If you are planning a trip from Chattanooga to Lafayette, you are looking at a straightforward 111.4-mile journey across Tennessee. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 21 minutes behind the wheel, making this a very manageable single-day outing. Budgeting roughly $17 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Since the drive remains entirely within the state, you won't need to worry about crossing regional boundaries or adjusting for time zone changes. It serves as an efficient connection between these two Southeast locations, providing a clear path if you are looking to get from point A to point B without any necessary overnight stays.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.7 miles from Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Artillery Road
43.5 mi
56m
US 27
20.6 mi
24m
TN 8
12.6 mi
17m
SR 111
11.5 mi
13m
I 40
7.9 mi
8m
TN 111
5.9 mi
6m
Nashville Highway
5.7 mi
8m
Gundy Quarels Memorial Highway
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Artillery Road
— 43.5 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chattanooga, TN and Lafayette, 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
Continue on SR 111
44 mi·56 min·Artillery Road
8
Turn left
0.4 mi·49 sec
9
Merge onto I 40
7.9 mi·8 min·I 40
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward TN 56 North: Baxter, Gainesboro
11
Turn right onto SR 56
2.3 mi·3 min·Gundy Quarels Memorial Highway
12
Turn left onto US 70N
5.7 mi·8 min·Nashville Highway
13
Arrive at destination
US 70N; SR 96
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. With no mandatory stops built into the 2 hour and 21 minute duration, you can easily handle the drive in one go without feeling rushed. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before starting, especially as you head into the segments involving Artillery Road. Since the route is just over 111 miles, you don't need to overthink your pacing; simply take a break if you feel the need to stretch your legs. Keeping your vehicle prepared for a consistent, mixed-road drive will ensure you reach Lafayette without any unnecessary stress.
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 55.7 miles from Chattanooga, TN, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.5 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 25 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.7 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lafayette, 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 111.4 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Chattanooga, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Artillery Road for about 43.5 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 105.8 — 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.
4
21.5 mi into trip|~26m in|TN 111
Keep slight left at fork onto TN 111
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
95 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
103.3 mi into trip|~2h 9m in
Take the exit toward TN 56 North: Baxter, Gainesboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TN 56 North: Baxter, Gainesboro
4
105.8 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|US 70N / Nashville Highway
Turn left onto US 70N / Nashville Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.42 one way
$34.83 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.12
$38.24
premium
$4.89
$21.44
$42.88
diesel
$5.61
$24.60
$49.19
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: 39 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.4
0
$11.70
$5.35
Efficient EV
27.9
0
$9.75
$4.46
EV Truck/SUV
44.6
0
$15.60
$7.13
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Chattanooga, TN
Late night
in Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lafayette, TN
Night
in Lafayette on Saturday
Local time
11:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Dunlap, TN
56 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
33 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 21m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile that keeps things interesting as you transition between road types. You will spend about 52% of your time on highways, balancing faster stretches with the local feel of TN 8 and US 27. The most significant portion of your journey involves a 43.5-mile stretch along Artillery Road, which serves as your longest uninterrupted segment. Because the route relies on a combination of Artillery Road, US 27, and TN 8, you should be prepared for changing road conditions rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Expect a practical driving experience that shifts gears as you navigate toward your destination.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.5 mi on Artillery Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 21m drive. You will face about 8 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 21.5 miles (TN 111): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 95 miles: Navigation decision point.
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 Lafayette, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Gainesboro 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.
The longest stretch is about 43.5 miles on Artillery Road. 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 21.5 miles (TN 111): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 95 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lafayette, TN before heading back.
