How far is Johnson City, TN from South Pittsburg, TN?

The driving distance from Johnson City, TN to South Pittsburg, TN is about 244.8 miles (394 km), with a travel time of about 04h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 208.5 miles (335.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 11m 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
244.79 mi
04h 35m
Flight
208.47 mi
335.5 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
208.47 mi
Kilometers
335.5 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
244.79 mi
Kilometers
393.95 km
Drive Time
04h 35m

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 04h 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Pittsburg
Sat, Apr 18, 2:57 PM CDT
Return by in Johnson City
Sat, Apr 18, 8:33 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Johnson City
2026-04-18T11:22
Arrive South Pittsburg
Sat, Apr 18, 3:57 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:36 AM to 11:36 AM CDT

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

Leave by
7:48 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
Farragut
TN

Town of the United States

From Johnson City
122.3 mi
02h 17m
To South Pittsburg
122.5 mi
02h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW
Destination
85°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 5:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City and South Pittsburg.

  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

    33.3 mi · 39 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 72 West: South Pittsburg

    977 ft · 33 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on North Cedar Avenue

    2.2 mi · 3 min · North Cedar Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn right onto 3rd Street

    1214 ft · 36 sec · 3rd Street

  18. 18

    Turn right

    30 m · 7 sec

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75 South
83.1 mi · 34%
I 81 South
56.6 mi · 23%
I 40 West
53.5 mi · 22%
Chattanooga
33.3 mi · 14%
James H. Quillen Parkway
13.7 mi · 6%
North Cedar Avenue
2.2 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
04h 35m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.3 mi
208.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Farragut
02h 17m from Johnson City
Leave By
7:48 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Johnson City and Mostly Sunny near South Pittsburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Johnson City to South Pittsburg?

The road trip is about 244.8 miles (394 km) and usually takes 04h 35m 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?

Farragut is a useful midpoint, sitting about 122.3 miles from Johnson City and 122.5 miles from South Pittsburg.

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

The direct path is about 208.5 miles (335.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.3 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 7:48 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.58 one way or $65.16 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 76.8 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 South Pittsburg, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Johnson City and Mostly Sunny near South Pittsburg.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Johnson City and South Pittsburg. Straight-line distance: 208.47 mi (335.5 km).

Johnson City

#1 Johnson City

The most populous city in Washington County, Tennessee.

Population66,906
Coordinates36.3134400, -82.3534700
Altitude498
CountryUnited States
South Pittsburg

#2 South Pittsburg

City in Marion County, Tennessee, United States

Population3,009
Coordinates35.0123000, -85.7044100
Altitude192
CountryUnited States
Start: Johnson City (-82.35347, 36.31344)
End: South Pittsburg (-85.70441, 35.0123)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 394 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 09m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 07m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 04m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.64 gal
32.7 L · about $32.58
Round trip
$65.16
17.28 gal · 65.4 L
Estimated CO2
76.8 kg one way
Round trip: 153.6 kg / 339 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $32.58 $65.16
Mid-grade $4.25 $36.75 $73.49
Premium $4.65 $40.21 $80.42
Diesel $5.30 $45.83 $91.65

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 18, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Johnson City, TN and South Pittsburg, TN. The current time in Johnson City is 11:22:04, although it is 10:22:04 in South Pittsburg.

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.