Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 56m
Distance
318.2 mi
512 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
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
Obion, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Chattanooga to Obion is 318.2 miles and takes about 5h 56m via I 24, I 40, and Tennessee National Guard Parkway, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, beginning in the Southeast region and ending in the same region. Given its predominantly highway profile and single-day recommendation, expect a straightforward drive. It's a practical route for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
159.1 miles from Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 57m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 24 | 104.9 mi | 1h 57m |
| I 40 | 96.4 mi | 1h 43m |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | 53.7 mi | 58m |
| US 412 | 42.9 mi | 51m |
| US 51 | 16 mi | 17m |
| West Palestine Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| US 27 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Elbridge-Obion Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,972 veh/hr typical · worst 2,410
Quietest
2 AM
~353 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Chattanooga, TN and Obion, TN.
Start on TN 8
Turn left
Merge onto US 27
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 24
Take the exit
Merge onto I 840
Merge onto I 40
Take the exit onto US 412
Keep slight left at fork onto US 412
Keep slight right at fork onto US 412
Continue on US 412
Keep slight right at fork onto US 51
Take the exit
Turn right onto SR 183
Continue on SR 183
Turn right onto 7th Street
Turn right
Turn right
Arrive at destination
For this 5h 56m drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to ensure you have ample daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $50, you can be flexible with timing and breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 104.9-mile stretch on I 24, as services can be spaced out on interstate routes. Since this is a single-day trip, you can adjust your departure time based on traffic or personal preference.
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.
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 70 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.1 miles or 2h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Obion, TN than in the middle of the route.
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 318.2 miles and 5h 56m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
159 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 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 159.1 miles from Chattanooga, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 24 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 104.9 miles.
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 1.3 and 257.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
Take the exit toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 412 toward US 412 West: Alamo, Dyersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto US 412 toward US 412 West: Alamo, Dyersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto US 412 toward US 412 West: Alamo, Dyersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$49.33 one way
$98.67 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $54.09 | $108.19 |
| premium | $4.93 | $61.74 | $123.47 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $70.14 | $140.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 95.5 | 1 | $33.41 | $15.27 |
| Efficient EV | 79.6 | 0 | $27.84 | $12.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 127.3 | 1 | $44.55 | $20.36 |
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Wednesday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Obion on Wednesday
Local time
1:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
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
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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Battlefield
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
You'll spend almost all your time on highways, with a 99% highway share. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 104.9 miles on I 24. Expect a rural cruising feel for much of the drive, as you'll transition from highway to surface roads in the final, brief segment of your trip. The majority of the route is on high-speed, limited-access roads.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 318.2 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 1.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 106.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 257.6 miles (US 412): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,507 ft
Total Descent
1,892 ft
Highest Point
1,901 ft
~45.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,625 ft
Notable High Points
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chattanooga, TN and Obion, TN, road signs point toward Franklin and Dyersburg.
Franklin
Dyersburg
Founded 1839
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 56m. Total distance: 318.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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