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

The driving distance from Johnson City, TN to Chattanooga, TN is about 217.2 miles (349.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 187.6 miles (301.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 29m 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
217.21 mi
03h 14m
Flight
187.6 mi
301.92 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
187.6 mi
Kilometers
301.92 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
217.21 mi
Kilometers
349.56 km
Drive Time
03h 14m

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 03h 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chattanooga
Thu, Apr 23, 2:55 AM EDT
Return by in Johnson City
Thu, Apr 23, 6:10 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Johnson City
2026-04-22T23:41
Arrive Chattanooga
Thu, Apr 23, 2:55 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:15 AM to 11:15 AM EDT

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

Leave by
10:30 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
Knoxville
TN

The most populous city in Tennessee.

From Johnson City
108.3 mi
01h 37m
To Chattanooga
108.9 mi
01h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph W
Destination
81°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    5.8 mi · 8 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain

    999 ft · 15 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain

    1018 ft · 16 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left

    1.4 mi · 2 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown

    1123 ft · 26 sec

  19. 19

    Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard

    897 ft · 30 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75 South
83.1 mi · 38%
I 81 South
56.6 mi · 26%
I 40 West
53.5 mi · 25%
James H. Quillen Parkway
13.7 mi · 6%
I 24 West
6.44 mi · 3%
US 27 North
1.74 mi · 1%
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
03h 14m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+29.6 mi
187.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Knoxville
01h 37m from Johnson City
Leave By
10:30 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Johnson City and Sunny near Chattanooga.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 217.2 miles (349.6 km) and usually takes 03h 14m 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?

Knoxville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 108.3 miles from Johnson City and 108.9 miles from Chattanooga.

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

The direct path is about 187.6 miles (301.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.6 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 10:30 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.89 one way or $57.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 68.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Johnson City and Sunny near Chattanooga.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Johnson City and Chattanooga. Straight-line distance: 187.6 mi (301.92 km).

Johnson City

#1 Johnson City

The most populous city in Washington County, Tennessee.

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

#2 Chattanooga

The fourth most populous city in Tennessee.

Population184,742
Coordinates35.0456300, -85.3096800
Altitude206
CountryUnited States
Start: Cherry Street (-82.353659, 36.313645)
End: West Martin Luther King Boulevard (-85.309688, 35.045753)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 350 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.66 gal
29.01 L · about $28.89
Round trip
$57.77
15.32 gal · 58.02 L
Estimated CO2
68.1 kg one way
Round trip: 136.1 kg / 300 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $28.89 $57.77
Mid-grade $4.25 $32.58 $65.16
Premium $4.65 $35.65 $71.30
Diesel $5.30 $40.63 $81.26

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Johnson City and Chattanooga. The current time is 23:41:18.

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.