U.S. Route 19 in Tennessee
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 19 in Tennessee traverses approximately 43 miles (69.2 km) across the Tri-Cities
area of East Tennessee
; from Elk Park, North Carolina
, at the North Carolina
state line, to the Virginia
state line in Bristol
. The designation from US 19 to US 19E happens in Bluff City
, where US 19W
continues along Volunteer Parkway towards Johnson City
.
, US-19E lazily curves down to Roan Mountain
, where travelers can take SR-143 to Roan Mountain State Park
or further down to the official Roan Mountain
at the Tennessee/North Carolina border. Near Hampton, US-19E widens to an expressway
, which it will continue on as till downtown Bristol
. At Elizabethton
, travelers typically follow US 321 towards Johnson City
. At Bluff City
, US-19E and US-19W merge back into US-19, heading north to Bristol. Along the way, travelers cannot miss the Bristol Motor Speedway
along the side of the road; during race weekend, the highway and farms adjacent to the road becomes miles of parking. In downtown Bristol, US-19 ends at State Street, which straddles the Tennessee/Virginia border.
Tri-Cities, Tennessee
In Tennessee and Virginia the name "Tri-Cities" refers to the region comprising the cities of Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol and the surrounding smaller towns and communities in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia...
area of East Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
; from Elk Park, North Carolina
Elk Park, North Carolina
Elk Park is a town in Avery County, North Carolina, United States. The town was so named because of the number of Elk killed there. The population was 459 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Elk Park is located at ....
, at the North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
state line, to the Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
state line in Bristol
Bristol, Virginia
Bristol is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Washington County, Virginia, Bristol, Tennessee, and Sullivan County, Tennessee....
. The designation from US 19 to US 19E happens in Bluff City
Bluff City, Tennessee
Bluff City is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,733 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Kingsport–Bristol –Bristol Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical...
, where US 19W
U.S. Route 19W
U.S. Route 19W traverses approximately from Cane River, North Carolina to Bluff City, Tennessee.-Route description:US 19W begins in western Yancey county at the community of Cane River, at the intersection of US 19/US 19E. Several signs at the beginning of the route strongly recommend truckers...
continues along Volunteer Parkway towards Johnson City
Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City is a city in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, with most of the city being in Washington County...
.
Route description
Entering Tennessee from Elk Park, North CarolinaElk Park, North Carolina
Elk Park is a town in Avery County, North Carolina, United States. The town was so named because of the number of Elk killed there. The population was 459 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Elk Park is located at ....
, US-19E lazily curves down to Roan Mountain
Roan Mountain, Tennessee
Roan Mountain is a census-designated place in Carter County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,360 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Johnson City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area...
, where travelers can take SR-143 to Roan Mountain State Park
Roan Mountain State Park
Roan Mountain State Park is a Tennessee state park in Carter County in Northeast Tennessee along the Tennessee-North Carolina border near the community of Roan Mountain, Tennessee. Situated in the Blue Ridge of the Appalachian Mountains, the park preserves woodlands near 6,285 foot Roan Mountain...
or further down to the official Roan Mountain
Roan Mountain (Roan Highlands)
Roan Mountain is the highpoint of the Roan-Unaka Range of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, located in the Southeastern United States. The mountain is clad in a dense stand of Southern Appalachian spruce-fir forest, and includes the world's largest natural rhododendron garden, and the longest...
at the Tennessee/North Carolina border. Near Hampton, US-19E widens to an expressway
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
, which it will continue on as till downtown Bristol
Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 26,702 at the 2010 census. It is the twin city of Bristol, Virginia, which lies directly across the state line between Tennessee and Virginia. The boundaries of both cities run parallel to each other along State...
. At Elizabethton
Elizabethton, Tennessee
Elizabethton is the county seat of Carter County, Tennessee, United States. Elizabethton is also the historical site both of the first independent American government located west of both the Eastern Continental Divide and the original thirteen British American colonies.Elizabethton is also the...
, travelers typically follow US 321 towards Johnson City
Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City is a city in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, with most of the city being in Washington County...
. At Bluff City
Bluff City, Tennessee
Bluff City is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,733 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Kingsport–Bristol –Bristol Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical...
, US-19E and US-19W merge back into US-19, heading north to Bristol. Along the way, travelers cannot miss the Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
along the side of the road; during race weekend, the highway and farms adjacent to the road becomes miles of parking. In downtown Bristol, US-19 ends at State Street, which straddles the Tennessee/Virginia border.
