Chattanooga to Troy is 303.5 miles and takes about 5h 55m via I-24, I-40, and Tennessee National Guard Parkway, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive that should be manageable in a single day for most drivers. You'll be covering a significant distance, so be prepared for a solid few hours behind the wheel.
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
151.7 miles from Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
104.9 mi
1h 57m
I 40
67.6 mi
1h 12m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
53.7 mi
58m
TN 22
45.4 mi
56m
State Highway 22
10.8 mi
15m
West Reelfoot Boulevard
5.7 mi
8m
TN 431
5.4 mi
9m
South Veterans Drive
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 104.9 mi, about 1h 57m
Traffic on I-24
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
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chattanooga, TN and Troy, 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, BirminghamUse the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 24
105 mi·1 hr 57 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 74AToward I 840 West: Memphis, FranklinUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 840
54 mi·58 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 40
68 mi·1 hr 12 min·I 40
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroads, Lexington, Huntingdon
10
Turn right onto TN 22
5.3 mi·7 min·TN 22
11
Continue on SR 22; SR 424
0.2 mi·21 sec·Lexington Clarksburg Road
12
Continue on TN 22
6.5 mi·8 min·TN 22
13
Turn left onto Lexington Street
1.9 mi·3 min·Lexington Street
14
Turn left onto US 70; SR 22 Bypass
2.1 mi·3 min·South Veterans Drive
15
Take the exit onto SR 22 Bypass
0.1 mi·18 sec·SR 22 Bypass
16
Merge onto US 70A; SR 22 Bypass
1.4 mi·1 min·Veterans Drive North
17
Turn left onto TN 22
20 mi·25 min·TN 22
18
Merge onto TN 22
11 mi·15 min·State Highway 22
19
Take the exit onto TN 22
13 mi·14 min·TN 22
Toward US 45E North, TN 22 North: South Fulton, Union City
20
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Toward SR 431: Union City
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·32 sec
22
Continue on TN 431
5.4 mi·9 min·TN 431
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on US 51
5.7 mi·8 min·West Reelfoot Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn right onto SR 21
0.4 mi·42 sec·West Harper Street
25
Turn right onto SR 184
65 ft·1 sec·Main Street
26
Arrive at destination
SR 184
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 55-minute estimated drive time, leaving Chattanooga in the morning is your best bet to complete this trip within daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can easily manage your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 104.9-mile stretch on I-24, and plan your fill-ups accordingly. The total fuel cost is estimated at $48, so budget for that. Since this is a one-day drive, you have flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your morning plans.
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 151.7 miles from Chattanooga, TN, or about 2h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.9 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 67 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 151.7 miles or 2h 49m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Troy, 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 303.5 miles and 5h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 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 104.9 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 107.5 — 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.
8
106.6 mi into trip|~2h in
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
Use the right lane.
Exit 74A
Toward I 840 West: Memphis, Franklin
5
107.5 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge onto I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.06 one way
$92.13 round trip
$3.86/gal25.4 MPG avg106 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$51.46
$102.93
premium
$4.73
$56.48
$112.96
diesel
$5.99
$71.60
$143.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.1
1
$31.87
$14.57
Efficient EV
75.9
0
$26.56
$12.14
EV Truck/SUV
121.4
1
$42.49
$19.42
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Chattanooga, TN
Night
in Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
10:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
NE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Troy, TN
Night
in Troy on Sunday
Local time
9:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
37°F
Clear
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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
31 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
5h 55m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Stones River National Battlefield
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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 104.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 95% of this 303.5-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 104.9 miles on I-24. Expect a consistent highway experience for the majority of your travel, with plenty of exits and interchanges. The final portion will transition to surface roads as you approach your destination.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.9 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.3 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 19 significant decision points across 303.5 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 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,536 ft376 ft
Total Climb
1,279 ft
Total Descent
1,578 ft
Highest Point
1,536 ft
~43.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,160 ft
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 Troy, TN, road signs point toward Franklin, Primary Sr 22: Parkers Crossroads, Lexington, Huntingdon and Union City.
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 5h 55m. Total distance: 303.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 55m 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 104.9 miles on I 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 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 Troy, 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 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Troy, TN before the return drive.
