Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
50.2 mi
81 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chattanooga, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Altamont, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Chattanooga, TN to Altamont, TN is 50.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 16 minutes via Cumberland Drive and SR 56, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Southeast region, specifically Tennessee, offering a local drive experience. It's a straightforward journey, ideal if you're looking for a brief excursion or a connection between these two points without a significant time commitment. The route is primarily composed of local roads, so expect a more engaged driving experience than a typical interstate commute.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland Drive | 22.2 mi | 32m |
| Suck Creek Road | 14.5 mi | 21m |
| SR 56 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| SR 283 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| US 27 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Signal Mountain Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| SR 28 | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Chattanooga, TN and Altamont, TN.
Start on TN 8
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 27
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto US 127
Turn left onto SR 27
Continue on SR 283
Take the ramp
Merge onto SR 28
Turn left onto SR 108
Turn slight left onto SR 108
Turn right onto SR 56
Turn right onto Cumberland Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.1 miles from Chattanooga, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 22.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Depart onto TN 8 / West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto US 27
Merge point - match speed before joining
Take the exit toward US 127 North: Signal Mountain
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn left onto SR 108 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$7.85 one way
$15.70 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.62 | $17.23 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.66 | $19.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.08 | $22.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.27 | $2.41 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.39 | $2.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.03 | $3.21 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
7:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
Destination
Morning in Altamont on Sunday
Local time
6:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Time zone
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 19% of it being highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.2 miles on Cumberland Drive, meaning you'll be navigating a series of turns and changes in road type. Expect a dynamic driving experience that keeps you actively involved rather than settling into a monotonous cruise. The drive will likely feel more like navigating local thoroughfares with varying speed limits and road conditions as you progress towards Altamont.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TN 8 / West Martin Luther King Boulevard.
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 50.2 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: 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 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 50.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (19%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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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