Origin
Oak Ridge, TN
Afternoon in Oak Ridge on Wednesday
Local time
4:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oak Ridge, TN to East Chattanooga, TN
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 43m
Distance
104.3 mi
168 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 36m
★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
1h 59m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oak Ridge, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Oak Ridge, TN to East Chattanooga, TN covers 104.3 miles and takes about 1h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Tri County Boulevard, Harriman Highway, Bitter Creek Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.31 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
52.2 miles from Oak Ridge, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 43m drive with frequent turns across 104.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Tri County Boulevard 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 Oak Ridge, TN to East Chattanooga, TN is easy. At 1h 43m 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 Oak Ridge, TN to East Chattanooga, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Tri County Boulevard | — | — |
| Harriman Highway | — | — |
| Bitter Creek Highway | — | — |
| Hannah Highway | — | — |
| North Roane Street | — | — |
| North Gateway Avenue | — | — |
| Spring City Highway | — | — |
| Rhea County Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East Tri County Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oak Ridge, TN and East Chattanooga, TN.
1
Start on North Illinois Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Illinois Avenue
2
Continue on East Tri County Boulevard
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
East Tri County Boulevard
3
Continue on Harriman Highway
9.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Harriman Highway
4
Merge slight right onto Bitter Creek Highway
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
Bitter Creek Highway
5
Continue on Harriman Highway
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Harriman Highway
6
Continue on Hannah Highway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Hannah Highway
7
Continue on North Roane Street
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
North Roane Street
8
Continue on North Gateway Avenue
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
North Gateway Avenue
9
Continue on Spring City Highway
4.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Spring City Highway
10
Continue on Rhea County Highway
32 mi
·
39 min
·
Rhea County Highway
11
Continue on Dayton Pike
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Dayton Pike
12
Take the exit slight right toward TN 153 South: Chickamauga Dam
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
TN 153 South: Chickamauga Dam
13
Continue on Dayton Pike
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Dayton Pike
14
Keep slight left
3.3 mi
·
4 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward SR 17 South
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
SR 17 South
16
Turn straight
2.5 mi
·
4 min
17
Turn right onto Glass Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Glass Street
18
Turn left onto North Chamberlain Avenue
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Chamberlain Avenue
19
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 52.2 miles from Oak Ridge, TN, or about 51m 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 23 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.2 miles or 51m 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 25m
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 Oak Ridge, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Oak Ridge, TN
This is one driving day of about 104.3 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Oak Ridge, 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 52.2 mi from Oak Ridge, TN · 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.2 miles from Oak Ridge, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.31 one way
$32.61 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.90 | $35.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.07 | $40.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.03 | $46.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.3 | 0 | $10.95 | $5.01 |
| Efficient EV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.13 | $4.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.7 | 0 | $14.60 | $6.68 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
East Chattanooga, TN
Afternoon in East Chattanooga on Wednesday
Local time
4:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Dayton, TN
52 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
1h 43m 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 Oak Ridge, TN to East Chattanooga, TN covers 104.3 miles and takes about 1h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Tri County Boulevard, Harriman Highway, Bitter Creek Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.2 miles from Oak Ridge, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.31 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.
The drive from Oak Ridge, TN to East Chattanooga, TN is easy. At 1h 43m 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 Oak Ridge, TN to East Chattanooga, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Oak Ridge, TN to East Chattanooga, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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