Spanning 109.2 miles between East Chattanooga and Alexandria, this Tennessee trek typically takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete. Because the duration is relatively short, you can easily tackle the entire distance in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $17 on fuel, making this an affordable trip for a weekend getaway or a quick change of scenery. You will navigate a mix of roads including TN 8, Harrison Ferry Road, and SR 111 as you move through the Southeast region. Whether you are heading out for work or leisure, this route offers a straightforward connection between these two points in the state. Plan your schedule around this modest timeframe to ensure you have plenty of flexibility upon your arrival.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.6 miles from East Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
TN 8
12.6 mi
17m
Harrison Ferry Road
12.3 mi
17m
SR 111
11.5 mi
13m
Nashville Highway
11.1 mi
16m
Smithville Highway
10.9 mi
15m
US 27
9.3 mi
10m
TN 153
7.9 mi
9m
State Highway 8
7.3 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
TN 8
— 12.6 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Chattanooga, TN and Alexandria, TN.
1
Start on North Chamberlain Avenue
52 ft·3 sec·North Chamberlain Avenue
2
Turn right onto SR 17
0.3 mi·40 sec·Glass Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto SR 17
0.6 mi·1 min·Campbell Street
4
Continue on SR 17
2.0 mi·3 min·Bonny Oaks Drive
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward TN 153 North
6
Merge onto TN 153
7.9 mi·9 min·TN 153
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward Dayton, Soddy-Daisy
8
Merge onto US 27
9.3 mi·10 min·US 27
9
Keep slight left at fork onto TN 111
5.9 mi·6 min·TN 111
10
Continue on SR 111
11 mi·13 min·SR 111
11
Continue on TN 8; TN 111
13 mi·17 min·TN 8; TN 111
12
Turn left onto TN 8
7.3 mi·9 min·State Highway 8
13
Continue on TN 8
12 mi·17 min·Harrison Ferry Road
14
Turn slight right onto SR 56
1.3 mi·1 min·Beersheba Highway
15
Continue on SR 56
0.5 mi·45 sec·East Colville Street
16
Turn right onto SR 56
1.0 mi·1 min·South Chancery Street
17
Continue on SR 56
11 mi·15 min·Smithville Highway
18
Continue on SR 56
6.0 mi·8 min·McMinnville Highway
19
Continue on SR 56
1.8 mi·2 min·South Congress Boulevard
20
Turn left onto US 70
2.5 mi·3 min·East Broad Street
21
Continue on US 70
0.7 mi·1 min·Old Nashville Highway
22
Continue on US 70
0.4 mi·35 sec·Nashville Highway
23
Continue on US 70
2.0 mi·3 min·Old Nashville Highway
24
Continue on US 70; SR 96
11 mi·16 min·Nashville Highway
25
Turn slight right
260 ft·9 sec
26
Turn straight onto SR 53
231 ft·10 sec·High Street
27
Continue on High Street
0.9 mi·1 min·High Street
28
Turn left onto West Main Street
53 ft·2 sec·West Main Street
29
Arrive at destination
West Main Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 109.2-mile journey, try to time your departure to avoid peak traffic hours, as the mix of local roads can slow your pace during busy periods. Since the drive is short, you have the advantage of total flexibility; you can depart early to maximize your day or take a more relaxed mid-morning start. Even though there are no mandatory stops listed, keep an eye on your fuel gauge early in the drive, as the shift between TN 8, Harrison Ferry Road, and SR 111 may take you through stretches with fewer service options. Remember that with a total fuel cost of around $17, it is easy to budget for this trip in advance. Use the 2-hour and 30-minute travel window to plan your arrival time precisely.
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 54.6 miles from East Chattanooga, TN, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.6 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 24 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.6 miles or 1h 10m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alexandria, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving East 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 East Chattanooga, TN
This is one driving day of about 109.2 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from East Chattanooga, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on TN 8 for about 12.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 72.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 17 / Campbell Street
At end of road, turn left onto SR 17 / Campbell Street
Navigation decision point
5
3.3 mi into trip|~5m in|TN 153
Merge onto TN 153
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
11.2 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward Dayton, Soddy-Daisy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Dayton, Soddy-Daisy
4
20.9 mi into trip|~27m in|TN 111
Keep slight left at fork onto TN 111
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
72.2 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|SR 56 / South Chancery Street
Turn right onto SR 56 / South Chancery Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.07 one way
$34.14 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.74
$37.49
premium
$4.89
$21.01
$42.03
diesel
$5.61
$24.11
$48.22
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: 38.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.8
0
$11.47
$5.24
Efficient EV
27.3
0
$9.56
$4.37
EV Truck/SUV
43.7
0
$15.29
$6.99
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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
East Chattanooga, TN
Afternoon
in East Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
12:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alexandria, TN
Morning
in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
11:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Altamont, TN
55 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
8 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 30m 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.
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 105.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile that keeps things interesting behind the wheel. Only 50 percent of the journey involves highway travel, meaning you will spend significant time navigating local roads and secondary routes. You won't find yourself trapped in a monotonous interstate grind, but rather adjusting to the flow of regional traffic. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 12.6-mile segment on TN 8, allowing for brief periods of steady cruising. Transitioning between these different road types requires you to stay alert, as the character of the pavement changes as you progress from the Southeast outskirts into Alexandria.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.6 mi on TN 8.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near SR 17 / Campbell Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 109.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.4 miles (SR 17 / Campbell Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles (TN 153): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between East Chattanooga, TN and Alexandria, TN, road signs point toward Dayton and Soddy-Daisy.
Dayton
11.2 mi in|~15m
Soddy-Daisy
11.2 mi in|~15m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 30m. Total distance: 109.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.6 miles on TN 8. 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: at 0.4 miles (SR 17 / Campbell Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles (TN 153): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Alexandria, TN before heading back.
