Origin
Loretto, TN
Evening in Loretto on Wednesday
Local time
5:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Loretto, TN to East Chattanooga, TN
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
2h 56m
Distance
168.3 mi
271 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 45m
★
6 AM
2h 57m
8 AM
3h 19m
10 AM
3h 4m
12 PM
3h 2m
3 PM
3h 5m
5 PM
3h 18m
8 PM
2h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Loretto, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Loretto, TN to East Chattanooga, TN covers 168.3 miles and takes about 2h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Church Street, South Military Street, Andrew Jackson Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.31 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
84.2 miles from Loretto, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 56m drive with frequent turns across 168.3 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.
Church 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 Loretto, TN to East Chattanooga, TN is easy. At 2h 56m 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 Loretto, TN to East Chattanooga, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Church Street | — | — |
| South Military Street | — | — |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | — | — |
| Cowan Highway | — | — |
| Cumberland Street West | — | — |
| Sewanee Highway | — | — |
| Sollace M Freeman Highway | — | — |
| David Crockett Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Church Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Loretto, TN and East Chattanooga, TN.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn left onto Church Street
505 ft
·
25 sec
·
Church Street
3
Turn left onto South Military Street
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
South Military Street
4
Continue on Andrew Jackson Highway
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
5
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
6
Merge slight left
17 mi
·
18 min
7
Continue straight
67 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
8
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
9
Keep slight right
184 ft
·
5 sec
10
Turn straight onto Cowan Highway
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Cowan Highway
11
Continue on Cumberland Street West
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Cumberland Street West
12
Continue on Sewanee Highway
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Sewanee Highway
13
Continue on Sollace M Freeman Highway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Sollace M Freeman Highway
14
Continue on Sewanee Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Sewanee Highway
15
Continue on David Crockett Highway
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
David Crockett Highway
16
Continue on West Main Street
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
17
Take the ramp slight right
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
18
Merge slight left onto I 24;US 64
44 mi
·
49 min
·
I 24;US 64
19
Take the exit slight right toward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
20
Continue straight
0.7 mi
·
1 min
21
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Downtown
22
Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Martin Luther King Boulevard
23
Turn left onto Georgia Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Georgia Avenue
24
Turn right onto East 4th Street
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
East 4th Street
25
Turn straight
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
26
Continue on Riverside Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Riverside Drive
27
Turn right onto Wilcox Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Wilcox Boulevard
28
Turn left onto Dodson Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Dodson Avenue
29
Turn right onto Glass Street
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Glass Street
30
Turn sharp right onto North Chamberlain Avenue
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Chamberlain Avenue
31
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 84.2 miles from Loretto, TN, or about 1h 28m 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 37 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.2 miles or 1h 28m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Chattanooga, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Loretto, 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 Loretto, TN
This is one driving day of about 168.3 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Loretto, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.2 mi from Loretto, TN · 1h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 84.2 miles from Loretto, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in East Chattanooga, TN
The final approach into East 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 East 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
$26.31 one way
$52.62 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $28.89 | $57.78 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.39 | $64.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.16 | $74.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.5 | 0 | $17.67 | $8.08 |
| Efficient EV | 42.1 | 0 | $14.73 | $6.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.3 | 0 | $23.56 | $10.77 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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
East Chattanooga, TN
Evening in East Chattanooga on Wednesday
Local time
6:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Winchester, TN
84 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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
13 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 56m 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 Loretto, TN to East Chattanooga, TN covers 168.3 miles and takes about 2h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Church Street, South Military Street, Andrew Jackson Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.2 miles from Loretto, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.31 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Loretto, TN to East Chattanooga, TN is easy. At 2h 56m 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 Loretto, TN to East Chattanooga, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Loretto, TN to East Chattanooga, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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