Bartlett to Signal Mountain is 329.9 miles and takes about 6h 9m via Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway and I-24, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, moving from the western part of the state to the eastern side. It's a single-day trip that balances highway cruising with some surface road driving. Expect a straightforward trip with about half the miles on interstates and half on other roads, making it a manageable option for a day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
164.9 miles from Bartlett, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
157.9 mi
2h 50m
I 24
103.1 mi
1h 54m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
52.2 mi
55m
Stage Road
5.8 mi
10m
US 27
3.4 mi
4m
Signal Mountain Boulevard
3.1 mi
4m
Signal Mountain Road
1.6 mi
2m
Mississippi Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
— 157.9 mi, about 2h 50m
Traffic on I-24
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,972 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,410
Quietest
2 AM
~353 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bartlett, TN and Signal Mountain, TN.
1
Start on TN 15
5.8 mi·10 min·Stage Road
2
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward Nashville
3
Merge onto I 40
158 mi·2 hr 50 min·Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
5
Merge onto I 840
52 mi·55 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.8 mi·2 min
Exit 53AToward I 24 East: ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 24
103 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 184BToward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
9
Continue on US 27
3.4 mi·4 min·US 27
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward US 127 North: Signal Mountain
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·12 sec
12
Turn straight onto US 127
1.6 mi·2 min·Signal Mountain Road
13
Continue on US 127
3.1 mi·4 min·Signal Mountain Boulevard
14
Turn sharp left onto Mississippi Avenue
189 ft·8 sec·Mississippi Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Mississippi Avenue
Trip Plan
Given this route is about 6 hours, leaving in the morning should get you to Signal Mountain with plenty of daylight to spare. You'll have one recommended stop, which is a good opportunity to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from the longer highway stretches to surface roads, as gas station availability might vary. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility in departure time and stop duration. The longest stretch is 157.9 miles, so plan your break around the midpoint of that section if possible.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 164.9 miles from Bartlett, TN, or about 3h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 157.9 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 73 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.9 miles or 3h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Signal Mountain, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bartlett, 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 Bartlett, TN
This is one driving day of about 329.9 miles and 6h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Bartlett, 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 Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway for about 157.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.1 and 217.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.1 mi into trip|~11m in|I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
164 mi into trip|~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
5
164.7 mi into trip|~3h 3m in|I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge onto I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
217 mi into trip|~3h 59m in
Take the exit toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 53A
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
5
217.8 mi into trip|~4h 1m in|I 24
Merge onto I 24
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.03 one way
$110.06 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$60.04
$120.09
premium
$5.25
$68.23
$136.45
diesel
$6.28
$81.51
$163.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99
1
$34.64
$15.84
Efficient EV
82.5
0
$28.87
$13.20
EV Truck/SUV
132
1
$46.19
$21.11
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Bartlett, TN
Late night
in Bartlett on Friday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Clear
ESE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Signal Mountain, TN
Late night
in Signal Mountain on Friday
Local time
4:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
E 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
20 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
6h 9m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 216.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 48% of this trip on highways, with the remaining miles on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 157.9 miles along Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of driving, transitioning from highway speeds to more local road conditions. This means you'll encounter more frequent exits and potential slowdowns as you move between the main highways and surface sections.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 157.9 mi on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.1 miles in near I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 329.9 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.1 miles (I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 164 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 164.7 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,699 ft278 ft
Total Climb
1,961 ft
Total Descent
540 ft
Highest Point
1,699 ft
~329.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,421 ft
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 Bartlett, TN to Signal Mountain, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Franklin along the way.
Bartlett is a city in metropolitan Memphis, Tennessee. It has several buildings of historic interest, and a walkable Historic District". In 2018, the population of Bartlett was almost 60,000. The Trail of Tears runs along Stage Road through the city. It commemorates the forced relocations between 1830 and 1850 of approximately 60,000 Native Americans from their ancestral homelands in the Southeastern U.S. to areas west of the Mississippi River that had been designated as Indian Territory.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 9m. Total distance: 329.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 9m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 157.9 miles on Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 33 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Signal Mountain, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.1 miles (I 40 / Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 164 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 164.7 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Signal Mountain, TN before the return drive.
