40 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway

    14 mi Β· 17 min Β· James H. Quillen Parkway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward TN 91

    614 ft Β· 15 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto East Market Street

    1705 ft Β· 38 sec Β· East Market Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Buffalo Street

    977 ft Β· 32 sec Β· Buffalo Street

  15. 15

    Turn right

    132 m Β· 32 sec

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m Β· 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cleveland and Johnson City.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
16 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
25th Street Northwest
113 mi Β· 60%
I 81 North
56.6 mi Β· 30%
James H. Quillen Parkway
14 mi Β· 7%
Keith Street
1.5 mi Β· 1%
25th Street NW
0.57 mi
Inman Street West
0.41 mi
Longest Stretch

25th Street Northwest

Merge slight left

75.8 mi Β· 01h 23m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 48m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.2 mi
162.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mascot
01h 24m from Cleveland
Leave By
12:54 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Cleveland and Partly Sunny near Johnson City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cleveland to Johnson City?

The road trip is about 187.6 miles (301.9 km) and usually takes 02h 48m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Mascot is a useful midpoint, sitting about 93.7 miles from Cleveland and 94 miles from Johnson City.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 162.4 miles (261.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:54 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.96 one way or $49.93 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 58.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Cleveland and Partly Sunny near Johnson City.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cleveland and Johnson City. Straight-line distance: 162.41 mi (261.38 km).

Cleveland

#1 Cleveland

A city in Bradley County, Tennessee.

Population45,948
Coordinates35.1595200, -84.8766100
Altitude265
CountryUnited States
Johnson City

#2 Johnson City

The most populous city in Washington County, Tennessee.

Population66,906
Coordinates36.3134400, -82.3534700
Altitude498
CountryUnited States
Start: Inman St W (-84.876609, 35.159521)
End: Cherry Street (-82.353659, 36.313645)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 302 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.62 gal
25.06 L Β· about $24.96
Round trip
$49.93
13.24 gal Β· 50.12 L
Estimated CO2
58.8 kg one way
Round trip: 117.7 kg / 259 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $24.96 $49.93
Mid-grade $4.25 $28.15 $56.31
Premium $4.65 $30.81 $61.62
Diesel $5.30 $35.11 $70.22

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 Β· May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Cleveland and Johnson City. The current time is 02:42:44.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh β€” stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.