Origin
Knoxville, TN
Evening in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
6:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Knoxville, TN to Chattanooga, TN
Drive Time
1h 41m
Distance
112.3 mi
181 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 34m
★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 47m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Knoxville, TN
Kelly
Chattanooga, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Traveling between Knoxville and Chattanooga covers 112.3 miles of Tennessee terrain, typically requiring about 1 hour and 41 minutes of travel time. Because this is a relatively short trek within the Southeast, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You can expect to spend approximately $17 on fuel for the journey. The route relies on local roads like Henley Street, Western Avenue, and Ailor Avenue rather than major interstates. It is a practical connection between these two cities that offers a direct, turn-heavy alternative to traditional highway travel.
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
56.1 miles from Knoxville, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a very different experience than a typical high-speed interstate cruise, as this route consists of 0% highway driving. You will be navigating a turn-heavy, local path that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Because there are no long, uninterrupted highway stretches—with the longest segment being 0 miles on Henley Street—the drive feels technical and hands-on. This path requires you to stay alert through constant maneuvering rather than settling into a cruise-control rhythm. It is a slow-paced, deliberate drive that prioritizes local navigation over raw speed.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Henley 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 Knoxville, TN to Chattanooga, TN is easy. At 1h 41m 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 Knoxville, TN to Chattanooga, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Henley Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Western Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ailor Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 75 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 24 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Chattanooga | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 27 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Henley Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, TN and Chattanooga, TN.
1
Start on Henley Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Henley Street
2
Continue on Henley Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Henley Street
3
Turn slight left onto Western Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Western Avenue
4
Turn left onto Ailor Avenue
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Ailor Avenue
5
Take the ramp straight toward I 40 West, I 75 South
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 40 West, I 75 South
6
Merge slight left
18 mi
·
21 min
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 75 South: Chattanooga
83 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
·
I 75 South: Chattanooga
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
0.7 mi
·
56 sec
·
I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
9
Continue on Chattanooga, Nashville
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Chattanooga, Nashville
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain
11
Keep slight left to continue on US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain
12
Keep slight left
1.4 mi
·
1 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Downtown
14
Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
West Martin Luther King Boulevard
15
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Keep in mind that because you are relying on local roads, traffic patterns on streets like Western Avenue may impact your arrival time more significantly than on a highway. Plan to budget at least $17 for fuel before you head out, and since there are zero designated stops in the data, verify your own route for rest areas or refueling points ahead of time. Given the turn-heavy nature of the drive, ensure your vehicle is comfortable for frequent maneuvering rather than long-haul highway cruising. Prioritize checking local road conditions on your navigation app before departure to account for potential congestion on the Henley Street segments.
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 56.1 miles from Knoxville, TN, or about 50m 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 80 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.1 miles or 50m 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 23m
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 Knoxville, 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 Knoxville, TN
This is one driving day of about 112.3 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Knoxville, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.1 mi from Knoxville, TN · 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56.1 miles from Knoxville, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.06 one way
$34.11 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $18.80 | $37.61 |
| premium | $4.80 | $21.20 | $42.40 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $24.95 | $49.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.7 | 0 | $11.79 | $5.39 |
| Efficient EV | 28.1 | 0 | $9.83 | $4.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.9 | 0 | $15.72 | $7.19 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
Chattanooga, TN
Evening in Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
6:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
61°F
Johnson, TN
56 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
2 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
1h 41m 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 Knoxville, TN to Chattanooga, TN covers 112.3 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Henley Street, Western Avenue, Ailor Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.1 miles from Knoxville, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.06 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 Knoxville, TN to Chattanooga, TN is easy. At 1h 41m 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 Knoxville, TN to Chattanooga, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Knoxville, TN to Chattanooga, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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