Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 17m
Distance
102.6 mi
165 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
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
Grimsley, TN
Mike Fox
This 102.6-mile journey from Chattanooga to Grimsley, Tennessee, is a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 17 minutes. Primarily following US 27 and US 127, with a portion on Wassom Memorial Highway, this route offers a highway-focused experience. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, it's an economical option for a day trip within the Southeast region. You'll find this drive to be efficient, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.3 miles from Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 27 | 53.2 mi | 1h 6m |
| US 127 | 27.8 mi | 38m |
| Wassom Memorial Highway | 19.8 mi | 29m |
| Piccadilly Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Herb M Wassom Mem Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West Martin Luther King Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Chattanooga, TN and Grimsley, TN.
Start on TN 8
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 27
Keep slight right at fork onto US 27
Turn left onto Piccadilly Avenue
Continue on Herb M Wassom Mem Highway
At end of road, turn right onto SR 68
Continue on SR 68
Turn straight onto US 127
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Given the 2-hour and 17-minute duration, this drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. Aim for an early morning departure from Chattanooga to maximize your daylight hours and avoid any potential afternoon traffic. With no designated stops provided, you can maintain a consistent pace, but be aware that the longest stretch without a break is over 50 miles. Plan to refuel before leaving Chattanooga or at a convenient point along US 27, as services might be more spaced out between the major highways. This flexibility means you can stop when you need to, rather than adhering to a strict itinerary.
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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.3 miles or 1h 5m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grimsley, 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 102.6 miles and 2h 17m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 51.3 miles from Chattanooga, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 102.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Depart onto TN 8 / West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 27
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn left onto Piccadilly Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn right onto SR 68 / Herb M Wassom Mem Highway
Navigation decision point
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$16.04 one way
$32.08 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.61 | $35.22 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.74 | $39.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.65 | $45.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.8 | 0 | $10.77 | $4.92 |
| Efficient EV | 25.7 | 0 | $8.98 | $4.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41 | 0 | $14.36 | $6.57 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Chattanooga on Saturday
Local time
1:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Grimsley on Saturday
Local time
12:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
75°F
Spring City, TN
51 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
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.
This route is predominantly a highway drive, with 79% of the journey on higher-speed roads. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 53.2 miles on US 27 early in the trip, offering a consistent pace. As you transition to US 127 and Wassom Memorial Highway, expect the character to remain focused on efficient travel. While not a winding scenic byway, the highway-focused profile ensures steady progress toward your destination, making it a reliable road for covering distance.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 27 and US 127. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TN 8 / West Martin Luther King Boulevard.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Chattanooga, TN to Grimsley, TN is easy. At 2h 17m with 79% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 21.5 miles (US 27): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 54.1 miles (Piccadilly Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Chattanooga is the 4th largest city in Tennessee. It is the seat of Hamilton County. It is in Southeast Tennessee on the Tennessee River and near the border of Georgia. It was immortalized in the popular 1941 song "Chattanooga Choo Choo", made famous by Glenn Miller.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 102.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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