Chattanooga to Kingsport is 207.7 miles and takes about 3h 56m via I-75 and I-81, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a predominantly highway experience for most of the drive. With only one recommended stop and a drive time under four hours, this route is ideal for a single-day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
103.8 miles from Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
99.2 mi
1h 49m
I 81
50.5 mi
54m
I 40
36.7 mi
40m
I 24
5.8 mi
7m
South Wilcox Drive
4.1 mi
6m
Sullivan Gardens Drive
3.1 mi
3m
TN 93
2.4 mi
2m
Sullivan Gardens Parkway
1.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 99.2 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chattanooga, TN and Kingsport, TN.
1
Start on TN 8
80 ft·6 sec·West Martin Luther King Boulevard
2
Turn right onto Market Street
1.2 mi·3 min·Market Street
3
Turn left
0.3 mi·22 sec
4
Merge onto I 24; US 27
5.8 mi·7 min·I 24; US 27
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 185 BToward I 75 North: KnoxvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 75
99 mi·1 hr 49 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi·40 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
51 mi·54 min·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 50Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
10
Keep slight right at fork
509 ft·14 sec
Exit 50Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
11
Merge onto SR 93
0.6 mi·38 sec·SR 93
12
Continue on TN 93
2.4 mi·2 min·TN 93
13
Continue on SR 93
3.1 mi·3 min·Sullivan Gardens Drive
14
Continue on SR 93
1.5 mi·1 min·South Wilcox Drive
15
Continue on SR 93
1.4 mi·1 min·Sullivan Gardens Parkway
16
Turn left onto SR 126
2.6 mi·4 min·South Wilcox Drive
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn left onto East Sullivan Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·East Sullivan Street
18
Turn slight left onto East Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
19
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Broad Street
20
Enter roundabout onto Broad Street
46 ft·1 sec·Broad Street
21
Continue on Broad Street
433 ft·19 sec·Broad Street
22
Turn left onto TN 36
0.1 mi·23 sec·West Center Street
23
Arrive at destination
TN 36
Trip Plan
Consider leaving Chattanooga in the morning to maximize daylight for your drive to Kingsport. With a total duration of under four hours, you won't need to split this trip. The route involves just one recommended stop, but you have flexibility to add more if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the 99.2-mile stretch on I-75, as finding services can be less frequent in certain interstate corridors.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 103.8 miles from Chattanooga, TN, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.2 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 46 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.8 miles or 1h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kingsport, 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 207.7 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Chattanooga, 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 I 75 for about 99.2 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.3 and 194.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
7.3 mi into trip|~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Knoxville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 185 B
Toward I 75 North: Knoxville
6
107.4 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
144.1 mi into trip|~2h 43m in|I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 North: Bristol
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
6
194.6 mi into trip|~3h 37m in
Take the exit toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 50
Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
8
194.8 mi into trip|~3h 38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 50
Toward SR 93: Jonesborough, Fall Branch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.65 one way
$69.29 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$37.80
$75.61
premium
$5.25
$42.95
$85.91
diesel
$6.28
$51.32
$102.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.3
0
$21.81
$9.97
Efficient EV
51.9
0
$18.17
$8.31
EV Truck/SUV
83.1
1
$29.08
$13.29
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Chattanooga, TN
Morning
in Chattanooga on Thursday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Sunny
NE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Kingsport, TN
Morning
in Kingsport on Thursday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
0 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 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
3h 56m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 128.9
Park Closure: Roadwork on the Gatlinburg Spur to affect traffic
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely on highways, with 95% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll encounter a long stretch of 99.2 miles on I-75 before transitioning to other interstates. Given the high highway percentage, anticipate a consistent cruising speed with fewer turns and more straightforward navigation. The density of exits can be high in certain segments.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.2 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.3 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 207.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 107.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,531 ft675 ft
Total Climb
1,169 ft
Total Descent
635 ft
Highest Point
1,531 ft
~197.4 mi in
Elevation Range
856 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 Chattanooga, TN to Kingsport, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Fall Branch along the way.
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.
Top landmarks
•Delta Queen — paddle steamer launched in 1926
•Hunter Museum of American Art — art museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee
•Saints Peter and Paul Basilica — historic church in Tennessee, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 207.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.2 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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 Kingsport, 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 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 107.4 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Kingsport, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
