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Trip from Baxter, TN to 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

2h 15m

Distance

104.9 mi

169 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 6m ★
6 AM
2h 15m
8 AM
2h 34m
10 AM
2h 22m
12 PM
2h 20m
3 PM
2h 23m
5 PM
2h 33m
8 PM
2h 10m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Putnam County, Tennessee, United States

Baxter, TN

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States

Chattanooga, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Baxter to Chattanooga, you are facing a straightforward 104.9-mile journey across Tennessee. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 15 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You will navigate primarily via SR 111, Spencer Highway, and US 27, which keeps the navigation relatively simple. Budgeting roughly $16 for fuel should cover your transit costs comfortably. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, you won't experience drastic climate shifts, but the transition from the Upper Cumberland area to the Tennessee River Valley provides a distinct change in scenery. It is a manageable drive that doesn't require an overnight stop, giving you plenty of flexibility to explore once you arrive.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

52.5 miles from Baxter, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
SR 111 30.1 mi 37m
Spencer Highway 24.7 mi 32m
US 27 21.2 mi 25m
TN 8 12.6 mi 17m
I 40 7.9 mi 8m
TN 111 5.9 mi 7m
1st Avenue South 1.3 mi 4m
West Martin Luther King Boulevard 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: SR 111 — 30.1 mi, about 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Baxter, TN and Chattanooga, TN.

1

Start on SR 141

92 ft · 3 sec · Old Baxter Road
2

Turn right onto 1st Avenue South

1.3 mi · 4 min · 1st Avenue South
3

Turn right onto SR 56

0.1 mi · 10 sec · Gundy Quarels Memorial Highway
4

Continue on SR 56

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Gainesboro Highway
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec
6

Merge onto I 40

7.9 mi · 8 min · I 40
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 24 sec
Toward TN 111: Livingston, Sparta
8

Turn right onto SR 111

19 mi · 23 min · SR 111
9

Keep slight right at fork onto SR 111

25 mi · 32 min · Spencer Highway
10

Continue on TN 8; TN 111

13 mi · 17 min · TN 8; TN 111
11

Continue on SR 111

11 mi · 13 min · SR 111
12

Continue on TN 111

5.9 mi · 7 min · TN 111
13

Merge onto US 27

21 mi · 25 min · US 27
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 40 sec
Exit 1A Toward Downtown
15

Turn straight onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard

0.3 mi · 45 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
16

Arrive at destination

TN 8

Trip Plan

Because the total duration is only 2 hours and 15 minutes, you have the advantage of choosing a departure time that suits your personal schedule without worrying about mid-trip fatigue. You won't need to plan for formal stops, as the trip is short enough to drive in one go, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Baxter to ensure you don't need to hunt for gas along the 104.9-mile path. Since the route relies on a specific sequence of SR 111, Spencer Highway, and US 27, double-check your GPS settings to ensure you stay on these primary roads. My best tip for this specific drive is to keep your navigation app active as you transition onto US 27, as the change in road types can sometimes be easy to miss if you aren't paying close attention to the signage.

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 52.5 miles from Baxter, TN, or about 1h 9m 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 23 miles or 31m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 52.5 miles or 1h 9m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 52m

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 Baxter, 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 Baxter, TN

This is one driving day of about 104.9 miles and 2h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Baxter, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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.

Downtown Dunlap, TN, TN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dunlap, TN

52 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.

Popular next leg

Dunlap, TN to Chattanooga, TN

29.6 mi · 45m

Pacing Suggestions

Sparta, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dunlap, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 52.5 miles from Baxter, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 104.9

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+14237604333

Visit website

Renaissance Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 104.9

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+14236436096

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 1.5 and 104.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
1.5 mi into trip | ~5m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

5
9.6 mi into trip | ~14m 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
28.5 mi into trip | ~38m in | SR 111 / Spencer Highway

Keep slight right at fork onto SR 111 / Spencer Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
104.4 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in

Take the exit toward Downtown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 1A Toward Downtown
4
104.6 mi into trip | ~2h 14m in | West Martin Luther King Boulevard

Turn straight onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.40 one way

$32.80 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 37 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $18.01 $36.01
premium $4.89 $20.19 $40.37
diesel $5.61 $23.16 $46.32

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 36.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 31.5 0 $11.01 $5.04
Efficient EV 26.2 0 $9.18 $4.20
EV Truck/SUV 42 0 $14.69 $6.71

Gas CO2

37 kg

EV CO2

12 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Baxter, TN

Night in Baxter on Saturday

Local time

11:14 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chattanooga, TN

Late night in Chattanooga on Sunday

Local time

12:14 AM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

75°F

Dunlap, TN

52 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

10 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 15m 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 features a highway-focused profile, with 74% of your total mileage spent on higher-speed roads. You will find a steady rhythm on the pavement, with the longest uninterrupted stretch spanning 30.1 miles along SR 111. While the route relies heavily on major corridors, the transition through Spencer Highway and onto US 27 keeps the drive from feeling like a monotonous interstate grind. Expect a blend of fast-paced highway segments and localized stretches that require a bit more attention. By maintaining a consistent pace, you can easily navigate the transition from the more rural stretches near Baxter into the busier infrastructure approaching Chattanooga.

74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.1 mi on SR 111.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on SR 111 and Spencer Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.

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 2h 15m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.5 miles (SR 111 / Spencer Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

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 Baxter, TN to Chattanooga, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Sparta along the way.

Sparta

9.6 mi in | ~14m

About the Cities

Arriving in Chattanooga, TN

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 104.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (74%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 30.1 miles on SR 111. 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 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.5 miles (SR 111 / Spencer Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at 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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