Origin
Alexandria, TN
Evening in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
8:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alexandria, TN to Chattanooga, TN
Drive Time
2h 29m
Distance
110.1 mi
177 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 19m
★
6 AM
2h 29m
8 AM
2h 50m
10 AM
2h 36m
12 PM
2h 34m
3 PM
2h 37m
5 PM
2h 49m
8 PM
2h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alexandria, TN
Kelly
Chattanooga, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Stretching 110.1 miles across Tennessee, this route from Alexandria to Chattanooga is a manageable journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 29 minutes. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $17 for fuel to cover the distance, making this an affordable transit between these two Southeast locations. While you will encounter a mix of roads, the drive remains straightforward and practical for those looking to traverse this part of the state efficiently. It provides a balanced transition between the smaller community of Alexandria and the larger hub of Chattanooga.
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
55.1 miles from Alexandria, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip offers a mixed driving experience, with roughly 53% of the journey spent on highways. You will navigate a combination of routes, including US 27, TN 8, and Harrison Ferry Road, which keeps the drive from feeling like a monotonous interstate haul. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 21.2 miles on US 27, giving you a period of steady driving before the road character shifts. Expect the route to transition through varying road types, requiring you to adjust your pace as you move between local roads and higher-speed highway segments. It is a functional drive that requires your attention as you transition between these different road classifications.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 27 is the longest continuous segment at about 21.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near SR 53 / High Street.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Alexandria, TN to Chattanooga, TN is easy. At 2h 29m with 53% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (SR 53 / High Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 70; SR 53 / Nashville Highway): Navigation decision point; at 17.3 miles (SR 56 / South Congress Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
SR 53 / High Street
At end of road, turn right onto SR 53 / High Street
Navigation decision point
4
1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 70; SR 53 / Nashville Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 70; SR 53 / Nashville Highway
Navigation decision point
4
17.3 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
SR 56 / South Congress Boulevard
Turn right onto SR 56 / South Congress Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
37 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
SR 56 / West Colville Street
Turn left onto SR 56 / West Colville Street
Navigation decision point
5
109.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 27m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 1A
Toward Downtown
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 27 | 21.2 mi | 25m |
| TN 8 | 12.6 mi | 17m |
| Harrison Ferry Road | 12.3 mi | 17m |
| SR 111 | 11.5 mi | 13m |
| Nashville Highway | 11.1 mi | 16m |
| Smithville Highway | 10.9 mi | 15m |
| State Highway 8 | 7.3 mi | 10m |
| McMinnville Highway | 6 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
US 27
— 21.2 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, TN and Chattanooga, TN.
1
Start on West Main Street
53 ft
·
4 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Turn right onto High Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
High Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto SR 53
388 ft
·
12 sec
·
High Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 70; SR 53
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Nashville Highway
5
Continue on US 70
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Nashville Highway
6
Continue on US 70
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Nashville Highway
7
Continue on US 70
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Nashville Highway
8
Continue on US 70
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
West Broad Street
9
Turn right onto SR 56
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Congress Boulevard
10
Continue on SR 56
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
McMinnville Highway
11
Continue on SR 56
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Smithville Highway
Use the none lane.
12
Continue on SR 56
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Chancery Street
13
Turn left onto SR 56
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
West Colville Street
14
Continue on SR 56
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Beersheba Highway
15
Turn slight left onto TN 8
12 mi
·
17 min
·
Harrison Ferry Road
16
Continue on TN 8
7.3 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 8
17
At end of road, turn right onto TN 8; TN 111
13 mi
·
17 min
·
TN 8; TN 111
18
Continue on SR 111
11 mi
·
13 min
·
SR 111
19
Continue on TN 111
5.9 mi
·
7 min
·
TN 111
20
Merge onto US 27
21 mi
·
25 min
·
US 27
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 1A
Toward Downtown
22
Turn straight onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
23
Arrive at destination
TN 8
Trip Plan
Since this is a 2-hour and 29-minute trip with no mandatory stops listed, you have significant flexibility in how you manage your departure time. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to ensure you maintain a steady flow throughout the 110.1-mile distance. Because there are no designated stops, you should plan to fuel up or handle personal errands either before you leave Alexandria or once you arrive in Chattanooga to keep your travel time efficient. Keep a close eye on the transition points between US 27, TN 8, and Harrison Ferry Road, as navigating these specific road changes is the key to staying on track. This route’s simplicity is its greatest advantage, allowing you to focus on the road ahead without the need for complex multi-day planning.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 55.1 miles from Alexandria, TN, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.2 miles.
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 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.1 miles or 1h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chattanooga, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 110.1 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Alexandria, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 27 for about 21.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55.1 mi from Alexandria, TN · 1h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 55.1 miles from Alexandria, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Chattanooga, TN
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.72 one way
$33.45 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $18.44 | $36.87 |
| premium | $4.80 | $20.78 | $41.57 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $24.46 | $48.92 |
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: 38.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33 | 0 | $11.56 | $5.28 |
| Efficient EV | 27.5 | 0 | $9.63 | $4.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44 | 0 | $15.41 | $7.05 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Chattanooga, TN
Night in Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
9:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 29m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alexandria, TN to Chattanooga, TN covers 110.1 miles and takes about 2h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 27, TN 8, Harrison Ferry Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.1 miles from Alexandria, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.72 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Alexandria, TN to Chattanooga, TN is easy. At 2h 29m with 53% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (SR 53 / High Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 70; SR 53 / Nashville Highway): Navigation decision point; at 17.3 miles (SR 56 / South Congress Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
The route from Alexandria, TN to Chattanooga, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Chattanooga, TN
More from Alexandria, TN
More trips to Chattanooga, TN
Explore more options from Alexandria, TN or browse trips ending in Chattanooga, TN.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse TN road trips.
Explore maps for Alexandria, TN or Chattanooga, TN on MapSof.net.