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

The driving distance from Johnson City, TN to Bedford, TN is about 291 miles (468.3 km), with a travel time of about 05h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 243.4 miles (391.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 40m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
290.98 mi
05h 50m
Flight
243.39 mi
391.7 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Johnson City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
243.39 mi
Kilometers
391.7 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
290.98 mi
Kilometers
468.29 km
Drive Time
05h 50m

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 05h 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bedford
Thu, Apr 16, 7:13 PM CDT
Return by in Johnson City
Fri, Apr 17, 2:04 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Johnson City
2026-04-16T14:23
Arrive Bedford
Thu, Apr 16, 8:13 PM EDT
Route Timing
05h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:50 AM to 12:50 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:20 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Johnson City
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
Midtown
TN

Neighborhood in Manhattan in New York City

From Johnson City
145.3 mi
02h 55m
To Bedford
145.6 mi
02h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W
Destination
82°F
Thursday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    132 m · 35 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Buffalo Street

    1620 ft · 56 sec · Buffalo Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto North Roan Street

    1633 ft · 37 sec · North Roan Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto East Watauga Avenue

    1812 ft · 45 sec · East Watauga Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Oak Street

    135 m · 11 sec · Oak Street

  6. 6

    Take the ramp straight

    962 ft · 24 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway

    13.7 mi · 16 min · James H. Quillen Parkway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 81 South: Knoxville

    1100 ft · 38 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    56.4 mi · 1 hr

  10. 10

    Continue on I 40 West: Knoxville

    1.1 km · 45 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    52.8 mi · 59 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Nashville

    45.9 mi · 49 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward TN 101: Crossville

    1130 ft · 36 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Peavine Road

    2327 ft · 41 sec · Peavine Road

  15. 15

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    15 m · 1 sec

  16. 16

    Exit the roundabout

    2.5 mi · 5 min

  17. 17

    Turn right onto West Avenue

    1.4 mi · 2 min · West Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Sparta Highway

    25.9 mi · 39 min · Sparta Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on West Bockman Way

    1.3 km · 1 min · West Bockman Way

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Mayberry Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · Mayberry Street

  21. 21

    Continue on Broadway of America

    607 ft · 14 sec · Broadway of America

  22. 22

    Take the ramp left

    1536 ft · 42 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left onto Spencer Highway

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Spencer Highway

  24. 24

    Keep slight left to continue on Memorial Highway

    7.9 mi · 9 min · Memorial Highway

  25. 25

    Continue on Bone Cave Parkway

    9.4 mi · 11 min · Bone Cave Parkway

  26. 26

    Continue on Sparta Highway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · Sparta Highway

  27. 27

    Continue on Sparta Street

    2688 ft · 37 sec · Sparta Street

  28. 28

    Continue on Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway

    3.8 mi · 5 min · Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway

  29. 29

    Continue on H T Pelham Memorial Parkway

    3.7 mi · 4 min · H T Pelham Memorial Parkway

  30. 30

    Continue on Manchester Highway

    11.7 mi · 13 min · Manchester Highway

  31. 31

    Merge slight left onto McMinnville Highway

    7.6 mi · 10 min · McMinnville Highway

  32. 32

    Continue on McArthur Street

    2.1 mi · 4 min · McArthur Street

  33. 33

    Continue on New Tullahoma Highway

    3 mi · 4 min · New Tullahoma Highway

  34. 34

    Continue on New Manchester Highway

    3.4 mi · 5 min · New Manchester Highway

  35. 35

    Continue on East Carroll Street

    2.7 mi · 3 min · East Carroll Street

  36. 36

    Turn right onto South Jackson Street

    14.5 mi · 17 min · South Jackson Street

  37. 37

    Turn left

    3.4 mi · 5 min

  38. 38

    Turn right onto North Jefferson Street

    833 ft · 14 sec · North Jefferson Street

  39. 39

    Continue on East Lane Street

    146 m · 10 sec · East Lane Street

  40. 40

    Continue on Lane Parkway

    901 ft · 17 sec · Lane Parkway

  41. 41

    Turn left onto North Cannon Boulevard

    1.2 km · 1 min · North Cannon Boulevard

  42. 42

    Turn right onto Lewis Avenue

    6.6 mi · 10 min · Lewis Avenue

  43. 43

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
43 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
5 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 81 South
56.6 mi · 19%
I 40 West
53.5 mi · 18%
Nashville
45.9 mi · 16%
Sparta Highway
29.1 mi · 10%
South Jackson Street
14.5 mi · 5%
James H. Quillen Parkway
13.7 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

I 81 South

Merge slight left

56.4 mi · 01h 00m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 50m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+47.6 mi
243.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Midtown
02h 55m from Johnson City
Leave By
5:20 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Johnson City and Chance Rain Showers near Bedford.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 291 miles (468.3 km) and usually takes 05h 50m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Midtown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 145.3 miles from Johnson City and 145.6 miles from Bedford.

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

The direct path is about 243.4 miles (391.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 47.6 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 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:20 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.73 one way or $77.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 91.3 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Johnson City and Bedford, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Johnson City and Chance Rain Showers near Bedford.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Johnson City and Bedford. Straight-line distance: 243.39 mi (391.7 km).

Johnson City

#1 Johnson City

The most populous city in Washington County, Tennessee.

Population66,906
Coordinates36.3134400, -82.3534700
Altitude498
CountryUnited States
Bedford

#2 Bedford

Town in Bedford County, Virginia, United States

Population5,948
Coordinates35.4636800, -86.5736100
Altitude242
CountryUnited States
Start: Johnson City (-82.35347, 36.31344)
End: Bedford (-86.57361, 35.46368)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 468 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 41m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 50m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.27 gal
38.87 L · about $38.73
Round trip
$77.46
20.54 gal · 77.74 L
Estimated CO2
91.3 kg one way
Round trip: 182.5 kg / 402 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $38.73 $77.46
Mid-grade $4.25 $43.68 $87.36
Premium $4.65 $47.80 $95.59
Diesel $5.30 $54.47 $108.94

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 16, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Johnson City, TN and Bedford, TN. The current time in Johnson City is 14:23:07, although it is 13:23:07 in Bedford.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — 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.