Connecting East Chattanooga to Knoxville is a straightforward journey spanning 105.7 miles through Southeast Tennessee. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 2 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $16, the drive is quite economical for those looking to travel between these two major hubs. Because the route is compact and efficient, you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations unless your schedule requires it. Both the origin and destination are situated within the Southeast region, ensuring a familiar cultural landscape throughout your transit. This route is designed for travelers who prioritize time-efficiency and a direct path between these two Tennessee cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.8 miles from East Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
72.2 mi
1h 18m
US 11
21.7 mi
24m
Bonny Oaks Drive
6.8 mi
12m
I 40
2.9 mi
3m
Campbell Street
0.6 mi
1m
Glass Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Henley Street
0.3 mi
<1m
North Chamberlain Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 72.2 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Chattanooga, TN and Knoxville, 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
1.8 mi·3 min·Bonny Oaks Drive
5
Continue on SR 317
5.0 mi·8 min·Bonny Oaks Drive
6
Take the ramp onto US 11; US 64; SR 317
0.3 mi·34 sec·US 11; US 64; SR 317
Use the right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 11; US 64; SR 317
21 mi·23 min·US 11; US 64; SR 317
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on I 75
72 mi·1 hr 18 min·I 75
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
2.9 mi·3 min·I 40
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·27 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·56 sec
Exit 388Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
12
Continue on US 441
0.2 mi·27 sec·Henley Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 441
255 ft·11 sec·Henley Street
14
Arrive at destination
US 441
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 2-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time to avoid the heaviest traffic periods. Given the high highway percentage, keep a close watch on your speed and spacing, especially during the long 72.2-mile interstate stretch. You likely won't need scheduled stops for a trip of this length, but having $16 set aside for fuel will ensure you are ready to hit the road without delay. Use the initial miles on Bonny Oaks Drive to get comfortable before merging onto the faster-paced interstate segments. Planning your departure to avoid peak commuting hours in either Chattanooga or Knoxville will help you maintain that estimated 2-hour travel time consistently.
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 52.8 miles from East Chattanooga, TN, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.2 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 23 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.8 miles or 1h 3m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Knoxville, 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 105.7 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from East Chattanooga, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 72.2 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 104.9 — 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
4
7.8 mi into trip|~13m in|US 11; US 64; SR 317
Take the ramp onto US 11; US 64; SR 317
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
8.1 mi into trip|~14m in|US 11; US 64; SR 317
Keep slight left at fork onto US 11; US 64; SR 317
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
104.5 mi into trip|~2h in
Take the exit toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 388
Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee Histor...
7
104.9 mi into trip|~2h in
Keep slight left at fork toward Convention Center, East Tennessee History Center, Museum of Art
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 388
Toward Convention Center, East Tennessee Histor...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.52 one way
$33.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.14
$36.29
premium
$4.89
$20.34
$40.68
diesel
$5.61
$23.34
$46.67
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: 37 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.7
0
$11.10
$5.07
Efficient EV
26.4
0
$9.25
$4.23
EV Truck/SUV
42.3
0
$14.80
$6.76
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Morning
in East Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
8:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Knoxville, TN
Morning
in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
8:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Athens, TN
53 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
10 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 2m 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 trip is heavily highway-focused, with 92% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of Bonny Oaks Drive, US 11, and the primary artery of I-75. The most significant portion of your time will be spent on a 72.2-mile stretch along I-75, which defines the bulk of your driving experience. While local roads help you transition out of East Chattanooga, the transition to the interstate creates a consistent, high-speed pace for the remainder of the trip. Expect a predictable, steady drive that favors functionality over winding backroads.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.2 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 11. You will hit about 7 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 105.7 miles you will encounter 7 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 7.8 miles (US 11; US 64; SR 317): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles (US 11; US 64; SR 317): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Knoxville, in Knox County, is the third-largest city in Tennessee. It is the home of the University of Tennessee's primary campus (UTK) and site of the 1982 World's Fair.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 105.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72.2 miles on I 75. 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 7.8 miles (US 11; US 64; SR 317): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles (US 11; US 64; SR 317): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Knoxville, TN before heading back.
