Crossing Tennessee from East Chattanooga to Arlington covers 316 miles of mostly interstate travel. Expect a total drive time of approximately 5 hours and 53 minutes, making this a manageable day trip if you get an early start. You will primarily utilize I-40 and I-24, supplemented by the Tennessee National Guard Parkway, to navigate across the state. Budget roughly $48 for fuel to complete this cross-state journey. Since the route stays entirely within the Southeast region, the driving environment remains consistent as you move from the eastern side of the state toward the Memphis suburbs. Whether you are traveling for business or a visit, this direct path offers a reliable, straightforward connection between these two Tennessee points.
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
158 miles from East Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 40
146.4 mi
2h 37m
I 24
107.5 mi
2h
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
53.7 mi
58m
Dodson Avenue
1.8 mi
3m
Forrest Street
1.4 mi
3m
North Willow Street
1.1 mi
2m
Hickory Withe Road
1 mi
2m
South Kelley Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 40
— 146.4 mi, about 2h 37m
Traffic on I-24
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 9 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,974 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,367
Quietest
2 AM
~348 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 East Chattanooga, TN and Arlington, TN.
1
Start on North Chamberlain Avenue
52 ft·10 sec·North Chamberlain Avenue
2
Turn sharp left onto SR 17
0.4 mi·37 sec·Glass Street
3
Turn left onto SR 17
1.8 mi·3 min·Dodson Avenue
4
Turn right onto SR 17
0.1 mi·21 sec·East 3rd Street
5
Turn left onto SR 17
1.1 mi·2 min·North Willow Street
6
Turn left onto US 41; US 76
356 ft·8 sec·East Main Street
7
Turn right onto South Kelley Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Kelley Street
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
9
Merge onto I 24
108 mi·2 hr·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 74AToward I 840 West: Memphis, FranklinUse the right lane.
11
Merge onto I 840
54 mi·58 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 40
146 mi·2 hr 37 min·I 40
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
14
Turn right onto SR 196
0.4 mi·46 sec·SR 196
15
Turn straight onto Hickory Withe Road
1.0 mi·2 min·Hickory Withe Road
16
Continue on Forrest Street
1.4 mi·3 min·Forrest Street
17
Arrive at destination
Walker Street
Trip Plan
To keep your 6-hour journey comfortable, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since the longest stretch is over 146 miles, timing your break around the midpoint of that segment will help you stay alert. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you reach Arlington before the evening rush. With a $48 fuel budget, check your tank before merging onto I-40 to avoid premium prices at isolated highway stops. Flexibility is an advantage here; since the drive is well within the limits of a single day, you can easily adjust your pace to accommodate weather or traffic conditions along the way.
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 158 miles from East Chattanooga, TN, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 146.4 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 70 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158 miles or 2h 59m 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 Arlington, 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 316 miles and 5h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from East 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 40 for about 146.4 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 112.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 17 / Glass Street
Turn sharp left onto SR 17 / Glass Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|SR 17 / East 3rd Street
Turn right onto SR 17 / East 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.3 mi into trip|~8m in|I 24
Merge onto I 24
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
111.8 mi into trip|~2h 8m 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
112.7 mi into trip|~2h 10m 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
$46.67 one way
$93.33 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$51.52
$103.04
premium
$4.72
$58.67
$117.34
diesel
$4.80
$59.67
$119.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.8
1
$33.18
$15.17
Efficient EV
79
0
$27.65
$12.64
EV Truck/SUV
126.4
1
$44.24
$20.22
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
East Chattanooga, TN
Morning
in East Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
11:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 0 to 5 mph51% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 12:56PM EDT by NWS Morristown TN
Destination
Arlington, TN
Morning
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
10:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
WNW 5 to 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 12:56PM EDT by NWS Morristown 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
4 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 53m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 97% of your travel taking place on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your time behind the wheel on high-speed interstates, including a significant 146.4-mile uninterrupted stretch on I-40. Expect a steady, efficient pace as you transition between the major corridors that link East and West Tennessee. While the landscape shifts, the road itself maintains a predictable, fast-moving character that favors time-saving over winding local lanes. Keep your focus sharp during the long interstate segments, as the route is designed for consistent speed and minimal deviations.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 146.4 mi on I 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 40 and I 24. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 17 / Glass Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 53m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SR 17 / Glass Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.2 miles (SR 17 / East 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,037 ft282 ft
Total Climb
607 ft
Total Descent
1,009 ft
Highest Point
1,037 ft
~67.7 mi in
Elevation Range
755 ft
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 East Chattanooga, TN to Arlington, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Franklin along the way.
The longest stretch is about 146.4 miles on I 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 32 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.
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 32 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SR 17 / Glass Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.2 miles (SR 17 / East 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 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 Arlington, TN before the return drive.
