East Chattanooga, TN to Lake Tansi, TN is 75.9 miles and takes about 1h 53m via US 27, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, specifically in Tennessee, offering a straightforward journey between two points in the same state. With a relatively short drive time and a low estimated fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick getaway or a convenient transfer. The profile suggests a mixed drive, so expect some variety in the type of roads you'll encounter. It's a single-day trip that won't require an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.9 miles from East Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 27
20 mi
23m
Cold Springs Crossroad
16.3 mi
24m
Dayton Mountain Highway
14.2 mi
21m
TN 153
7.9 mi
9m
Dunbar Road
5.1 mi
12m
Cranmore Cove Road
4.8 mi
8m
Bonny Oaks Drive
2 mi
3m
SR 30
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 27
— 20 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Chattanooga, TN and Lake Tansi, 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
11 mi·12 min·US 27
10
Turn left onto SR 303
0.5 mi·49 sec·Dayton Avenue
11
Continue on SR 303
0.5 mi·57 sec·Dayton Avenue
12
Turn left onto SR 303
4.8 mi·8 min·Cranmore Cove Road
13
At end of road, turn left onto SR 30
14 mi·21 min·Dayton Mountain Highway
14
Turn right onto SR 30
1.9 mi·2 min·SR 30
15
At end of road, turn right onto US 127; SR 30
0.1 mi·10 sec·Main Street
16
Continue on US 127
16 mi·24 min·Cold Springs Crossroad
17
Turn left onto Vandever Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Vandever Road
18
Turn right onto Dunbar Road
5.1 mi·12 min·Dunbar Road
19
Turn right onto Cheyenne Drive
226 ft·9 sec·Cheyenne Drive
20
Arrive at destination
Cheyenne Drive
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 53 minutes, this is a very manageable same-day trip. You could easily depart in the morning and arrive at your destination with plenty of the day left. The estimated fuel cost of $12 is quite economical, so ensure your tank is at least half full before you leave East Chattanooga. While there are no specific stops noted, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 20-mile stretch on US 27, to ensure you have enough for the entire journey to Lake Tansi.
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 37.9 miles from East Chattanooga, TN, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20 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 17 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.9 miles or 50m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Tansi, 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 75.9 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 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 20 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 37.3 — 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
5
37.3 mi into trip|~49m in|SR 30 / Dayton Mountain Highway
At end of road, turn left onto SR 30 / Dayton Mountain Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.87 one way
$23.73 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.03
$26.06
premium
$4.89
$14.61
$29.21
diesel
$5.61
$16.76
$33.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.8
0
$7.97
$3.64
Efficient EV
19
0
$6.64
$3.04
EV Truck/SUV
30.4
0
$10.63
$4.86
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
East Chattanooga, TN
Morning
in East Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lake Tansi, TN
Late night
in Lake Tansi on Sunday
Local time
5:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Dayton, TN
38 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
4 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
1h 53m 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 features a mix of road types, with 39% of the journey taking place on highways. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 20 miles on US 27, providing a period of consistent travel. As you progress, the drive transitions from what's indicated as a mixed drive profile, suggesting a blend of faster road sections and potentially more local or winding segments. Be prepared for varying road conditions and speeds as you navigate from East Chattanooga towards Lake Tansi.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20 mi on US 27.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 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 75.9 miles you will encounter 15 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 Lake Tansi, 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 53m. Total distance: 75.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20 miles on US 27. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Lake Tansi, TN before heading back.
