How far is Johnson City, TN from Lafayette, TN?
The driving distance from Johnson City, TN to Lafayette, TN is about 262 miles (421.6 km), with a travel time of about 05h 09m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 204.7 miles (329.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 18m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 05h 09m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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 Loudon County, Tennessee, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Clear
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Johnson City and Lafayette.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City and Lafayette.
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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
87.8 mi · 1 hr 35 min
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13
Take the exit slight right toward TN 56 North: Baxter, Gainesboro
1239 ft · 31 sec
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14
Turn right onto Gundy Quarels Memorial Highway
5.4 mi · 8 min · Gundy Quarels Memorial Highway
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15
Continue on South Grundy Quarles Memorial Highway
12.1 mi · 18 min · South Grundy Quarles Memorial Highway
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16
Turn left onto Jennings Creek Highway
6.6 mi · 10 min · Jennings Creek Highway
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17
Keep slight left to continue on Jennings Creek Highway
6 mi · 9 min · Jennings Creek Highway
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18
Turn right onto Hudson Creek Highway
4.7 mi · 7 min · Hudson Creek Highway
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19
Continue on Red Boiling Sprgs Highway
1567 ft · 27 sec · Red Boiling Sprgs Highway
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20
Continue on North Springs Road
1.5 mi · 2 min · North Springs Road
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21
Turn left
1077 ft · 44 sec
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22
Turn left
11.6 mi · 17 min
-
23
Turn right onto Red Boiling Springs Road
1251 ft · 26 sec · Red Boiling Springs Road
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24
Turn right onto Public Square
28 m · 2 sec · Public Square
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25
Enter the roundabout toward the route
111 m · 7 sec
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26
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Johnson City and Lafayette.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Nashville
Keep slight right to continue on Nashville
87.8 mi · 01h 35m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Clear leaving Johnson City and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lafayette.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Johnson City to Lafayette?
The road trip is about 262 miles (421.6 km) and usually takes 05h 09m 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?
Lenoir City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 130.9 miles from Johnson City and 131.1 miles from Lafayette.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 204.7 miles (329.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 57.3 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 6:42 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.84 one way or $69.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 82.1 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 Lafayette, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around Johnson City and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lafayette.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Johnson City and Lafayette. Straight-line distance: 204.7 mi (329.44 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 Lafayette
Human settlement in Macon County, Tennessee, United States of America
| Population | 5,271 |
| Coordinates | 36.5211600, -86.0263700 |
| Altitude | 292 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lafayette (-86.02637, 36.52116)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 422 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 08h 43m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 32m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 14m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 21m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 44m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 16m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $34.84 | $69.69 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $39.30 | $78.60 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $43.00 | $86.01 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $49.01 | $98.02 |
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 · May 05, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.