The drive from Jellico, TN to Chattanooga, TN covers 145.6 miles and takes about 3h 6m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Rhea County Highway, Dayton Pike, I 75 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.9 miles on Rhea County Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.76 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
72.8 miles from Jellico, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 6m. Total distance: 145.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 6m drive with frequent turns across 145.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Rhea County Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 31.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 32.3 miles in near I 75; US 25W.
Driving Effort6/10
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 145.6 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 32.3 miles (I 75; US 25W): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.5 miles (I 75; US 25W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 37.2 miles (SR 116 / Briceville Highway): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
32.3 mi into trip|~35m in|I 75; US 25W
Take the exit onto I 75; US 25W toward US 25W South: Rocky Top, Lake City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 25W South: Rocky Top, Lake City
5
32.5 mi into trip|~35m in|I 75; US 25W
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75; US 25W
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
37.2 mi into trip|~47m in|SR 116 / Briceville Highway
At end of road, turn left onto SR 116 / Briceville Highway
Navigation decision point
5
49.6 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|SR 330 / Dutch Valley Road
At end of road, turn right onto SR 330 / Dutch Valley Road
Navigation decision point
5
145.1 mi into trip|~3h 4m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 1A
Toward Downtown
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Jellico, TN to Chattanooga, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Lake City along the way.
Lake City
32.3 mi in|~35m|via I 75; US 25W
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Rhea County Highway
31.9 mi
39m
Dayton Pike
31.5 mi
36m
I 75
31.3 mi
33m
Harriman Highway
9.8 mi
11m
Frost Bottom Road
7.1 mi
12m
North Roane Street
6.4 mi
7m
North Gateway Avenue
6.2 mi
7m
Briceville Highway
5.3 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Rhea County Highway
— 31.9 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jellico, TN and Chattanooga, TN.
1
Start on US 25W
68 ft·8 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 25W
1.0 mi·1 min·5th Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward Knoxville
4
Merge onto I 75
31 mi·33 min·I 75
5
Take the exit onto I 75; US 25W
0.2 mi·25 sec·I 75; US 25W
Toward US 25W South: Rocky Top, Lake City
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75; US 25W
241 ft·5 sec·I 75; US 25W
7
Turn slight right onto US 25W; SR 116
0.8 mi·1 min·North Main Street
8
Turn right onto SR 116
3.8 mi·9 min·Creek Street
9
At end of road, turn left onto SR 116
234 ft·7 sec·Briceville Highway
10
Continue on SR 116
5.2 mi·9 min·Briceville Highway
11
Continue on SR 330
166 ft·3 sec·Briceville Highway
12
Continue on SR 330
7.1 mi·12 min·Frost Bottom Road
13
At end of road, turn right onto SR 330
0.4 mi·43 sec·Dutch Valley Road
14
Continue on SR 330
0.5 mi·1 min·Walden Avenue
15
Keep slight left at fork onto SR 330
0.6 mi·1 min·East Spring Street
16
At end of road, turn right onto SR 330
0.1 mi·14 sec·Main Street
17
Continue on SR 330
0.2 mi·24 sec·Railroad Avenue
18
Turn right onto SR 330
447 ft·11 sec·Winter Gap Road
19
Turn left onto SR 61
1.2 mi·1 min·East Tri County Boulevard
20
Continue on SR 61
9.6 mi·10 min·Harriman Highway
21
Merge onto US 27
0.2 mi·10 sec·Bitter Creek Highway
22
Continue on US 27
0.2 mi·15 sec·Harriman Highway
23
Continue on US 27
2.1 mi·2 min·Hannah Highway
24
Continue on US 27
6.4 mi·7 min·North Roane Street
25
Continue on US 27
6.2 mi·7 min·North Gateway Avenue
26
Continue on US 27
4.4 mi·4 min·Spring City Highway
27
Continue on US 27
32 mi·39 min·Rhea County Highway
28
Continue on US 27
31 mi·36 min·Dayton Pike
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi·40 sec
Exit 1AToward Downtown
30
Turn straight onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.3 mi·45 sec·West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
31
Arrive at destination
TN 8
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.8 miles from Jellico, TN, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.9 miles.
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 32 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.8 miles or 1h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chattanooga, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jellico, 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 Jellico, TN
This is one driving day of about 145.6 miles and 3h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Jellico, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Rhea County Highway for about 31.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 72.8 mi from Jellico, TN
· 1h 37m into the drive
The midpoint is around 72.8 miles from Jellico, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Chattanooga, TN
The final approach into Chattanooga, 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 Chattanooga, TN.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Cumberland Gap was the first great gateway to the west. Come follow the path of bison, Native Americans, longhunters, and pioneers. Walk where 300,000 people crossed the Appalachians to settle America...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
Park Closure: Little Yellow Creek Bridge Closure - Construction Underway
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.76 one way
$45.53 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.99
$49.99
premium
$4.89
$28.02
$56.04
diesel
$5.61
$32.15
$64.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.7
0
$15.29
$6.99
Efficient EV
36.4
0
$12.74
$5.82
EV Truck/SUV
58.2
0
$20.38
$9.32
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Jellico, TN
Afternoon
in Jellico on Friday
Local time
1:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chattanooga, TN
Afternoon
in Chattanooga on Friday
Local time
1:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph11% chanceLive forecast
75°F
Kingston, TN
73 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
12 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 6m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Jellico, TN to Chattanooga, TN covers 145.6 miles and takes about 3h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Rhea County Highway, Dayton Pike, I 75. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 72.8 miles from Jellico, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.76 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 145.6 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 32.3 miles (I 75; US 25W): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.5 miles (I 75; US 25W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 37.2 miles (SR 116 / Briceville Highway): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Jellico, TN to Chattanooga, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Lake City along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
