East Chattanooga, TN to Gleason, TN is 270 miles and takes about 5h 11m via I-24 and I-40, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Tennessee, connecting the Southeast region of the state to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major interstates, making it a practical choice if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. You'll find the highway portion to be quite long, so be prepared for extended cruising.
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
135 miles from East Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
107.5 mi
2h
I 40
67.6 mi
1h 12m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
53.7 mi
58m
TN 22
28.8 mi
37m
South Veterans Drive
2.1 mi
3m
Lexington Street
1.9 mi
3m
Dodson Avenue
1.8 mi
3m
Veterans Drive North
1.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 107.5 mi, about 2h
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 Gleason, 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
68 mi·1 hr 12 min·I 40
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroads, Lexington, Huntingdon
14
Turn right onto TN 22
5.3 mi·7 min·TN 22
15
Continue on SR 22; SR 424
0.2 mi·21 sec·Lexington Clarksburg Road
16
Continue on TN 22
6.5 mi·8 min·TN 22
17
Turn left onto Lexington Street
1.9 mi·3 min·Lexington Street
18
Turn left onto US 70; SR 22 Bypass
2.1 mi·3 min·South Veterans Drive
19
Take the exit onto SR 22 Bypass
0.1 mi·18 sec·SR 22 Bypass
20
Merge onto US 70A; SR 22 Bypass
1.4 mi·1 min·Veterans Drive North
21
Turn left onto TN 22
17 mi·21 min·TN 22
22
Turn left onto SR 190
0.4 mi·43 sec·Gleason Newberry Store Road
23
Continue on SR 190
0.7 mi·1 min·East Union Street
24
Turn left onto SR 190
0.2 mi·26 sec·SR 190
25
Turn right onto East Main Street
290 ft·18 sec·East Main Street
26
Turn left
77 ft·5 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given this is a 5-hour drive, departing in the morning from East Chattanooga will allow you to reach Gleason with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one planned stop suggested, you can be flexible with your timing, but ensure you have enough fuel before embarking on the 107.5-mile stretch of I-24. The interstate nature of this route means rest areas are generally well-equipped and available. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the final 20 miles, as services might become less frequent off the main highway.
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 135 miles from East Chattanooga, TN, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.5 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 59 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 135 miles or 2h 34m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gleason, 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 270 miles and 5h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 24 for about 107.5 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 233.9 — 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
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.
5
233.9 mi into trip|~4h 21m in
Take the exit toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroads, Lexington, Huntingdon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroads, Lexin...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.87 one way
$79.75 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg95 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$44.02
$88.04
premium
$4.72
$50.13
$100.26
diesel
$4.80
$50.98
$101.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81
0
$28.35
$12.96
Efficient EV
67.5
0
$23.63
$10.80
EV Truck/SUV
108
1
$37.80
$17.28
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
East Chattanooga, TN
Morning
in East Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
11:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 1:18AM EDT by NWS Morristown TN
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:44AM EDT by NWS Morristown TN
Destination
Gleason, TN
Morning
in Gleason on Sunday
Local time
10:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 1:18AM EDT by NWS Morristown TN
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:44AM 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
1 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 11m 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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 111.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely on highways, with 96% of the 270 miles on interstates. You'll encounter the longest stretch of uninterrupted driving for 107.5 miles on I-24. The transition to surface roads will likely happen closer to your destination, but for the vast majority of the trip, expect consistent interstate travel with frequent exits. This means you'll be merging and passing often on well-maintained freeways.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.5 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and I 40. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 17 / Glass Street.
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 270 miles you will encounter 20 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: near the start (SR 17 / Glass Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4.3 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,078 ft376 ft
Total Climb
1,170 ft
Total Descent
1,447 ft
Highest Point
1,078 ft
~77.1 mi in
Elevation Range
702 ft
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 Gleason, TN, road signs point toward Franklin, Primary Sr 22: Parkers Crossroads, Lexington and Huntingdon.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 11m. Total distance: 270 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 107.5 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 Gleason, 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: near the start (SR 17 / Glass Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4.3 miles (I 24): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Gleason, TN before the return drive.
