Origin
Athens, TN
Late night in Athens on Sunday
Local time
12:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Athens, TN to East Chattanooga, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
53.2 mi
86 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Athens, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 53.2 miles, the drive from Athens to East Chattanooga is a straightforward journey through Southeast Tennessee that typically takes about 1 hour and 6 minutes. Because of the quick duration, this is easily manageable as a one-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You should budget approximately $8 for fuel to complete the trek. The route primarily utilizes I-75, Decatur Pike, and Bonny Oaks Drive to navigate between these two points. It is a highly efficient path, making it ideal if you are looking to move between these regions without unnecessary complications.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 40.7 mi | 44m |
| Bonny Oaks Drive | 6.5 mi | 11m |
| Decatur Pike | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Campbell Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Green Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| US 11 | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Glass Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Madison Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 40.7 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Athens, TN and East Chattanooga, TN.
1
Start on SR 39
186 ft
·
9 sec
·
Washington Avenue
2
Turn left onto North White Street
244 ft
·
12 sec
·
North White Street
3
Turn left onto SR 39
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Madison Avenue
4
Turn left onto SR 30; SR 39
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
Green Street
5
Continue on TN 30
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Decatur Pike
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
7
Merge onto I 75
41 mi
·
44 min
·
I 75
8
Take the exit onto US 11; US 64; SR 317
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 11; US 64; SR 317
Toward Secondary SR 317 West, US 11 South, US 64 West: Bonny Oaks Drive, Old Lee Highway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 11; US 64; SR 317
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 11; US 64; SR 317
10
Continue on TN 317
4.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Bonny Oaks Drive
11
Continue on SR 17
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Bonny Oaks Drive
12
Continue on SR 17
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Campbell Street
13
Turn right onto SR 17
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Glass Street
14
Turn left onto North Chamberlain Avenue
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Chamberlain Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
North Chamberlain Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.6 miles from Athens, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 45.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North White Street
Turn left onto North White Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SR 39 / East Madison Avenue
Turn left onto SR 39 / East Madison Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SR 30; SR 39 / Green Street
Turn left onto SR 30; SR 39 / Green Street
Navigation decision point
7
45.3 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
US 11; US 64; SR 317
Take the exit onto US 11; US 64; SR 317 toward Secondary SR 317 West, US 11 South, US 64 West: Bonny Oaks Drive, Old Lee Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Secondary SR 317 West, US 11 South, US 6...
5
45.5 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
US 11; US 64; SR 317
Keep slight right at fork onto US 11; US 64; SR 317
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.32 one way
$16.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.13 | $18.26 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.24 | $20.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.75 | $23.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.59 | $2.55 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.66 | $2.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.45 | $3.40 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Late night in East Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
12:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Cleveland, TN
27 mi in
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 6m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 77% of your travel time spent cruising on major roads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 40.7 miles on I-75. While the interstate portion offers a steady pace, the experience shifts once you transition onto local roads like Decatur Pike and Bonny Oaks Drive. Expect a mix of fast-moving traffic and the slower, more controlled pace of city-adjacent corridors as you approach East Chattanooga. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that rewards consistent speed over scenic wandering.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.7 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Bonny Oaks Drive. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North White Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 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: near the start (North White Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SR 39 / East Madison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (SR 30; SR 39 / Green Street): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Athens, TN and East Chattanooga, TN, road signs point toward Secondary Sr 317 West and Old Lee Highway.
Secondary Sr 317 West
45.3 mi in
|
~51m
|
via US 11; US 64; SR 317
Old Lee Highway
45.3 mi in
|
~51m
|
via US 11; US 64; SR 317
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 53.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.7 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North White Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SR 39 / East Madison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (SR 30; SR 39 / Green Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at East Chattanooga, TN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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