The drive from Red Boiling Springs, TN to Chattanooga, TN covers 141.4 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 SR 111, Spencer Highway, US 27 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 30.1 miles on SR 111.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.11 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
70.7 miles from Red Boiling Springs, 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: 141.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The drive from Red Boiling Springs, TN to Chattanooga, TN covers 141.4 miles and takes about 3h 6m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
SR 111 is the longest continuous segment at about 30.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 38 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 6m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 38 miles: Navigation decision point; at 46.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65 miles (SR 111 / Spencer Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
38 mi into trip|~56m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
46.1 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward TN 111: Livingston, Sparta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TN 111: Livingston, Sparta
4
65 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|SR 111 / Spencer Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 111 / Spencer Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
140.9 mi into trip|~3h 5m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 1A
Toward Downtown
4
141.1 mi into trip|~3h 5m in|West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Turn straight onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
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 Red Boiling Springs, TN to Chattanooga, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Sparta along the way.
Sparta
46.1 mi in|~1h 5m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
SR 111
30.1 mi
37m
Spencer Highway
24.7 mi
32m
US 27
21.2 mi
25m
Jennings Creek Highway
12.6 mi
18m
TN 8
12.6 mi
17m
North Grundy Quarles Memorial Highway
12.1 mi
18m
I 40
7.9 mi
8m
TN 111
5.9 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
SR 111
— 30.1 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Red Boiling Springs, TN and Chattanooga, TN.
1
Start on SR 56
433 ft·12 sec·Main Street
2
Continue on SR 151
0.9 mi·1 min·East Main Street
3
Continue on SR 151
1.7 mi·2 min·North Springs Road
4
Continue on SR 151
0.3 mi·26 sec·Red Boiling Sprgs Highway
5
Continue on SR 151
4.7 mi·7 min·Red Boiling Springs Highway
6
Turn left onto SR 56
13 mi·18 min·Jennings Creek Highway
7
Continue on SR 53; SR 56
12 mi·18 min·North Grundy Quarles Memorial Highway
8
Continue on SR 56
5.4 mi·8 min·Gundy Quarels Memorial Highway
9
Continue on SR 56
0.1 mi·15 sec·Gainesboro Highway
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
11
Merge onto I 40
7.9 mi·8 min·I 40
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·24 sec
Toward TN 111: Livingston, Sparta
13
Turn right onto SR 111
19 mi·23 min·SR 111
14
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 111
25 mi·32 min·Spencer Highway
15
Continue on TN 8; TN 111
13 mi·17 min·TN 8; TN 111
16
Continue on SR 111
11 mi·13 min·SR 111
17
Continue on TN 111
5.9 mi·7 min·TN 111
18
Merge onto US 27
21 mi·25 min·US 27
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·40 sec
Exit 1AToward Downtown
20
Turn straight onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.3 mi·45 sec·West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
21
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 70.7 miles from Red Boiling Springs, TN, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.1 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 31 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.7 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 35m
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 Red Boiling Springs, 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 Red Boiling Springs, TN
This is one driving day of about 141.4 miles and 3h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Red Boiling Springs, 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 SR 111 for about 30.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 70.7 mi from Red Boiling Springs, TN
· 1h 37m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.11 one way
$44.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.27
$48.54
premium
$4.89
$27.21
$54.42
diesel
$5.61
$31.22
$62.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.4
0
$14.85
$6.79
Efficient EV
35.4
0
$12.37
$5.66
EV Truck/SUV
56.6
0
$19.80
$9.05
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (65% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Red Boiling Springs, TN
Morning
in Red Boiling Springs on Friday
Local time
6:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chattanooga, TN
Morning
in Chattanooga on Friday
Local time
7:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 10 mph14% chanceLive forecast
74°F
Sparta, TN
71 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
11 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 Red Boiling Springs, TN to Chattanooga, TN covers 141.4 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 SR 111, Spencer Highway, US 27. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70.7 miles from Red Boiling Springs, TN. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.11 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 6m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 38 miles: Navigation decision point; at 46.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65 miles (SR 111 / Spencer Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Red Boiling Springs, TN to Chattanooga, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Sparta along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
