The drive from Chattanooga, TN to Westmoreland, TN covers 162.7 miles and takes about 3h 10m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 24, Tennessee National Guard Parkway, Central Pike for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 104.4 miles on I 24.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.22 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
81.3 miles from Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
104.4 mi
1h 56m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
18.5 mi
19m
Central Pike
16.8 mi
23m
East Broadway
14.9 mi
18m
Airport Road
5 mi
5m
US 27
0.7 mi
<1m
Austin Peay Highway
0.5 mi
1m
West Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 104.4 mi, about 1h 56m
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 Westmoreland, 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
104 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi·55 sec
Exit 74BToward I 840 East: Lebanon, KnoxvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 840
19 mi·19 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·51 sec
Exit 72BToward TN 265 West: Central PikeUse the right lane.
9
Continue on SR 109; SR 265
17 mi·23 min·Central Pike
Use the right lane.
10
Turn right onto Airport Road
5.0 mi·5 min·Airport Road
11
At end of road, turn right onto US 31E
15 mi·18 min·East Broadway
12
Turn left onto Austin Peay Highway
0.5 mi·1 min·Austin Peay Highway
13
Turn right onto Chief Jenkins Way
186 ft·8 sec·Chief Jenkins Way
14
Arrive at destination
Chief Jenkins Way
Trip Plan
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 81.3 miles from Chattanooga, TN, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.4 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 36 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.3 miles or 1h 32m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Westmoreland, 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 162.7 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 104.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 125.2 — 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
106.1 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward I 840 East: Lebanon, Knoxville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 74B
Toward I 840 East: Lebanon, Knoxville
7
125.2 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Take the exit toward TN 265 West: Central Pike
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 72B
Toward TN 265 West: Central Pike
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.22 one way
$50.45 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$27.66
$55.32
premium
$4.93
$31.57
$63.13
diesel
$5.60
$35.86
$71.73
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: 56.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.8
0
$17.08
$7.81
Efficient EV
40.7
0
$14.24
$6.51
EV Truck/SUV
65.1
0
$22.78
$10.41
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 Aug 31, 2026
Origin
Chattanooga, TN
Night
in Chattanooga on Monday
Local time
9:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
0 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 30 at 7:13PM CDT until August 31 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Westmoreland, TN
Evening
in Westmoreland on Monday
Local time
8:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
SSW 0 to 5 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 30 at 7:13PM CDT until August 31 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
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
2 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 10m 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.
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
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 106.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
162.7 mi in 3h 10m, mostly highway — 104.4 mi of that is on I 24.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.4 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 162.7 miles you will encounter 12 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,904 ft573 ft
Total Climb
1,827 ft
Total Descent
1,567 ft
Highest Point
1,904 ft
~46.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,331 ft
Notable High Points
1,904 ft at ~46.5 miles+897 ft prominence
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 Westmoreland, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Knoxville 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 10m. Total distance: 162.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 104.4 miles on I 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 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 Westmoreland, 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 17 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 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 Westmoreland, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
