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Trip from East Chattanooga, TN to Oak Ridge, TN

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

2h 1m

Distance

98.6 mi

159 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 53m ★
6 AM
2h 2m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 8m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 9m
5 PM
2h 18m
8 PM
1h 56m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Tennessee, United States

Oak Ridge, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from East Chattanooga, TN to Oak Ridge, TN covers 98.6 miles and takes about 2h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Glass Street, Campbell Street, Bonny Oaks Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.41 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.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

49.3 miles from East Chattanooga, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 1m drive with frequent turns across 98.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Glass Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from East Chattanooga, TN to Oak Ridge, TN is easy. At 2h 1m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from East Chattanooga, TN to Oak Ridge, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Glass Street
Campbell Street
Bonny Oaks Drive
TN 153 North
Dayton
Spring City Highway
South Gateway Avenue
Roane State Highway

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Glass Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between East Chattanooga, TN and Oak Ridge, TN.

1

Start on North Chamberlain Avenue

52 ft · 4 sec · North Chamberlain Avenue
2

Turn right onto Glass Street

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Glass Street
3

At the end of the road, turn left onto Campbell Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Campbell Street
4

Continue on Bonny Oaks Drive

2.0 mi · 3 min · Bonny Oaks Drive
5

Take the ramp left toward TN 153 North

0.2 mi · 32 sec · TN 153 North
6

Merge slight left

7.9 mi · 9 min
7

Take the exit right toward Dayton, Soddy-Daisy

0.4 mi · 51 sec · Dayton, Soddy-Daisy
8

Merge slight left

9.3 mi · 10 min
9

Keep slight right

42 mi · 53 min
10

Merge slight left onto Spring City Highway

4.1 mi · 4 min · Spring City Highway
11

Continue on South Gateway Avenue

2.7 mi · 3 min · South Gateway Avenue
12

Continue on Roane State Highway

9.8 mi · 11 min · Roane State Highway
13

Continue on Hannah Highway

2.4 mi · 2 min · Hannah Highway
14

Continue on Harriman Highway

417 ft · 5 sec · Harriman Highway
15

Keep slight right to continue on Harriman Highway

9.6 mi · 10 min · Harriman Highway
16

Continue on West Tri County Boulevard

5.7 mi · 6 min · West Tri County Boulevard
17

Continue on North Illinois Avenue

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Illinois Avenue
18

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 49.3 miles from East Chattanooga, TN, or about 1h into the drive.

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 27m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 49.3 miles or 1h 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 Oak Ridge, TN than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving East 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 East Chattanooga, TN

This is one driving day of about 98.6 miles and 2h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from East Chattanooga, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 49.3 mi from East Chattanooga, TN · 1h into the drive

human settlement in Rhea County, Tennessee, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Spring City, TN

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Soddy-Daisy, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Spring City, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 49.3 miles from East Chattanooga, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Oak Ridge, TN

The final approach into Oak Ridge, 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 Oak Ridge, 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

$15.41 one way

$30.83 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $16.93 $33.85
premium $4.89 $18.97 $37.95
diesel $5.61 $21.77 $43.54

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: 34.5 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 29.6 0 $10.35 $4.73
Efficient EV 24.7 0 $8.63 $3.94
EV Truck/SUV 39.4 0 $13.80 $6.31

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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

East Chattanooga, TN

Evening in East Chattanooga on Wednesday

Local time

5:53 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Oak Ridge, TN

Evening in Oak Ridge on Wednesday

Local time

5:53 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

2h 1m 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 East Chattanooga, TN to Oak Ridge, TN covers 98.6 miles and takes about 2h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Glass Street, Campbell Street, Bonny Oaks Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49.3 miles from East Chattanooga, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.41 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 East Chattanooga, TN to Oak Ridge, TN is easy. At 2h 1m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from East Chattanooga, TN to Oak Ridge, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from East Chattanooga, TN to Oak Ridge, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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