Where is Bristol, Tennessee, USA?

Written and fact-checked by | Reviewed by WhereIG Editorial Team | Last updated: August 14, 2026, 18:45 ET

Where is Bristol Located? - Bristol is a city located in the Sullivan County of Tennessee, United States. Bristol lies between 36.5951 Degrees North latitudes and 82.1887 Degrees West longitudes.

Location Map of Brownsburg, Indiana

Where is Brownsburg, Indiana

Bristol Map, Tennessee, USA

Where is Bristol?: The Google Map showing the location of Bristol in the U.S. state of Tennessee.

Where is Bristol Located?

Bristol is a city located in the Sullivan County of Tennessee, United States. Bristol lies between 36.5951 Degrees North latitude and 82.1887 Degrees West longitude. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the population of Bristol city is 27,147 people and the city has a total area of 32.66 sq mi. The city has numerous parks and recreational facilities.

Most Viewed US Maps

USA Sttae MapUSA Region MapUSA Road Map
USA County MapWhere is USA in World Map?US ZIP Code Map
USA Time Zones MapUS State and Capitals MapUSA Physical Map
Looking for a U.S. City?
Find 4,400+ U.S. Cities by State - Explore Their Locations and Get Detailed Information

Bristol, Tennessee Quick Facts

FactDetails
CityBristol
CountySullivan County
StateTennessee
State CapitalNashville
CountryUnited States
US RegionSoutheast
Latitude36.5572 N
Longitude-82.2154 W
ElevationApproximately 1,676 ft (511 m)
Land Area32.66 sq mi
Water Area0.16 sq mi
Total Area32.82 sq mi
Population (Census 2020)27,147
Population Density831.1 per sq mi
ZIP Codes37620, 37621, 37625
Area Code423
Time Zone StandardEastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5)
Time Zone DaylightEastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4)
CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code47-08540
Congressional DistrictTennessee's 1st Congressional District

Nearby Cities and Towns to Bristol, Tennessee

  • Bristol, Virginia - Adjacent to the north
  • Blountville, Tennessee - 10 mi Southwest
  • Bluff City, Tennessee - 10 mi South
  • Piney Flats, Tennessee - 15 mi Southwest
  • Abingdon, Virginia - 16 mi Northeast
  • Elizabethton, Tennessee - 20 mi South
  • Kingsport, Tennessee - 22 mi Southwest
  • Johnson City, Tennessee - 23 mi Southwest
  • Damascus, Virginia - 29 mi East
  • Erwin, Tennessee - 39 mi South
  • Greeneville, Tennessee - 54 mi Southwest
  • Rogersville, Tennessee - 49 mi West
  • Boone, North Carolina - 49 mi Southeast
  • Marion, Virginia - 45 mi Northeast
  • Jonesborough, Tennessee - 30 mi Southwest

Driving Distances from Bristol, Tennessee

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
BristolVirginia13 min
BlountvilleTennessee1015 min
Bluff CityTennessee1015 min
AbingdonVirginia1620 min
ElizabethtonTennessee2030 min
KingsportTennessee2230 min
Johnson CityTennessee2330 min
JonesboroughTennessee3040 min
MarionVirginia4550 min
BooneNorth Carolina491 hr 10 min
GreenevilleTennessee541 hr
KnoxvilleTennessee1151 hr 50 min

Driving distances and times are approximate and may vary by route, traffic and weather conditions.

Transportation and Connectivity in Bristol, Tennessee

TransportationDetails
Nearest Commercial AirportTri-Cities Airport
IATA CodeTRI
Major HighwaysInterstate 81, U.S. Route 11E, U.S. Route 19, U.S. Route 421 and Tennessee State Route 394
Rail ServiceFreight rail service in the region; no direct Amtrak passenger station in Bristol
Local TransitBristol Tennessee Transit
Regional ConnectionsKingsport, Johnson City, Abingdon and Interstate 81 corridor
  • Interstate 81 connects Bristol with Virginia, Knoxville and other communities in the Appalachian region.
  • U.S. Route 11E provides road connections between Bristol, Johnson City and other communities in northeastern Tennessee.
  • U.S. Route 421 connects Bristol with nearby communities and provides access toward North Carolina.
  • Tri-Cities Airport, located near Blountville, provides commercial passenger flights for the Tri-Cities region.
  • Bristol Tennessee Transit provides local public transportation within the city.

Key Landmarks and Places to Visit in Bristol, Tennessee

LandmarkType
Bristol Motor SpeedwayMotorsports Racing Venue
Birthplace of Country Music MuseumMusic History Museum
Historic Downtown BristolHistoric and Cultural District
Bristol SignHistoric Landmark
Steele Creek ParkPublic Park and Nature Recreation Area
Bristol CavernsNatural Cave Attraction
South Holston LakeLake and Outdoor Recreation Area
Bristol DragwayMotorsports Racing Venue
Steele Creek Nature CenterEnvironmental Education Center
Sugar Hollow ParkPublic Park and Sports Complex

Colleges and Universities Near Bristol, Tennessee

InstitutionTypeLocationNotable For
King UniversityPrivateBristol, TennesseeLiberal arts, nursing, business and graduate education
Northeast State Community CollegePublicBlountville, TennesseeTechnical education, workforce development and transfer programs
East Tennessee State UniversityPublicJohnson City, TennesseeMedicine, health sciences, business and research
Virginia Highlands Community CollegePublicAbingdon, VirginiaCareer education, technical training and transfer programs
Milligan UniversityPrivateMilligan, TennesseeLiberal arts, healthcare and professional education
Emory & Henry UniversityPrivateEmory, VirginiaLiberal arts, health sciences and graduate education

Waterbodies in and Around Bristol, Tennessee

South Holston Lake, South Fork Holston River, Steele Creek Lake, Steele Creek, Beaver Creek, Boone Lake, Watauga Lake, Watauga River, Middle Fork Holston River and North Fork Holston River.

Golf Courses in and Around Bristol, Tennessee

Steele Creek Golf Course, Bristol Country Club, Clear Creek Golf Club, The Virginian Golf Club, The Olde Farm, Tri-Cities Golf Club, Cattails at MeadowView Golf Course and Pine Oaks Golf Course.

Bristol, Tennessee - Key Historical Facts

  • Bristol was established in the nineteenth century and incorporated in 1856. It developed as an important commercial and transportation center in northeastern Tennessee.
  • The city shares its northern boundary with Bristol, Virginia. State Street runs through the downtown area and marks the boundary between Tennessee and Virginia.
  • The arrival of railroads during the nineteenth century helped Bristol become an important transportation and trading center for the surrounding Appalachian region.
  • In 1927, recording producer Ralph Peer organized the historic Bristol Sessions, which featured early recordings by the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers.
  • The 1927 Bristol Sessions played an important role in the commercial development of country music and contributed to Bristol's recognition as the Birthplace of Country Music.
  • Bristol Motor Speedway opened in 1961 and helped establish the city as an important destination for American stock car racing.
  • Steele Creek Park opened to the public in 1964 and developed into a major outdoor recreation area with hiking trails, a lake and educational facilities.
  • Today, Bristol is known for its country music heritage, motorsports events, historic downtown and access to the Appalachian Mountains.

References

Tennessee Maps & Info

Tennessee MapTennessee County MapMap of Tennessee With Cities
Tennessee Physical MapWhere is TennesseeTennessee River Map
Tennessee Road MapWhere is MemphisWhere is Nashville
Tennessee ZipcodesAirports in TennesseeTennessee Area Codes