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

The driving distance from Johnson City, TN to Brighton, TN is about 301.3 miles (484.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 48m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 244.6 miles (393.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 37m 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
301.33 mi
05h 48m
Flight
244.55 mi
393.57 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
244.55 mi
Kilometers
393.57 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
301.33 mi
Kilometers
484.94 km
Drive Time
05h 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 05h 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Brighton
Sat, Apr 11, 7:09 AM CDT
Return by in Johnson City
Sat, Apr 11, 1:58 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Johnson City
2026-04-11T02:21
Arrive Brighton
Sat, Apr 11, 8:09 AM EDT
Route Timing
05h 48m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:49 AM to 12:49 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
5:22 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
Luttrell
TN

Town in Tennessee

From Johnson City
150.6 mi
02h 54m
To Brighton
150.7 mi
02h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Saturday

Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph W
Destination
81°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 left to continue on I 75 South: Chattanooga

    83.1 mi · 1 hr 31 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville

    1.1 km · 56 sec

  14. 14

    Continue on Chattanooga, Nashville

    51.7 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward 41A: Monteagle, Sewanee

    990 ft · 27 sec

  16. 16

    Turn slight right

    15 m · 10 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1.6 mi · 2 min · West Main Street

  18. 18

    Continue on David Crockett Highway

    2171 ft · 37 sec · David Crockett Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on Sewanee Highway

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Sewanee Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on Sollace M Freeman Highway

    2 mi · 3 min · Sollace M Freeman Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on Sewanee Highway

    5 mi · 7 min · Sewanee Highway

  22. 22

    Continue on Cumberland Street East

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Cumberland Street East

  23. 23

    Continue on Cowan Highway

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Cowan Highway

  24. 24

    Take the ramp left

    1144 ft · 32 sec

  25. 25

    Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Drive

    3.6 mi · 4 min · Veterans Memorial Drive

  26. 26

    Continue on David Crockett Highway

    13.2 mi · 15 min · David Crockett Highway

  27. 27

    Continue on Winchester Highway

    6.4 mi · 7 min · Winchester Highway

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Flintville Road

    2775 ft · 57 sec · Flintville Road

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Howell Hill Road

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Howell Hill Road

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Howell Hill Road

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
30 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75 South
83.1 mi · 28%
I 81 South
56.6 mi · 19%
I 40 West
53.5 mi · 18%
Chattanooga
51.7 mi · 17%
James H. Quillen Parkway
13.7 mi · 5%
David Crockett Highway
13.6 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

I 75 South

Keep slight left to continue on I 75 South: Chattanooga

83.1 mi · 01h 31m

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 48m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+56.7 mi
244.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Luttrell
02h 54m from Johnson City
Leave By
5:22 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Johnson City and Sunny near Brighton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 301.3 miles (484.9 km) and usually takes 05h 48m 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?

Luttrell is a useful midpoint, sitting about 150.6 miles from Johnson City and 150.7 miles from Brighton.

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

The direct path is about 244.6 miles (393.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 56.7 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 5:22 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.09 one way or $80.17 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 94.5 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 Brighton, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Johnson City and Sunny near Brighton.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Johnson City and Brighton. Straight-line distance: 244.55 mi (393.57 km).

Johnson City

#1 Johnson City

The most populous city in Washington County, Tennessee.

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

#2 Brighton

Town in Tennessee, USA

Population2,929
Coordinates35.0800900, -86.4391600
Altitude290
CountryUnited States
Start: Johnson City (-82.35347, 36.31344)
End: Brighton (-86.43916, 35.08009)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 485 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.63 gal
40.25 L · about $40.09
Round trip
$80.17
21.26 gal · 80.5 L
Estimated CO2
94.5 kg one way
Round trip: 188.9 kg / 416 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $40.09 $80.17
Mid-grade $4.25 $45.21 $90.42
Premium $4.65 $49.47 $98.94
Diesel $5.30 $56.38 $112.76

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

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Johnson City, TN and Brighton, TN. The current time in Johnson City is 02:21:23, although it is 01:21:23 in Brighton.

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.