How far is Johnson City, TN from Shelbyville, TN?
The driving distance from Johnson City, TN to Shelbyville, TN is about 283.4 miles (456.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 39m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 236.9 miles (381.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 19m 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 39m.
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 Roane County, Tennessee, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Rain Showers
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Johnson City and Shelbyville.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City and Shelbyville.
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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
45.9 mi · 49 min
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13
Take the exit slight right toward TN 101: Crossville
1130 ft · 36 sec
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14
Turn left onto Peavine Road
2327 ft · 41 sec · Peavine Road
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15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route
15 m · 1 sec
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16
Exit the roundabout
2.5 mi · 5 min
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17
Turn right onto West Avenue
1.4 mi · 2 min · West Avenue
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18
Turn left onto Sparta Highway
25.9 mi · 39 min · Sparta Highway
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19
Continue on West Bockman Way
1.3 km · 1 min · West Bockman Way
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20
Turn left onto Mayberry Street
1.6 km · 2 min · Mayberry Street
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21
Continue on Broadway of America
607 ft · 14 sec · Broadway of America
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22
Take the ramp left
1536 ft · 42 sec
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23
Merge slight left onto Spencer Highway
2.6 mi · 4 min · Spencer Highway
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24
Keep slight left to continue on Memorial Highway
7.9 mi · 9 min · Memorial Highway
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25
Continue on Bone Cave Parkway
9.4 mi · 11 min · Bone Cave Parkway
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26
Continue on Sparta Highway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Sparta Highway
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27
Continue on Sparta Street
2688 ft · 37 sec · Sparta Street
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28
Continue on Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway
3.8 mi · 5 min · Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway
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29
Continue on H T Pelham Memorial Parkway
3.7 mi · 4 min · H T Pelham Memorial Parkway
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30
Continue on Manchester Highway
11.7 mi · 13 min · Manchester Highway
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31
Merge slight left onto McMinnville Highway
7.6 mi · 10 min · McMinnville Highway
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32
Continue on McArthur Street
2.1 mi · 4 min · McArthur Street
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33
Continue on New Tullahoma Highway
3 mi · 4 min · New Tullahoma Highway
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34
Continue on New Manchester Highway
3.4 mi · 5 min · New Manchester Highway
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35
Continue on East Carroll Street
2.7 mi · 3 min · East Carroll Street
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36
Turn right onto South Jackson Street
14.5 mi · 17 min · South Jackson Street
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37
Turn left
3.5 mi · 6 min
-
38
At the end of the road, turn right onto Public Square East
105 m · 21 sec · Public Square East
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39
Continue on Public Square North
31 m · 5 sec · Public Square North
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40
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Public Square North
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Johnson City and Shelbyville.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 81 South
Merge slight left
56.4 mi · 01h 00m
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.
Chance Rain Showers leaving Johnson City and Mostly Sunny near Shelbyville.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Johnson City to Shelbyville?
The road trip is about 283.4 miles (456.1 km) and usually takes 05h 39m 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?
Kingston is a useful midpoint, sitting about 141.5 miles from Johnson City and 141.9 miles from Shelbyville.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 236.9 miles (381.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.5 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 5:40 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.71 one way or $75.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88.9 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 Shelbyville, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Johnson City and Mostly Sunny near Shelbyville.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Johnson City and Shelbyville. Straight-line distance: 236.88 mi (381.22 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 Shelbyville
City in Indiana
| Population | 22,326 |
| Coordinates | 35.4834100, -86.4602700 |
| Altitude | 230 |
| Country | United States |
End: Shelbyville (-86.46027, 35.48341)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 456 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 26m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 05m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 40m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 43m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 02m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 32m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $37.71 | $75.42 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $42.53 | $85.06 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $46.54 | $93.08 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $53.04 | $106.08 |
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 17, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.