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

The driving distance from Johnson City, TN to Kenton, TN is about 453.8 miles (730.4 km), with a travel time of about 08h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 371 miles (597.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 49m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
453.86 mi
08h 24m
Flight
371 mi
597.06 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
371 mi
Kilometers
597.06 km
Flight Time
00h 44m

Driving Distance

Road route
453.86 mi
Kilometers
730.41 km
Drive Time
08h 24m

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 08h 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Kenton
Thu, Apr 16, 2:49 AM CDT
Return by in Johnson City
Thu, Apr 16, 12:14 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Johnson City
2026-04-15T19:25
Arrive Kenton
Thu, Apr 16, 3:49 AM EDT
Route Timing
08h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:25 PM to 2:55 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
7:10 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Johnson City
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Gordonsville
TN

Town in Smith County, Tennessee, United States

From Johnson City
226.7 mi
04h 12m
To Kenton
227.2 mi
04h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 9:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W
Destination
85°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
15 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    154.8 mi · 2 hr 47 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville

    2.1 mi · 3 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Huntsville, Memphis

    2263 ft · 43 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight right onto Downtown Loop

    1 km · 52 sec · Downtown Loop

  16. 16

    Continue on Downtown Loop

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Downtown Loop

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Memphis

    125.6 mi · 2 hr 16 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward US 45: Trenton

    1704 ft · 42 sec

  19. 19

    Turn right onto North Highland Avenue

    4.4 mi · 8 min · North Highland Avenue

  20. 20

    Take the ramp slight right

    9.8 mi · 13 min

  21. 21

    Turn right onto North Central Avenue

    24.9 mi · 28 min · North Central Avenue

  22. 22

    Keep slight left

    3.4 mi · 4 min

  23. 23

    Turn left onto West Church Street

    23 m · 3 sec · West Church Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Church Street

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 West
180 mi · 40%
Nashville
155 mi · 34%
I 81 South
56.6 mi · 12%
North Central Avenue
28.2 mi · 6%
North Highland Avenue
14.3 mi · 3%
James H. Quillen Parkway
13.7 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

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.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
08h 24m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
16h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+82.8 mi
371 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Gordonsville
04h 12m from Johnson City
Leave By
7:10 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Johnson City and Mostly Sunny near Kenton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 453.8 miles (730.4 km) and usually takes 08h 24m 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?

Gordonsville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 226.7 miles from Johnson City and 227.2 miles from Kenton.

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

The direct path is about 371 miles (597.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 82.8 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 $60.37 one way or $120.75 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 142.3 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 Kenton, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Gordonsville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Gordonsville, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Gordonsville.

BUS

Nashville, TN

76 mi away
705 5th Avenue South

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Johnson City and Kenton. Straight-line distance: 371 mi (597.06 km).

Johnson City

#1 Johnson City

The most populous city in Washington County, Tennessee.

Population66,906
Coordinates36.3134400, -82.3534700
Altitude498
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Kenton

Town in Tennessee, United States

Population1,190
Coordinates36.2022900, -89.0122900
Altitude95
CountryUnited States
Start: Johnson City (-82.35347, 36.31344)
End: Kenton (-89.01229, 36.20229)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 730 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)15h 07m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)11h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 33m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
16.01 gal
60.62 L · about $60.37
Round trip
$120.75
32.02 gal · 121.24 L
Estimated CO2
142.3 kg one way
Round trip: 284.6 kg / 627 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $60.37 $120.75
Mid-grade $4.25 $68.09 $136.18
Premium $4.65 $74.51 $149.02
Diesel $5.30 $84.92 $169.83

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 15, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Johnson City, TN and Kenton, TN. The current time in Johnson City is 19:25:09, although it is 18:25:09 in Kenton.

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.