Stretching 110.1 miles across Tennessee, this route from Alexandria to Chattanooga is a manageable journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 29 minutes. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $17 for fuel to cover the distance, making this an affordable transit between these two Southeast locations. While you will encounter a mix of roads, the drive remains straightforward and practical for those looking to traverse this part of the state efficiently. It provides a balanced transition between the smaller community of Alexandria and the larger hub of Chattanooga.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.1 miles from Alexandria, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 27
21.2 mi
25m
TN 8
12.6 mi
17m
Harrison Ferry Road
12.3 mi
17m
SR 111
11.5 mi
13m
Nashville Highway
11.1 mi
16m
Smithville Highway
10.9 mi
15m
State Highway 8
7.3 mi
10m
McMinnville Highway
6 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
US 27
— 21.2 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, TN and Chattanooga, TN.
1
Start on West Main Street
53 ft·4 sec·West Main Street
2
Turn right onto High Street
0.9 mi·1 min·High Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto SR 53
388 ft·12 sec·High Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 70; SR 53
11 mi·16 min·Nashville Highway
5
Continue on US 70
2.0 mi·3 min·Old Nashville Highway
6
Continue on US 70
0.4 mi·35 sec·Nashville Highway
7
Continue on US 70
0.7 mi·1 min·Old Nashville Highway
8
Continue on US 70
2.5 mi·3 min·West Broad Street
9
Turn right onto SR 56
1.8 mi·2 min·South Congress Boulevard
10
Continue on SR 56
6.0 mi·8 min·McMinnville Highway
11
Continue on SR 56
11 mi·15 min·Smithville Highway
12
Continue on SR 56
1.0 mi·1 min·North Chancery Street
13
Turn left onto SR 56
0.5 mi·41 sec·West Colville Street
14
Continue on SR 56
1.3 mi·1 min·Beersheba Highway
15
Turn slight left onto TN 8
12 mi·17 min·Harrison Ferry Road
16
Continue on TN 8
7.3 mi·10 min·State Highway 8
17
At end of road, turn right onto TN 8; TN 111
13 mi·17 min·TN 8; TN 111
18
Continue on SR 111
11 mi·13 min·SR 111
19
Continue on TN 111
5.9 mi·7 min·TN 111
20
Merge onto US 27
21 mi·25 min·US 27
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·40 sec
Exit 1AToward Downtown
22
Turn straight onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.3 mi·45 sec·West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
23
Arrive at destination
TN 8
Trip Plan
Since this is a 2-hour and 29-minute trip with no mandatory stops listed, you have significant flexibility in how you manage your departure time. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to ensure you maintain a steady flow throughout the 110.1-mile distance. Because there are no designated stops, you should plan to fuel up or handle personal errands either before you leave Alexandria or once you arrive in Chattanooga to keep your travel time efficient. Keep a close eye on the transition points between US 27, TN 8, and Harrison Ferry Road, as navigating these specific road changes is the key to staying on track. This route’s simplicity is its greatest advantage, allowing you to focus on the road ahead without the need for complex multi-day planning.
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 55.1 miles from Alexandria, TN, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.2 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 24 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.1 miles or 1h 20m 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 5m
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 Alexandria, 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 Alexandria, TN
This is one driving day of about 110.1 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Alexandria, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 27 for about 21.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 109.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|SR 53 / High Street
At end of road, turn right onto SR 53 / High Street
Navigation decision point
4
1 mi into trip|~1m in|US 70; SR 53 / Nashville Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 70; SR 53 / Nashville Highway
Navigation decision point
4
17.3 mi into trip|~27m in|SR 56 / South Congress Boulevard
Turn right onto SR 56 / South Congress Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
37 mi into trip|~55m in|SR 56 / West Colville Street
Turn left onto SR 56 / West Colville Street
Navigation decision point
5
109.6 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 1A
Toward Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.21 one way
$34.43 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.90
$37.80
premium
$4.89
$21.19
$42.38
diesel
$5.61
$24.31
$48.62
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: 38.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33
0
$11.56
$5.28
Efficient EV
27.5
0
$9.63
$4.40
EV Truck/SUV
44
0
$15.41
$7.05
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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Alexandria, TN
Afternoon
in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
3:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chattanooga, TN
Afternoon
in Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
4:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph14% chanceLive forecast
51°F
McMinnville, TN
55 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
9 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
2h 29m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Stones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 3.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving experience, with roughly 53% of the journey spent on highways. You will navigate a combination of routes, including US 27, TN 8, and Harrison Ferry Road, which keeps the drive from feeling like a monotonous interstate haul. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 21.2 miles on US 27, giving you a period of steady driving before the road character shifts. Expect the route to transition through varying road types, requiring you to adjust your pace as you move between local roads and higher-speed highway segments. It is a functional drive that requires your attention as you transition between these different road classifications.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.2 mi on US 27.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near SR 53 / High Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Alexandria, TN to Chattanooga, TN is easy. At 2h 29m with 53% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (SR 53 / High Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 70; SR 53 / Nashville Highway): Navigation decision point; at 17.3 miles (SR 56 / South Congress Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
Chattanooga is the 4th largest city in Tennessee. It is the seat of Hamilton County. It is in Southeast Tennessee on the Tennessee River and near the border of Georgia. It was immortalized in the popular 1941 song "Chattanooga Choo Choo", made famous by Glenn Miller.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21.2 miles on US 27. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (SR 53 / High Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 70; SR 53 / Nashville Highway): Navigation decision point; at 17.3 miles (SR 56 / South Congress Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Chattanooga, TN before heading back.
