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

The driving distance from Plainview, TN to Johnson City, TN is about 279.2 miles (449.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 227 miles (365.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 59m 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
279.25 mi
05h 29m
Flight
227.07 mi
365.44 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Plainview.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
227.07 mi
Kilometers
365.44 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
279.25 mi
Kilometers
449.41 km
Drive Time
05h 29m

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 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Johnson City
Thu, Apr 16, 9:31 AM EDT
Return by in Plainview
Thu, Apr 16, 2:01 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Plainview
2026-04-16T03:01
Arrive Johnson City
Thu, Apr 16, 8:31 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:30 PM to 2:30 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
6:00 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Plainview
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
Kingston
TN

City in Roane County, Tennessee, United States

From Plainview
139.5 mi
02h 44m
To Johnson City
139.7 mi
02h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SSW
Destination
79°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Plainview Road

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Plainview Road

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Epps Mill Road

    3119 ft · 1 min · Epps Mill Road

  3. 3

    Continue on Epps Mill Road

    1.3 km · 2 min · Epps Mill Road

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left toward I 24 East: Chattanooga

    853 ft · 21 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    22.1 mi · 24 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward SR 55 West: Manchester, Tullahoma

    1586 ft · 39 sec

  7. 7

    Turn right onto McMinnville Highway

    70 m · 10 sec · McMinnville Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on McMinnville Highway

    10 mi · 12 min · McMinnville Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on Manchester Highway

    8.4 mi · 10 min · Manchester Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on H T Pelham Memorial Parkway

    4.1 mi · 5 min · H T Pelham Memorial Parkway

  11. 11

    Continue on Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Bobby Ray Memorial Parkway

  12. 12

    Continue on Sparta Street

    2456 ft · 34 sec · Sparta Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Sparta Highway

    9.9 mi · 11 min · Sparta Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Bone Cave Parkway

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Bone Cave Parkway

  15. 15

    Continue on Memorial Highway

    7.6 mi · 9 min · Memorial Highway

  16. 16

    Merge slight right onto Spencer Highway

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Spencer Highway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right

    1473 ft · 40 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight right

    82 m · 7 sec

  19. 19

    Turn straight onto Mayberry Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · Mayberry Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto West Bockman Way

    1.3 km · 1 min · West Bockman Way

  21. 21

    Continue on Crossville Highway

    20.9 mi · 31 min · Crossville Highway

  22. 22

    Continue on Sparta Highway

    4.9 mi · 7 min · Sparta Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on Elmore Road

    1790 ft · 34 sec · Elmore Road

  24. 24

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    1 km · 1 min · North Main Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Genesis Road

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Genesis Road

  26. 26

    Take the ramp right

    1199 ft · 29 sec

  27. 27

    Merge slight left

    64.5 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  28. 28

    Keep slight left

    36.7 mi · 41 min

  29. 29

    Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol

    56.6 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  30. 30

    Take the exit slight right toward I 26 East, US 23 South: Johnson City, Asheville

    2112 ft · 40 sec

  31. 31

    Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway

    14 mi · 17 min · James H. Quillen Parkway

  32. 32

    Take the exit slight right toward TN 91

    614 ft · 15 sec

  33. 33

    Turn right onto East Market Street

    1705 ft · 36 sec · East Market Street

  34. 34

    Turn left onto Buffalo Street

    977 ft · 32 sec · Buffalo Street

  35. 35

    Turn right

    132 m · 32 sec

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
36 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Genesis Road
104 mi · 37%
I 81 North
56.6 mi · 20%
I 24 East
22.3 mi · 8%
Crossville Highway
20.9 mi · 7%
Sparta Highway
14.9 mi · 5%
James H. Quillen Parkway
14 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Genesis Road

Merge slight left

64.5 mi · 01h 11m

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
05h 29m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+52.2 mi
227 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kingston
02h 44m from Plainview
Leave By
6:00 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Plainview and Mostly Sunny near Johnson City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 279.2 miles (449.4 km) and usually takes 05h 29m 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 139.5 miles from Plainview and 139.7 miles from Johnson City.

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

The direct path is about 227 miles (365.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 52.2 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 6:00 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.14 one way or $74.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87.5 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Plainview and Johnson City, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Plainview and Mostly Sunny near Johnson City.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Plainview and Johnson City. Straight-line distance: 227.07 mi (365.44 km).

Plainview

#1 Plainview

City in Union County, Tennessee, United States of America

Population2,184
Coordinates35.6997900, -86.3449900
Altitude214
CountryUnited States
Johnson City

#2 Johnson City

The most populous city in Washington County, Tennessee.

Population66,906
Coordinates36.3134400, -82.3534700
Altitude498
CountryUnited States
Start: Plainview (-86.34499, 35.69979)
End: Johnson City (-82.35347, 36.31344)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 449 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 35m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.85 gal
37.3 L · about $37.14
Round trip
$74.29
19.7 gal · 74.6 L
Estimated CO2
87.5 kg one way
Round trip: 175.1 kg / 386 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $37.14 $74.29
Mid-grade $4.25 $41.89 $83.78
Premium $4.65 $45.84 $91.68
Diesel $5.30 $52.24 $104.49

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 16, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Plainview, TN and Johnson City, TN. The current time in Plainview is 03:01:26, although it is 04:01:26 in Johnson City.

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.