Origin
Alexandria, TN
Evening in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
7:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alexandria, TN to East Chattanooga, TN
Drive Time
2h 30m
Distance
109.3 mi
176 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 20m
★
6 AM
2h 30m
8 AM
2h 51m
10 AM
2h 37m
12 PM
2h 35m
3 PM
2h 38m
5 PM
2h 50m
8 PM
2h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alexandria, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Alexandria to East Chattanooga, you are looking at a 109.3-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete. This route keeps you within the Southeast region of Tennessee, making it a straightforward trek that works perfectly as a one-day excursion. You should budget approximately $17 for fuel to cover the distance. Because the total drive time is relatively short, there is no need to worry about overnight accommodations or complicated travel splits. It is a practical, manageable route for anyone looking to navigate between these two points efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
54.7 miles from Alexandria, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience as you navigate this 109.3-mile path. You will spend about 48% of your time on highways, though the route also incorporates smaller local roads like Harrison Ferry Road and portions of TN 8 and SR 111. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 12.6-mile segment on TN 8, which provides a bit of consistency before the terrain shifts. Because the road conditions vary between major thoroughfares and local stretches, you will need to stay alert to changes in speed and traffic patterns. It is a balanced drive that avoids the monotony of a purely interstate-focused trip.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
TN 8 is the longest continuous segment at about 12.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near SR 53 / High Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 30m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 12 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
7
106.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
Take the exit toward SR 17 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5B
Toward SR 17 South
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| US 27 | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| State Highway 8 | 7.3 mi | 10m |
| McMinnville Highway | 6 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
TN 8
— 12.6 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, TN and East 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
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
US 27
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward TN 153 South: Chickamauga Dam
22
Continue on TN 153
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Dayton Pike
23
Keep slight left at fork onto TN 153
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
TN 153
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 5B
Toward SR 17 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn straight onto SR 17
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
SR 17
26
Turn right onto SR 17
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Glass Street
27
Turn left onto North Chamberlain Avenue
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Chamberlain Avenue
28
Arrive at destination
North Chamberlain Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 2.5-hour drive, try to time your departure to avoid peak local traffic, especially since you will be transitioning between state roads and highways. With only one recommended stop planned, you have plenty of flexibility to decide where you want to break up the journey. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the segments on TN 8, as service availability may fluctuate compared to the more heavily traveled highway sections. Since the total mileage is just over 100 miles, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without feeling rushed. Use that one scheduled stop strategically to stretch your legs before you hit the final stretch into East Chattanooga.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 54.7 miles from Alexandria, TN, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.6 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 54.7 miles or 1h 19m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East 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 109.3 miles and 2h 30m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on TN 8 for about 12.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 54.7 mi from Alexandria, TN · 1h 19m 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 54.7 miles from Alexandria, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in East Chattanooga, TN
The final approach into East 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 East 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
$16.60 one way
$33.20 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $18.30 | $36.60 |
| premium | $4.80 | $20.63 | $41.27 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $24.28 | $48.57 |
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: 38.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.8 | 0 | $11.48 | $5.25 |
| Efficient EV | 27.3 | 0 | $9.56 | $4.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.7 | 0 | $15.30 | $7.00 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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
East Chattanooga, TN
Evening in East Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
8:35 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 30m 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 East Chattanooga, TN covers 109.3 miles and takes about 2h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are TN 8, Harrison Ferry Road, SR 111. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 54.7 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 $16.60 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 30m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 East Chattanooga, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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Return Trip
East Chattanooga, TN to Alexandria, TNPlan the drive back the other way.
109.2 mi
2h 30m
Continue From East Chattanooga, TN
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