East Chattanooga to Kingston is 81 miles and takes about 1 hour 42 minutes via US 27 and TN 153, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Tennessee, traversing the Southeast region. It's a straightforward drive that primarily uses major roadways, making it an efficient option for getting from point A to point B without much fuss. Expect a mostly highway experience, which means quicker travel times and fewer stops needed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.5 miles from East Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 27
51.6 mi
1h 4m
TN 153
7.9 mi
9m
Roane State Highway
5.4 mi
6m
I 40
4.5 mi
4m
Spring City Highway
4.1 mi
4m
South Gateway Avenue
2.7 mi
3m
Bonny Oaks Drive
2 mi
3m
Campbell Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 27
— 51.6 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Chattanooga, TN and Kingston, 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 right at fork onto US 27
42 mi·53 min·US 27
10
Merge onto US 27
4.1 mi·4 min·Spring City Highway
11
Continue on US 27; US 70
2.7 mi·3 min·South Gateway Avenue
12
Continue on US 27; US 70
5.4 mi·6 min·Roane State Highway
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
14
Merge onto I 40
4.5 mi·4 min·I 40
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward Primary SR 58 South: Kingston
16
Turn left onto SR 58
0.2 mi·27 sec·North Kentucky Street
17
Continue on North Kentucky Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·North Kentucky Street
18
Arrive at destination
SR 58
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours and a fuel cost of around $13, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart anytime, but leaving mid-morning can help you avoid peak commuter traffic in Chattanooga. Since the drive is short, you won't need to plan for extensive stops. However, remember that most of the route is highway, so keep an eye out for services as you approach the end of the major road sections to ensure you have fuel and rest options readily available.
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 40.5 miles from East Chattanooga, TN, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.6 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.5 miles or 52m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kingston, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from East Chattanooga, TN
This is one driving day of about 81 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from East Chattanooga, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 27 for about 51.6 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 80.4 — 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
4
20.9 mi into trip|~27m in|US 27
Keep slight right at fork onto US 27
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
80.4 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward Primary SR 58 South: Kingston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Primary SR 58 South: Kingston
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.66 one way
$25.33 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.90
$27.81
premium
$4.89
$15.59
$31.18
diesel
$5.61
$17.88
$35.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
17 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Food City - Tesla Supercharger
Kingston, TN
Tesla
16 DCFC
2 North Shore - Tesla Supercharger
Chattanooga, TN
Tesla
12 DCFC
Hamilton Place Mall - Tesla Supercharger
Chattanooga, TN
Tesla
12 DCFC
River City Company Riverfront Parkway Lot (Chattanooga, TN)
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.3
0
$8.50
$3.89
Efficient EV
20.3
0
$7.09
$3.24
EV Truck/SUV
32.4
0
$11.34
$5.18
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Late night
in East Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kingston, TN
Late night
in Kingston on Sunday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Dayton, TN
41 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 42m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 79% of the 81 miles on major roads. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on US 27, covering 51.6 miles. After the highway portions, you'll transition to surface roads for the remaining miles. Be prepared for a good amount of exiting and merging as you navigate between these different road types.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.6 mi on US 27.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 27 and TN 153. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near SR 17 / Campbell Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81 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 0.4 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 Kingston, 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 1h 42m. Total distance: 81 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.6 miles on US 27. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Kingston, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 Kingston, TN before heading back.
