Photo: Kelly
Drive Time
2h 4m
Distance
114.6 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
The drive from Alexandria, TN to Chattanooga, TN covers 114.6 miles and takes about 2h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on High Street, Nashville Highway, Old Nashville Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.01 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
57.3 miles from Alexandria, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 4m drive with frequent turns across 114.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| High Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nashville Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Old Nashville Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Broad Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Congress Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| McMinnville Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Smithville Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Chancery Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, TN and Chattanooga, TN.
Start on West Main Street
Turn right onto High Street
At the end of the road, turn right onto High Street
At the end of the road, turn left onto Nashville Highway
Continue on Old Nashville Highway
Continue on Nashville Highway
Continue on Old Nashville Highway
Continue on West Broad Street
Turn right onto South Congress Boulevard
Continue on McMinnville Highway
Continue on Smithville Highway
Continue on North Chancery Street
Turn left onto West Colville Street
Continue on Beersheba Highway
Turn slight left onto Harrison Ferry Road
Continue on State Highway 8
At the end of the road, turn right
Continue straight
Continue straight
Merge slight right
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown
Turn straight onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.3 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chattanooga, TN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Alexandria, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alexandria, TN
This is one driving day of about 114.6 miles and 2h 4m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.3 mi from Alexandria, TN · 1h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 57.3 miles from Alexandria, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Chattanooga, TN usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Chattanooga, TN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$17.01 one way
$34.03 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $19.19 | $38.38 |
| premium | $4.65 | $21.00 | $42.00 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $23.93 | $47.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.1 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.4 | 0 | $12.03 | $5.50 |
| Efficient EV | 28.7 | 0 | $10.03 | $4.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.8 | 0 | $16.04 | $7.33 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Alexandria on Saturday
Local time
6:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Chattanooga on Saturday
Local time
7:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
63°F
East Chattanooga, TN
57 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Explore more options from Alexandria, TN or browse trips ending in Chattanooga, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.
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