Origin
Parsons, TN
Evening in Parsons on Sunday
Local time
6:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Parsons, TN to Chattanooga, TN
Drive Time
3h 26m
Distance
222.7 mi
358 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 14m
★
6 AM
3h 26m
8 AM
3h 51m
10 AM
3h 35m
12 PM
3h 33m
3 PM
3h 36m
5 PM
3h 50m
8 PM
3h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Parsons, TN
Siarhei Nester
Chattanooga, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Parsons, TN to Chattanooga, TN covers 222.7 miles and takes about 3h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Tennessee Avenue, I 840 East, Tennessee National Guard Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.83 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
111.4 miles from Parsons, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 26m drive with frequent turns across 222.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Tennessee Avenue 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 26m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Parsons, TN to Chattanooga, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Tennessee Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 840 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 24 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 27 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Downtown | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Martin Luther King Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Tennessee Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Parsons, TN and Chattanooga, TN.
1
Start on East Main Street
62 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn right onto North Tennessee Avenue
14 mi
·
15 min
·
North Tennessee Avenue
3
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
4
Merge slight left
50 mi
·
53 min
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
6
Merge slight left onto Tennessee National Guard Parkway
52 mi
·
56 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 24 East: Chattanooga
8
Merge slight left
103 mi
·
1 hr 54 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
10
Continue straight
0.7 mi
·
1 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Downtown
12
Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
West Martin Luther King Boulevard
13
Arrive at your destination
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 111.4 miles from Parsons, TN, or about 1h 43m 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 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.4 miles or 1h 43m 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 49m
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 Parsons, 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 Parsons, TN
This is one driving day of about 222.7 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Parsons, 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 111.4 mi from Parsons, TN · 1h 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
111 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 111.4 miles from Parsons, 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
$33.83 one way
$67.65 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $37.29 | $74.58 |
| premium | $4.80 | $42.04 | $84.08 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $49.48 | $98.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.8 | 0 | $23.38 | $10.69 |
| Efficient EV | 55.7 | 0 | $19.49 | $8.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89.1 | 1 | $31.18 | $14.25 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
7:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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 26m 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 Parsons, TN to Chattanooga, TN covers 222.7 miles and takes about 3h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Tennessee Avenue, I 840 East, Tennessee National Guard Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 111.4 miles from Parsons, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.83 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 is a straightforward 3h 26m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Parsons, TN to Chattanooga, TN is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Parsons, TN to Chattanooga, TN does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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