Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
12.8 mi
21 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
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
Fairmount, TN
Kelly
This quick 12.8-mile drive from Chattanooga, TN, to Fairmount, TN, takes about 21 minutes and is perfect as a day trip within the Southeast region. You'll primarily navigate via Taft Highway and Signal Mountain Boulevard, eventually merging onto US 27. With only a 14% highway share, expect a local feel rather than an interstate cruise. The estimated fuel cost for this short hop is a budget-friendly $2. Since there are no designated stops and the drive is so brief, it offers a lot of flexibility for when you want to depart and how you might want to spend your time once you arrive.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Taft Highway | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Signal Mountain Boulevard | 3 mi | 4m |
| US 27 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Signal Mountain Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Gahagan Road | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Fairmount Pike | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| West Martin Luther King Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Fairmount Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Chattanooga, TN and Fairmount, 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
Continue on US 127
Continue on US 127
Turn right onto Gahagan Road
At end of road, turn left onto Fairmount Pike
Turn right onto North Fairmount Road
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 12.8 — 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
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
At end of road, turn left onto Fairmount Pike
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto North Fairmount Road
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$2.00 one way
$4.00 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.20 | $4.39 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.46 | $4.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.83 | $5.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.34 | $0.61 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.12 | $0.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.79 | $0.82 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Late night in Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Fairmount on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
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.
The character of this 21-minute journey is decidedly turn-heavy and local, reflecting its short distance and minimal highway involvement. With only 14% of the route on higher-speed roads, you’ll experience more of a neighborhood feel. The longest stretch without significant turns or changes in road type is 4.4 miles on Taft Highway. As you transition through Signal Mountain Boulevard and onto US 27, anticipate a more varied driving experience with frequent intersections and local traffic patterns.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near TN 8 / West Martin Luther King Boulevard.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 21m drive. You will face about 7 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 (TN 8 / West Martin Luther King Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3.1 miles: 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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 12.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (14%). Straightforward navigation.
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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