Origin
Chattanooga, TN
Late night in Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
3:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chattanooga, TN to Loretto, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 8m
Distance
157.1 mi
253 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 57m
★
6 AM
3h 8m
8 AM
3h 32m
10 AM
3h 17m
12 PM
3h 14m
3 PM
3h 18m
5 PM
3h 31m
8 PM
3h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chattanooga, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Loretto, TN
Kelly
Trip Overview
Chattanooga to Loretto is 157.1 miles and takes about 3 hours 8 minutes via I 24 and Pulaski Highway, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Tennessee, taking you from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect a local drive with plenty of turns, making it a good option if you prefer a less highway-intensive journey. With only one recommended stop and a drive under four hours, this route is easily manageable as 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
78.6 miles from Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 24 | 44.7 mi | 51m |
| Pulaski Highway | 31 mi | 35m |
| Winchester Highway | 16.8 mi | 19m |
| Lawrenceburg Highway | 15.9 mi | 18m |
| David Crockett Highway | 13.6 mi | 15m |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| Sewanee Highway | 6.8 mi | 10m |
| Veterans Memorial Drive | 3.6 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 44.7 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chattanooga, TN and Loretto, TN.
1
Start on TN 8
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Use the left lane.
3
Merge onto US 27
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 27
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
Toward 24: Nashville, Birmingham
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 24
45 mi
·
51 min
·
I 24
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 134
Toward 41A: Monteagle, Sewanee
7
Turn slight right
50 ft
·
9 sec
8
Turn left onto US 41A
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
9
Continue on US 41A
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
David Crockett Highway
10
Continue on US 41A
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Sewanee Highway
11
Continue on US 41A
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Sollace M Freeman Highway
12
Continue on US 41A
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Sewanee Highway
13
Continue on US 41A
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Cumberland Street East
14
Continue on US 41A
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Cowan Highway
15
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
16
Merge onto US 64
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Veterans Memorial Drive
17
Continue on US 64
13 mi
·
14 min
·
David Crockett Highway
18
Continue on US 64
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Winchester Highway
19
Continue on US 64 Business
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Mulberry Avenue
20
Continue on US 64 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
College Street East
21
Turn slight right onto US 64 Business
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Morgan Avenue North
22
Continue on US 64 Business
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street West
23
Continue on US 64
31 mi
·
35 min
·
Pulaski Highway
24
Turn left onto US 64
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
·
West College Street
25
Continue on US 64
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Lawrenceburg Highway
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
27
Keep slight left at fork
326 ft
·
14 sec
28
Turn left onto US 43
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
29
Continue on US 43
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
North Military Street
30
Turn right onto Church Street
504 ft
·
24 sec
·
Church Street
31
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
South Main Street
32
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour drive time, you can comfortably depart anytime in the morning and arrive in Loretto by the afternoon. While only one stop is suggested, feel free to add more based on your needs, as the drive is not excessively long. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you move onto the local roads where stations might be less frequent. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to your GPS for the numerous turns, as the 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile means you'll be making frequent adjustments.
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 78.6 miles from Chattanooga, TN, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.7 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 35 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.6 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Loretto, 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 157.1 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 24 for about 44.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 78.6 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 145.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 24: Nashville, Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 24: Nashville, Birmingham
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 24
Merge onto I 24
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
46.4 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward 41A: Monteagle, Sewanee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 134
Toward 41A: Monteagle, Sewanee
5
145.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 54m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.56 one way
$49.12 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $26.97 | $53.93 |
| premium | $4.89 | $30.23 | $60.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.69 | $69.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.1 | 0 | $16.50 | $7.54 |
| Efficient EV | 39.3 | 0 | $13.75 | $6.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.8 | 0 | $21.99 | $10.05 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Destination
Loretto, TN
Late night in Loretto on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Winchester, TN
79 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
6 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
3h 8m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll encounter frequent changes in direction. With only 29% of the journey on highways, much of your time will be spent on local roads like Pulaski Highway and Winchester Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 44.7 miles on I 24, offering a brief period of more consistent speed before transitioning back to more winding segments. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience with numerous turns that will keep you engaged.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.7 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 157.1 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 0.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chattanooga, TN and Loretto, TN, road signs point toward 41A: Monteagle and Sewanee.
41A: Monteagle
46.4 mi in
|
~54m
Sewanee
46.4 mi in
|
~54m
About the Cities
Starting in Chattanooga, TN
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 157.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.7 miles on I 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Loretto, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.7 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Loretto, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
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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