Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
2h 2m
Distance
98.3 mi
158 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chattanooga, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Coalfield, TN
Kelly
The drive from Chattanooga, TN to Coalfield, TN covers 98.3 miles and takes about 2h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 27, Roane State Highway, Harriman Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 63 miles on US 27. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.37 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.
Midpoint
49.2 miles from Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 98.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 2h 2m highway drive covering 98.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 27 and Roane State Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 63 miles on US 27.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 27 and Roane State Highway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TN 8 / West Martin Luther King Boulevard.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 98.3 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (TN 8 / West Martin Luther King Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (US 27): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 21.5 miles (US 27): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Depart onto TN 8 / West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto US 27
Merge point - match speed before joining
Keep slight right at fork onto US 27
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 61 / Harriman Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn left onto SR 62 / Winter Gap Road
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 27 | 63 mi | 1h 17m |
| Roane State Highway | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| Harriman Highway | 9.7 mi | 10m |
| Spring City Highway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Knoxville Highway | 4 mi | 5m |
| South Gateway Avenue | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Hannah Highway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| West Tri County Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Chattanooga, TN and Coalfield, TN.
Start on TN 8
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 27
Keep slight right at fork onto US 27
Merge onto US 27
Continue on US 27; US 70
Continue on US 27; US 70
Continue on US 27
Continue on US 27
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 61
Continue on SR 61
Turn left onto SR 62
Continue on SR 62
Turn left onto Fairview Road
Turn right onto Meredith Lane
Arrive at 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 22 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.2 miles or 1h 1m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Coalfield, TN than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Chattanooga, 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 Chattanooga, TN
This is one driving day of about 98.3 miles and 2h 2m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 49.2 mi from Chattanooga, TN · 1h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 49.2 miles from Chattanooga, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 27 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63 miles.
The final approach into Coalfield, 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 Coalfield, TN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$15.37 one way
$30.74 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.87 | $33.75 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.92 | $37.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.70 | $43.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.5 | 0 | $10.32 | $4.72 |
| Efficient EV | 24.6 | 0 | $8.60 | $3.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.3 | 0 | $13.76 | $6.29 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Chattanooga on Friday
Local time
3:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Coalfield on Friday
Local time
3:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
75°F
Spring City, TN
49 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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