Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Trip from East Chattanooga, TN to Carthage, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 43m
Distance
130.3 mi
210 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 33m
★
6 AM
2h 44m
8 AM
3h 5m
10 AM
2h 51m
12 PM
2h 49m
3 PM
2h 52m
5 PM
3h 4m
8 PM
2h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carthage, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
East Chattanooga to Carthage is 130.3 miles and takes about 2h 43m via Artillery Road and I-40, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region into another part of the Southeast. The profile is a mix of highway and surface roads, suggesting you'll experience both faster travel and more local driving. With a recommended one-day trip, this route is suitable for a straightforward drive without needing an overnight stay.
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
65.2 miles from East Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Artillery Road | 43.5 mi | 56m |
| I 40 | 29.6 mi | 31m |
| TN 8 | 12.6 mi | 17m |
| SR 111 | 11.5 mi | 13m |
| US 27 | 9.3 mi | 10m |
| TN 153 | 7.9 mi | 9m |
| TN 111 | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| Gordonsville Highway | 4.8 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
Artillery Road
— 43.5 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Chattanooga, TN and Carthage, 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
Continue on SR 111
44 mi
·
56 min
·
Artillery Road
13
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
14
Merge onto I 40
30 mi
·
31 min
·
I 40
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward TN 53: Carthage, Gordonsville
16
Turn right onto SR 53
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Gordonsville Highway
17
Turn left onto Upper Ferry Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Upper Ferry Road
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on Main Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Main Street
19
Turn right onto East 3rd Avenue
138 ft
·
7 sec
·
East 3rd Avenue
20
Turn left onto Futtrell Alley
88 ft
·
6 sec
·
Futtrell Alley
21
Arrive at destination
Futtrell Alley
Trip Plan
Given this is a one-day trip of just over two and a half hours, you have plenty of flexibility on when to depart. Aiming to leave in the morning will give you ample daylight for the entire 130.3-mile drive. There's one recommended stop, so consider breaking up your drive around the halfway point or when you feel ready for a short break. Keep an eye on your fuel; a budget of around $20 should cover it, but it's always wise to top off before heading out, especially before hitting the longest stretch on Artillery Road.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.2 miles from East Chattanooga, TN, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.5 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 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.2 miles or 1h 23m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carthage, 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 130.3 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 Artillery Road for about 43.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.2 miles from East Chattanooga, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Tennessee Visitor Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Driver Services Center
1.7 mi from route
Renaissance Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~9 min detour
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Hours: 6 am–11 pm
+14236436096
Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the start, ~10 min detour
3.8 mi from route
~10 min detour
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Hours: 11 am–8 pm
+14237604333
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 129.4 — 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
5
124.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 33m in
Take the exit toward TN 53: Carthage, Gordonsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward TN 53: Carthage, Gordonsville
5
129.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 41m in
|
Upper Ferry Road
Turn left onto Upper Ferry Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.37 one way
$40.74 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.37 | $44.73 |
| premium | $4.89 | $25.08 | $50.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.77 | $57.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.1 | 0 | $13.68 | $6.25 |
| Efficient EV | 32.6 | 0 | $11.40 | $5.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.1 | 0 | $18.24 | $8.34 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Origin
East Chattanooga, TN
Morning in East Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
7:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Carthage, TN
Morning in Carthage on Sunday
Local time
6:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Dunlap, TN
65 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
35 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 43m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll cover about 59% of this 130.3-mile drive on highways. The longest continuous stretch on surface roads is 43.5 miles along Artillery Road. Expect to transition from highway cruising to navigating surface streets, with a notable change in pace as you move between I-40 and TN-8. The mixed profile means you'll encounter both higher-speed travel and more local traffic patterns.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.5 mi on Artillery Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near SR 17 / Campbell Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 43m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
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 Carthage, 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 43m. Total distance: 130.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.5 miles on Artillery Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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.
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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Carthage, TN before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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