Road Information |
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| Total Mileage in State: | 75 miles | |
| Northern End: | At Virginia state line | |
| Southern End: | At I-40, near Dandridge | |
| Mileage covered in Photos: | 75 miles | |
| Counties covered in Photos: | Jefferson, Hamblen, Greene, Washington, Sullivan | |
| Major Junctions in Photos: | I-26, near Kingsport | |
| Control Cities in Photos: | Dandridge, White Pine, Kingsport, Bristol | |
Northbound
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Interstate 81 North begins at Exit 421 on Interstate 40 Eastbound in Dandridge. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North as it passes under the westbound lanes of Interstate 40 and curves to the northeast. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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The speed limits on Interstate 81 North start out at 65 mph for cars and 55 mph for trucks. Certain counties in Tennessee, Jefferson County being one of them, have what they call "environmental speed limits" which result in the decreased truck speed and slightly lower automobile speed limit. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Take Exit 4 to Panther Creek State Park. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North approaching Exit 4 - 1 mile. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at Exit 4: SR 341 - White Pine Rd (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North reassurance shield. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at mile marker 5. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Take Exit 8 to Tennessee Technology Center at Morristown. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Also take Exit 8 to Cumberland Gap National Historic Park. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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On US 25E North (via Exit 8), the Cumberland Gap Tunnel lies on the border of Tennessee and Kentucky. This sign warns that Class 1 cargo (Explosives) are prohibited through the tunnel. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Take Exit 8 to Walters State Community College, the Expo Center, and Food Distribution Center as well. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at Exit 8: US 25E - Morristown / White Pine (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Northeast of Exit 8, Interstate 81 North enters Hamblen County. No environmental speed limits apply in this county, making the speed limit 70 mph for all traffic. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at Exit 12: TN 160 - Lowland / Morristown (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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View on Interstate 81 North at mile marker 14. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at Exit 15: SR 340 - Fish Hatchery Rd (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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The speed limit remains 70 mph for all traffic. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North entering Greene County. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Take Exit 23 to the Home of President Andrew Johnson Historic Site and Tusculum College. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Also take Exit 23 to Davy Crockett Boy Scout Camp. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Take Exit 23 to Jonesborough (Tennessee's Oldest Town) and Historic Rogersville as well. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Use Exit 23 to get to the Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at Exit 23: US 11E - Mosheim / Greeneville / Bulls Gap (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at mile marker 24. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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View on Interstate 81 North at mile marker 28. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at Exit 30: TN 70 - Greeneville / Rogersville (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Mileage sign on Interstate 81 North. It's 40 miles to Johnson City and 48 miles to Bristol. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at mile marker 32. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at Exit 36: SR 172 - Baileyton (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Another Interstate 81 North reassurance shield. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Rest Area on Interstate 81 North in Greene County. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at mile marker 41. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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View on Interstate 81 North at mile marker 43. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at Exit 44: Jearoldstown Rd (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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The speed limit remains 70 mph for all traffic. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Mileage sign on Interstate 81 North. It's 20 miles to Kingsport and 33 miles to Bristol. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at mile marker 47. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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View on Interstate 81 North at mile marker 49. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at Exit 50: TN 93 - Jonesborough / Fall Branch (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Near mile marker 54, Interstate 81 North enters Washington County. As you can see, Washington County is one of the counties in which the environmental speed limits once again go into effect. They remain intact the rest of the way to the Virginia border. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at mile marker 54. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Traffic headed to Bristol Motor Speedway can remain on Interstate 81 North and use Exit 66 or Exit 69. Alternatively, you can take I-26 East via Exit 57A. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Take Exit 57A (Interstate 26 East) to James H. Quillen VA Medical Center in Johnson City. Take Exit 57B (Interstate 26 West) to Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at Exit 56: Tri-Cities Crossing (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Take Exit 57A (Interstate 26 East) to Rocky Mount Historic Site and East Tennessee State University. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North approaching Exit 57A - 1/2 mile. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Take Exit 57A (Interstate 26 East) to Gray Fossil Site & Museum as well. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at Exit 57A: Interstate 26 East / US 23 South - Asheville / Johnson City (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at Exit 57B: Interstate 26 West / US 23 North - Kingsport (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Mileage sign on Interstate 81 North. It's 8 miles to Tri-Cities Airport and 22 miles to Bristol. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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The speed limits remain 65 mph for cars and 55 mph for trucks. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Take Exit 59 to Warriors Path State Park. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at Exit 59: SR 36 - Kingsport / Johnson City (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North reassurance shield. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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View on Interstate 81 North at mile marker 60, as it prepares to cross the Holston River. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at Exit 63: SR 357 - Tri-Cities Airport (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at mile marker 64. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Take either of the next 2 exits to Bristol Motor Speedway. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at Exit 66: SR 126 - Kingsport / Blountville (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Mileage sign on Interstate 81 North. It's 12 miles to Bristol and 158 miles to Roanoke. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Take Exit 69 to Bristol Motor Speedway. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at Exit 69: TN 394 - Blountville / Bristol (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at mile marker 70. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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View on Interstate 81 North at mile marker 72. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North approaching Exits 74A-B - 1 mile. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Take Exit 74A to King University and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at mile marker 74. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at Exit 74A: US 11W North - West State St / Bristol (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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Interstate 81 North at Exit 74B: US 11W South - Kingsport (Photo taken 5/26/18). |
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One final Interstate 81 North reassurance shield at mile marker 75 as I-81 prepares to enter Virginia. (Photo taken 5/26/18). |