Traveling from Chattanooga to Alexandria covers 109.9 miles and takes approximately 2 hours and 28 minutes of drive time. Since this route is well within the range of a comfortable day trip, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend about $16 on fuel for the journey, making it a very affordable excursion through the Southeast. The path relies on local roads rather than major interstates, providing a more intimate look at the Tennessee landscape. If you prefer a slower, more deliberate pace over high-speed highway travel, this trip is a straightforward option for your itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.9 miles from Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 27
20.6 mi
24m
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
9m
McMinnville Highway
6 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
US 27
— 20.6 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chattanooga, TN and Alexandria, TN.
1
Start on TN 8
0.2 mi·31 sec·West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
3
Merge onto US 27
21 mi·24 min·US 27
4
Keep slight left at fork onto TN 111
5.9 mi·6 min·TN 111
5
Continue on SR 111
11 mi·13 min·SR 111
6
Continue on TN 8; TN 111
13 mi·17 min·TN 8; TN 111
7
Turn left onto TN 8
7.3 mi·9 min·State Highway 8
8
Continue on TN 8
12 mi·17 min·Harrison Ferry Road
9
Turn slight right onto SR 56
1.3 mi·1 min·Beersheba Highway
10
Continue on SR 56
0.5 mi·45 sec·East Colville Street
11
Turn right onto SR 56
1.0 mi·1 min·South Chancery Street
12
Continue on SR 56
11 mi·15 min·Smithville Highway
13
Continue on SR 56
6.0 mi·8 min·McMinnville Highway
14
Continue on SR 56
1.8 mi·2 min·South Congress Boulevard
15
Turn left onto US 70
2.5 mi·3 min·East Broad Street
16
Continue on US 70
0.7 mi·1 min·Old Nashville Highway
17
Continue on US 70
0.4 mi·35 sec·Nashville Highway
18
Continue on US 70
2.0 mi·3 min·Old Nashville Highway
19
Continue on US 70; SR 96
11 mi·16 min·Nashville Highway
20
Turn slight right
260 ft·9 sec
21
Turn straight onto SR 53
231 ft·10 sec·High Street
22
Continue on High Street
0.9 mi·1 min·High Street
23
Turn left onto West Main Street
53 ft·2 sec·West Main Street
24
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. You won't need to plan for any formal stops, as the entire 109.9-mile trip is manageable in one go. Keep in mind that the technical nature of these local roads requires your full attention, so plan to drive during daylight hours if you aren't comfortable with sharp turns in the dark. Budgeting roughly $16 for fuel should keep you covered for the trip. A pro tip for this specific route is to check your tire pressure before leaving Chattanooga, as the turn-heavy profile of the Beersheba Highway will put your vehicle's handling to the test.
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 54.9 miles from Chattanooga, TN, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.6 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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.9 miles or 1h 8m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chattanooga, 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 Chattanooga, TN
This is one driving day of about 109.9 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Chattanooga, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 27 for about 20.6 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 92.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|TN 8 / West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Depart onto TN 8 / West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|US 27
Merge onto US 27
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
21.5 mi into trip|~26m in|TN 111
Keep slight left at fork onto TN 111
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
72.9 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|SR 56 / South Chancery Street
Turn right onto SR 56 / South Chancery Street
Navigation decision point
4
92.5 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|US 70 / East Broad Street
Turn left onto US 70 / East Broad Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.18 one way
$34.36 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.86
$37.73
premium
$4.89
$21.15
$42.30
diesel
$5.61
$24.26
$48.53
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
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33
0
$11.54
$5.28
Efficient EV
27.5
0
$9.62
$4.40
EV Truck/SUV
44
0
$15.39
$7.03
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Chattanooga, TN
Late night
in Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
5:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alexandria, TN
Late night
in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
4:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live 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 earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
8 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 28m 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.
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 106.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, your route utilizes Highway 8, Harrison Ferry Road, and the Beersheba Highway. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be cruising on high-speed freeways for this trip. The longest stretch you will encounter on Highway 8 is 0 miles, meaning the road profile is consistently winding rather than straight. This is a journey that rewards drivers who enjoy navigating local roads and shifting through the gears.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.6 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 early in the drive near TN 8 / West Martin Luther King Boulevard.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Chattanooga, TN to Alexandria, TN is easy. At 2h 28m with 53% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (TN 8 / West Martin Luther King Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (US 27): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 21.5 miles (TN 111): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 20.6 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: near the start (TN 8 / West Martin Luther King Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles (US 27): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 21.5 miles (TN 111): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Alexandria, TN before heading back.
