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

The driving distance from Johnson City, TN to Sparta, TN is about 201.4 miles (324.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 175.7 miles (282.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 54m 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
201.41 mi
03h 57m
Flight
175.66 mi
282.7 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
175.66 mi
Kilometers
282.7 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
201.41 mi
Kilometers
324.14 km
Drive Time
03h 57m

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 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sparta
Tue, May 26, 2:20 AM CDT
Return by in Johnson City
Tue, May 26, 7:18 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Johnson City
2026-05-25T23:23
Arrive Sparta
Tue, May 26, 3:20 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
8:57 AM to 10:57 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
9:06 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
100.6 mi
01h 58m
To Sparta
100.8 mi
01h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Memorial Day

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 mph
Destination
80°F
Memorial Day

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    45.9 mi · 49 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward TN 101: Crossville

    1130 ft · 36 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Peavine Road

    2327 ft · 41 sec · Peavine Road

  15. 15

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    15 m · 1 sec

  16. 16

    Exit the roundabout

    2.5 mi · 5 min

  17. 17

    Turn right onto West Avenue

    1.4 mi · 2 min · West Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Sparta Highway

    25.9 mi · 39 min · Sparta Highway

  19. 19

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    9 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 81 South
56.6 mi · 28%
I 40 West
53.5 mi · 27%
Nashville
45.9 mi · 23%
Sparta Highway
25.9 mi · 13%
James H. Quillen Parkway
13.7 mi · 7%
Peavine Road
2.91 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

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.

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 57m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.7 mi
175.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Knoxville
01h 58m from Johnson City
Leave By
9:06 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Johnson City and Showers And Thunderstorms near Sparta.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 201.4 miles (324.1 km) and usually takes 03h 57m 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 100.6 miles from Johnson City and 100.8 miles from Sparta.

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

The direct path is about 175.7 miles (282.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.7 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 9:06 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.81 one way or $53.62 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 63.2 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 Sparta, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Johnson City and Showers And Thunderstorms near Sparta.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Johnson City and Sparta. Straight-line distance: 175.66 mi (282.7 km).

Johnson City

#1 Johnson City

The most populous city in Washington County, Tennessee.

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

#2 Sparta

City in and county seat of White County, Tennessee, United States

Population4,980
Coordinates35.9259000, -85.4641400
Altitude281
CountryUnited States
Start: Johnson City (-82.35347, 36.31344)
End: Sparta (-85.46414, 35.9259)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 324 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 52m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.11 gal
26.9 L · about $26.81
Round trip
$53.62
14.22 gal · 53.8 L
Estimated CO2
63.2 kg one way
Round trip: 126.4 kg / 279 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $26.81 $53.62
Mid-grade $4.25 $30.24 $60.48
Premium $4.65 $33.09 $66.18
Diesel $5.30 $37.71 $75.42

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 26, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Johnson City, TN and Sparta, TN. The current time in Johnson City is 23:23:13, although it is 22:23:13 in Sparta.

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.