How far is Johnson City, TN from Chapel Hill, TN?
The driving distance from Johnson City, TN to Chapel Hill, TN is about 404.6 miles (651.2 km), with a travel time of about 07h 35m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 346.5 miles (557.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 10m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
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 35m.
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
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Johnson City and Chapel Hill.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City and Chapel Hill.
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1
Start on the route
132 m · 35 sec
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2
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
1620 ft · 56 sec · Buffalo Street
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3
Turn left onto North Roan Street
1633 ft · 37 sec · North Roan Street
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4
Turn right onto East Watauga Avenue
1812 ft · 45 sec · East Watauga Avenue
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5
Turn left onto Oak Street
135 m · 11 sec · Oak Street
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6
Take the ramp straight
962 ft · 24 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway
13.7 mi · 16 min · James H. Quillen Parkway
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8
Take the exit slight right toward I 81 South: Knoxville
1100 ft · 38 sec
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9
Merge slight left
56.4 mi · 1 hr
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10
Continue on I 40 West: Knoxville
1.1 km · 45 sec
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11
Merge slight left
52.8 mi · 59 min
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12
Keep slight right to continue on Nashville
154.8 mi · 2 hr 47 min
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13
Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
2.1 mi · 3 min
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14
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis
2263 ft · 43 sec
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15
Merge slight right onto Downtown Loop
1 km · 52 sec · Downtown Loop
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16
Continue on Downtown Loop
2.3 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop
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17
Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Memphis
99.6 mi · 1 hr 48 min
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18
Take the exit slight right toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroads, Lexington, Huntingdon
878 ft · 22 sec
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19
Turn left
118 m · 5 sec
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20
Continue straight
11.9 mi · 18 min
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21
Turn right onto Lexington Bypass
1.3 mi · 2 min · Lexington Bypass
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22
Turn left
5.8 mi · 10 min
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23
Turn left onto Joe Horton Road
902 ft · 43 sec · Joe Horton Road
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24
Turn left
989 ft · 43 sec
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25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Johnson City and Chapel Hill.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Nashville
Keep slight right to continue on Nashville
155 mi · 02h 47m
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 then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Johnson City and Sunny near Chapel Hill.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Johnson City to Chapel Hill?
The road trip is about 404.6 miles (651.2 km) and usually takes 07h 35m 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 202.1 miles from Johnson City and 202.6 miles from Chapel Hill.
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 58.1 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 EDT. 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 $53.85 one way or $107.70 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 126.9 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 Chapel Hill, 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 Chapel Hill.
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 Johnson City and Chapel Hill. Straight-line distance: 346.5 mi (557.64 km).
#1 Johnson City
The most populous city in Washington County, Tennessee.
| Population | 66,906 |
| Coordinates | 36.3134400, -82.3534700 |
| Altitude | 498 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: Chapel Hill (-88.48672, 35.59868)
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 | $53.85 | $107.70 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $60.73 | $121.47 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $66.46 | $132.92 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $75.74 | $151.48 |
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.