How far is Johnson City, TN from Spencer, TN?
The driving distance from Johnson City, TN to Spencer, TN is about 216.2 miles (347.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 19m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 178.3 miles (286.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 39m 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 04h 19m.
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.
The most populous city in Tennessee.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Johnson City and Spencer.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnson City and Spencer.
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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
-
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 right to continue on Spencer Highway
9.4 mi · 13 min · Spencer Highway
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25
Turn right onto Spring Street
1280 ft · 59 sec · Spring Street
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26
Turn left onto Burritt College Drive
727 ft · 33 sec · Burritt College Drive
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27
Turn right
1115 ft · 21 sec
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28
Turn right onto Sparta Street
13 m · 2 sec · Sparta Street
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29
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Sparta Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Johnson City and Spencer.
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.
Sunny leaving Johnson City and Partly Cloudy near Spencer.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Johnson City to Spencer?
The road trip is about 216.2 miles (347.9 km) and usually takes 04h 19m 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 108 miles from Johnson City and 108.2 miles from Spencer.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 178.3 miles (286.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.9 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 8:20 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.77 one way or $57.55 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 67.8 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 Spencer, 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 Partly Cloudy near Spencer.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Johnson City and Spencer. Straight-line distance: 178.28 mi (286.92 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 Spencer
Town in Tennessee, USA
| Population | 1,710 |
| Coordinates | 35.7472900, -85.4666400 |
| Altitude | 548 |
| Country | United States |
End: Spencer (-85.46664, 35.74729)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 348 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 12m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 24m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 19m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 36m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 05m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 41m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $28.77 | $57.55 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $32.45 | $64.90 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $35.51 | $71.02 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $40.47 | $80.94 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.