Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
12.8 mi
21 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
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
Fairmount, TN
Kelly
This quick 12.8-mile drive from Chattanooga, TN, to Fairmount, TN, takes about 21 minutes and is perfect as a day trip within the Southeast region. You'll primarily navigate via Taft Highway and Signal Mountain Boulevard, eventually merging onto US 27. With only a 14% highway share, expect a local feel rather than an interstate cruise. The estimated fuel cost for this short hop is a budget-friendly $2. Since there are no designated stops and the drive is so brief, it offers a lot of flexibility for when you want to depart and how you might want to spend your time once you arrive.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 12.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (14%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
The character of this 21-minute journey is decidedly turn-heavy and local, reflecting its short distance and minimal highway involvement. With only 14% of the route on higher-speed roads, you’ll experience more of a neighborhood feel. The longest stretch without significant turns or changes in road type is 4.4 miles on Taft Highway. As you transition through Signal Mountain Boulevard and onto US 27, anticipate a more varied driving experience with frequent intersections and local traffic patterns.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TN 8 / West Martin Luther King Boulevard.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 21m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3.1 miles: 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
Take the exit toward US 127 North: Signal Mountain
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
At end of road, turn left onto Fairmount Pike
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto North Fairmount Road
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Taft Highway | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Signal Mountain Boulevard | 3 mi | 4m |
| US 27 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Signal Mountain Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Gahagan Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Fairmount Pike | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| West Martin Luther King Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Fairmount Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Chattanooga, TN and Fairmount, TN.
Start on TN 8
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 27
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto US 127
Continue on US 127
Continue on US 127
Turn right onto Gahagan Road
At end of road, turn left onto Fairmount Pike
Turn right onto North Fairmount Road
Arrive at destination
Regular Gas
$2.00 one way
$4.00 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.20 | $4.39 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.46 | $4.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.83 | $5.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.34 | $0.61 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.12 | $0.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.79 | $0.82 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Morning in Chattanooga on Friday
Local time
6:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Morning in Fairmount on Friday
Local time
6:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
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.
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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