Origin
Dunlap, TN
Late night in Dunlap on Friday
Local time
1:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dunlap, TN to Chattanooga, TN
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
45m
Distance
29.6 mi
48 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dunlap, TN
Kelly
Chattanooga, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 29.6-mile drive from Dunlap to Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a quick trip that can easily be completed in about 45 minutes, making it perfect for a single day. The route primarily utilizes Taft Highway and Signal Mountain Boulevard, with a portion on US 27, and is estimated to cost around $5 for fuel. Given its short distance and turn-heavy local driving profile, this journey is best suited as a straightforward transit rather than an overnight excursion. You'll be staying within the Southeast region for this entire leg of your trip.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 29.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (8%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 45-minute journey. With only an 8% highway share, the majority of your time will be spent navigating local roads, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 19.9 miles on Taft Highway. This route likely involves frequent turns and changes in speed as you transition between different road types. It's less about open highway cruising and more about engaging with the local road network as you make your way to Chattanooga.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Taft Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 19.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 26.7 miles in near US 27.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Dunlap, TN to Chattanooga, TN is easy. At 45m with 8% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 26.7 miles (US 27): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 29.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 29.4 miles (West Martin Luther King Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
3 of 3 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
26.7 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
US 27
Merge onto US 27
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
29.1 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 1A
Toward Downtown
4
29.4 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Turn straight onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Taft Highway | 19.9 mi | 29m |
| Signal Mountain Boulevard | 3 mi | 4m |
| US 27 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Rankin Avenue | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Signal Mountain Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| West Martin Luther King Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Taft Highway
— 19.9 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dunlap, TN and Chattanooga, TN.
1
Start on US 127
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Rankin Avenue
2
Continue on US 127
20 mi
·
29 min
·
Taft Highway
3
Continue on US 127
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Signal Mountain Boulevard
4
Continue on US 127
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Signal Mountain Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
6
Merge onto US 27
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 27
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 1A
Toward Downtown
8
Turn straight onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
9
Arrive at destination
TN 8
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.63 one way
$9.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.08 | $10.16 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.70 | $11.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.54 | $13.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.11 | $1.42 |
| Efficient EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.59 | $1.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Late night in Chattanooga on Friday
Local time
2:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
45m 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 Dunlap, TN to Chattanooga, TN covers 29.6 miles and takes about 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Taft Highway, Signal Mountain Boulevard, US 27. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.8 miles from Dunlap, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.63 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 Dunlap, TN to Chattanooga, TN is easy. At 45m with 8% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 26.7 miles (US 27): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 29.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 29.4 miles (West Martin Luther King Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Dunlap, TN to Chattanooga, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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