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

The driving distance from Spencer, TN to Johnson City, TN is about 216.9 miles (349 km), with a travel time of about 04h 18m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 178.3 miles (286.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 37m 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
216.86 mi
04h 18m
Flight
178.28 mi
286.92 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Spencer.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
178.28 mi
Kilometers
286.92 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
216.86 mi
Kilometers
349.01 km
Drive Time
04h 18m

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 18m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Johnson City
Wed, Apr 15, 6:43 PM EDT
Return by in Spencer
Wed, Apr 15, 10:02 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Spencer
2026-04-15T13:25
Arrive Johnson City
Wed, Apr 15, 5:43 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 18m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:19 AM to 1:19 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
8:22 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Spencer
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
Knoxville
TN

The most populous city in Tennessee.

From Spencer
108.3 mi
02h 09m
To Johnson City
108.6 mi
02h 09m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 2:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph SSW
Destination
79°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 9:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Sparta Street

    13 m · 7 sec · Sparta Street

  2. 2

    Turn left

    1115 ft · 22 sec

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Burritt College Drive

    727 ft · 32 sec · Burritt College Drive

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Spring Street

    1280 ft · 56 sec · Spring Street

  5. 5

    Turn left

    12 mi · 16 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right

    1473 ft · 40 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right

    82 m · 7 sec

  8. 8

    Turn straight onto Mayberry Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · Mayberry Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto West Bockman Way

    1.3 km · 1 min · West Bockman Way

  10. 10

    Continue on Crossville Highway

    20.9 mi · 31 min · Crossville Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Sparta Highway

    4.9 mi · 7 min · Sparta Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on Elmore Road

    1790 ft · 34 sec · Elmore Road

  13. 13

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    1 km · 1 min · North Main Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Genesis Road

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Genesis Road

  15. 15

    Take the ramp right

    1199 ft · 29 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    64.5 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left

    36.7 mi · 41 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Bristol

    56.6 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  19. 19

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

    2112 ft · 40 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto James H. Quillen Parkway

    14 mi · 17 min · James H. Quillen Parkway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward TN 91

    614 ft · 15 sec

  22. 22

    Turn right onto East Market Street

    1705 ft · 38 sec · East Market Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Buffalo Street

    977 ft · 32 sec · Buffalo Street

  24. 24

    Turn right

    132 m · 32 sec

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
25 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Genesis Road
104 mi · 48%
I 81 North
56.6 mi · 26%
Crossville Highway
20.9 mi · 10%
James H. Quillen Parkway
14 mi · 6%
Sparta Highway
4.94 mi · 2%
Mayberry Street
0.95 mi
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
04h 18m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.6 mi
178.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Knoxville
02h 09m from Spencer
Leave By
8:22 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Spencer and Sunny near Johnson City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 216.9 miles (349 km) and usually takes 04h 18m 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 108.3 miles from Spencer and 108.6 miles from Johnson City.

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 38.6 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 8:22 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.85 one way or $57.70 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 68 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

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

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Spencer and Sunny near Johnson City.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Spencer and Johnson City. Straight-line distance: 178.28 mi (286.92 km).

Spencer

#1 Spencer

Town in Tennessee, USA

Population1,710
Coordinates35.7472900, -85.4666400
Altitude548
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: Spencer (-85.46664, 35.74729)
End: Johnson City (-82.35347, 36.31344)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 349 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.65 gal
28.97 L · about $28.85
Round trip
$57.70
15.3 gal · 57.94 L
Estimated CO2
68 kg one way
Round trip: 136 kg / 300 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $28.85 $57.70
Mid-grade $4.25 $32.54 $65.07
Premium $4.65 $35.60 $71.21
Diesel $5.30 $40.58 $81.15

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

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Spencer, TN and Johnson City, TN. The current time in Spencer is 13:25:08, although it is 14:25:08 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.