Junction list
| County | Location | Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter Carter County, Tennessee Carter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 57,424. Its county seat is Elizabethton.Carter County is part of the Johnson City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined... |
Roan Mountain Roan Mountain, Tennessee Roan Mountain is a census-designated place in Carter County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,360 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Johnson City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area... |
5 | – Roan Mountain State Park Roan Mountain State Park Roan Mountain State Park is a Tennessee state park in Carter County in Northeast Tennessee along the Tennessee-North Carolina border near the community of Roan Mountain, Tennessee. Situated in the Blue Ridge of the Appalachian Mountains, the park preserves woodlands near 6,285 foot Roan Mountain... |
|
| 12 | ||||
| 15 | ||||
| Hampton | 17 | – Watauga Lake Watauga Lake Watauga Lake, located southeast of Elizabethton, Tennessee, was created by the Tennessee Valley Authority with the completion of the TVA Watauga Dam and Reservoir.... |
South end of US-321 overlap, east end of SR-67 overlap | |
| Elizabethton Elizabethton, Tennessee Elizabethton is the county seat of Carter County, Tennessee, United States. Elizabethton is also the historical site both of the first independent American government located west of both the Eastern Continental Divide and the original thirteen British American colonies.Elizabethton is also the... |
22 | North end of US-321 overlap, west end of SR-67 overlap | ||
| 22.5 |  , Elizabethton Municipal AirportElizabethton Municipal Airport Elizabethton Municipal Airport is an airport located at Elizabethton, Tennessee, United States. Usable runways are 6 and 24. The runway length is approximately 4,600ft x 75ft. The airport has both AvGas and JetA trucks, with single point fueling available. The airport is open 7 days a week with... |
|||
| Sullivan | Bluff City Bluff City, Tennessee Bluff City is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1,733 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Kingsport–Bristol –Bristol Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical... |
30.7 | ||
| 31 | US 19E ends/US 19 begins; south end of US 11E overlap | |||
| Bristol Bristol, Tennessee Bristol is a city in Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 26,702 at the 2010 census. It is the twin city of Bristol, Virginia, which lies directly across the state line between Tennessee and Virginia. The boundaries of both cities run parallel to each other along State... |
35 | Also to Bristol Dragway | ||
| 42.7 | State Street straddles the Tennessee/Virginia border | |||
History
- 1927 - US-19 first appears in Tennessee; from the North Carolina state line (at Elk Park) to Bluff City; it is later extended through Bristol into Virginia. US-19/US-19E is roughly similar to the routing seen today.
- 1930 - US-19 is truncated at Bluff City and split into 19E and 19W; 19E follows the original US-19 routing south.
- 1994 - New four-lane US-19E expressway completed between Elizabethton to Bluff City. Abandoned road becomes Old Bristol Highway (Carter County)/Old Elizabethton Highway (Sullivan County).
Alternate names
Though the highway is commonly known as "US 19" or "US 19E" throughout the state, the highway does have other known names it uses locally in areas.- Veterans Memorial Parkway - Road name within Carter County.
- Volunteer Parkway - Road name from Virginia state line to Bluff City (continues on towards Johnson City).
See also
- Appalachian TrailAppalachian TrailThe Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
- Bannered routes of U.S. Route 19Bannered routes of U.S. Route 19Several bannered routes of U.S. Route 19 exist. In order from south to north they are as follows.-St. Petersburg-Holiday alternate route:Alternate U.S. Route 19 is the former section of U.S. Route 19 from St. Petersburg, Florida to Holiday....
- Bristol Motor SpeedwayBristol Motor SpeedwayBristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
- Cherokee National ForestCherokee National ForestThe Cherokee National Forest is a large National Forest created on July 19, 1936, by U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, operated by the U.S. Forest Service and encompassing some 640,000 acres .-Location:...
- East Tennessee and Western North Carolina RailroadEast Tennessee and Western North Carolina RailroadThe East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad , affectionately called the "Tweetsie" in reference to the sound of its steam whistles, was primarily a railroad established in 1866 for the purpose of serving the mines at Cranberry, North Carolina.The narrow gauge portion of the ET&WNC was...
- Roan Mountain State ParkRoan Mountain State ParkRoan Mountain State Park is a Tennessee state park in Carter County in Northeast Tennessee along the Tennessee-North Carolina border near the community of Roan Mountain, Tennessee. Situated in the Blue Ridge of the Appalachian Mountains, the park preserves woodlands near 6,285 foot Roan Mountain...
- Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area
- Watauga LakeWatauga LakeWatauga Lake, located southeast of Elizabethton, Tennessee, was created by the Tennessee Valley Authority with the completion of the TVA Watauga Dam and Reservoir....
- U.S. Route 19WU.S. Route 19WU.S. Route 19W traverses approximately from Cane River, North Carolina to Bluff City, Tennessee.-Route description:US 19W begins in western Yancey county at the community of Cane River, at the intersection of US 19/US 19E. Several signs at the beginning of the route strongly recommend truckers...