page_title: Interstate 81 in Tennessee
section_title: Route description
hierarchical_section_title: Interstate 81 in Tennessee / Route description
caption_attribution_description: Northbound Interstate 81 at the exit for Tennessee State Route 394 (exit 69) in Blountville, Tennessee
context_page_description: Interstate 81 is an 855-mile-long Interstate Highway stretching from Dandridge, Tennessee, northward to the Thousand Islands Bridge at the Canadian border near Fishers Landing, New York. In Tennessee, I-81 travels 75.66 miles from its southern terminus at I-40 in Dandridge to the Virginia state line in Bristol. In addition, the route serves the Tri-Cities region of northeast Tennessee, but bypasses most cities that it serves, instead providing access via interchanges with state and federal routes. In Tennessee, I-81 remains in the Ridge and Valley topographic region of the Appalachian Mountains, and runs in a more northeast-southwest direction.
context_section_description: Interstate 81 begins in at an interchange with Interstate 40 near Dandridge in Jefferson County. About 4 miles (6.4 km) later is an interchange with SR 341, which connects to SR 66 a short distance later, providing access to Morristown. 4 miles (6.4 km) later, I-81 crosses into Hamblen County and meets U.S. Route 25E south of Morristown. Continuing through mostly rural terrain, I-81 has an interchange with SR 160, the final Morristown exit, about 4 miles (6.4 km) later. About 9 miles (14 km) later, the interstate crosses over a ridge and into Greene County. About 5 miles (8.0 km) beyond this point is an interchange with US 11E, which provides access to Greeneville to the southeast and Bull's Gap to the northwest. Continuing through a predominantly rural and agricultural area, I-81 reaches SR 70, which connects to Greeneville to the south and Rogersville to the north. Beyond this point, the interstate remains in a predominantly rural and agricultural area, and begins a slight uphill climb, with the northbound lanes utilizing a truck climbing lane for about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) near the community of Jearoldstown, where the route also shifts slightly to the northeast. A few miles later, I-81 shifts sharply east and crosses into Washington County. Less than a mile later is an interchange with SR 93, which provides access to Jonesborough to the south and Fall Branch to the north. I-81 then turns northeast again, and about 3 miles (4.8 km) later enters Sullivan County. Entering a semi-urbanized part of the Tri-Cities area, I-81 connects to I-26 and US 23 in a cloverleaf interchange about 3 miles (4.8 km) later. This route provides access to Kingsport to the north and Johnson City to the south. A little over two miles later is an interchange with SR 36, another major connector between these two cities. I-81 then crosses the Holston River about a mile later, and begins another slight uphill climb, once again gaining a truck climbing lane on the northbound lanes. About 3 miles (4.8 km) later the truck lane terminates at an interchange with SR 357, a connector to the Tri-Cities Regional Airport, and the route continues through the semi urban area, briefly shifting eastward and crossing a ridge about 4 miles (6.4 km) later. Shifting northeastwardly again, I-81 has an interchange with SR 394 near the city of Blountville. Beyond this exit, the route crosses a slight upgrade once again, before reaching a relatively flat stretch again. About 5 miles (8.0 km) later, I-81 reaches Bristol and widens to six lanes. The route then has a cloverleaf interchange with US 11W, before crossing into Virginia 1 mile (1.6 km) later.
caption: I-81 northbound at the SR 394 exit in Blountville
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