How far is Nashville, TN from Kingsport, TN?

The driving distance from Nashville, TN to Kingsport, TN is about 280.4 miles (451.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 236.4 miles (380.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 22m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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
280.37 mi
04h 11m
Flight
236.43 mi
380.49 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Nashville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
236.43 mi
Kilometers
380.49 km
Flight Time
00h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
280.37 mi
Kilometers
451.21 km
Drive Time
04h 11m

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 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Kingsport
Sun, Apr 19, 4:18 PM EDT
Return by in Nashville
Sun, Apr 19, 7:29 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Nashville
2026-04-19T11:07
Arrive Kingsport
Sun, Apr 19, 3:18 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:11 AM to 1:11 PM EDT

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

Leave by
8:38 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Nashville
9:00 PM CDT
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
Midtown
TN

Neighborhood in Manhattan in New York City

From Nashville
138.1 mi
02h 05m
To Kingsport
142.3 mi
02h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph NW
Destination
61°F
Sunday

Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Nashville and Kingsport.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Nashville and Kingsport.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    2013 ft · 3 min

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard

    1718 ft · 44 sec · Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn left onto James Robertson Parkway

    1.1 km · 2 min · James Robertson Parkway

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Interstate Drive

    138 m · 10 sec · Interstate Drive

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 24 East

    918 ft · 22 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop

    1.3 km · 1 min · Downtown Loop

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga

    80.6 mi · 1 hr 27 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    93.2 mi · 1 hr 42 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    36.7 mi · 41 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol

    50.5 mi · 54 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch

    1136 ft · 32 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch

    155 m · 15 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    2954 ft · 38 sec

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    2.4 mi · 3 min

  15. 15

    Continue on Sullivan Gardens Drive

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Sullivan Gardens Drive

  16. 16

    Continue on South Wilcox Drive

    1.5 mi · 2 min · South Wilcox Drive

  17. 17

    Continue on Sullivan Gardens Parkway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Sullivan Gardens Parkway

  18. 18

    Turn left onto South Wilcox Drive

    2.6 mi · 5 min · South Wilcox Drive

  19. 19

    Turn left onto East Sullivan Street

    1108 ft · 24 sec · East Sullivan Street

  20. 20

    Turn slight left onto East Main Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · East Main Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Broad Street

    577 ft · 16 sec · Broad Street

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Broad Street

    14 m · 1 sec · Broad Street

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout onto Broad Street

    132 m · 19 sec · Broad Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto West Center Street

    698 ft · 24 sec · West Center Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Center Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Nashville and Kingsport.

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
25 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 40 East
210 mi · 75%
I 81 North
50.5 mi · 18%
South Wilcox Drive
4.06 mi · 1%
SR 93
3.23 mi · 1%
Sullivan Gardens Drive
3.06 mi · 1%
Sullivan Gardens Parkway
1.45 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 40 East

Continue straight

93.2 mi · 01h 42m

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 11m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44 mi
236.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Midtown
02h 05m from Nashville
Leave By
8:38 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Nashville and Rain Showers near Kingsport.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Nashville to Kingsport?

The road trip is about 280.4 miles (451.2 km) and usually takes 04h 11m 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?

Midtown is a useful midpoint, sitting about 138.1 miles from Nashville and 142.3 miles from Kingsport.

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

The direct path is about 236.4 miles (380.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 44 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:38 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.30 one way or $74.59 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87.9 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Nashville and Kingsport, 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 Nashville and Rain Showers near Kingsport.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Nashville and Kingsport. Straight-line distance: 236.43 mi (380.49 km).

Nashville

#1 Nashville

The twenty-second most populous city in the United States and the center of the Nashville metropolitan area.

Population684,410
Coordinates36.1658900, -86.7844400
Altitude170
CountryUnited States
Kingsport

#2 Kingsport

The most populous city in Sullivan County, Tennessee.

Population54,112
Coordinates36.5484300, -82.5618200
Altitude369
CountryUnited States
Start: (-86.784719, 36.165773)
End: West Center Street (-82.561722, 36.548537)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 451 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 36m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.89 gal
37.45 L · about $37.30
Round trip
$74.59
19.78 gal · 74.9 L
Estimated CO2
87.9 kg one way
Round trip: 175.8 kg / 388 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $37.30 $74.59
Mid-grade $4.25 $42.06 $84.12
Premium $4.65 $46.03 $92.06
Diesel $5.30 $52.46 $104.91

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 19, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Nashville, TN and Kingsport, TN. The current time in Nashville is 11:07:01, although it is 12:07:01 in Kingsport.

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.