The drive from East Chattanooga, TN to Mount Pleasant, TN covers 170.2 miles and takes about 3h 13m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 75, I 40, I 81 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 72.2 miles on I 75.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.39 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
85.1 miles from East Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
72.2 mi
1h 18m
I 40
36.7 mi
40m
I 81
22.7 mi
24m
US 11
21.7 mi
24m
West Andrew Johnson Highway
8.4 mi
9m
Bonny Oaks Drive
6.8 mi
12m
Campbell Street
0.6 mi
1m
Glass Street
0.3 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 Mount Pleasant, 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
37 mi·40 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
23 mi·24 min·I 81
Exit 421Toward I 81 North: Bristol
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward US 11E: Mosheim, Greeneville, Bulls Gap
12
Turn right onto US 11E
8.4 mi·9 min·West Andrew Johnson Highway
13
Turn right onto Old Knoxville Highway
0.3 mi·1 min·Old Knoxville Highway
14
Turn right onto Mt Pleasant Lane
69 ft·3 sec·Mt Pleasant Lane
15
Arrive at destination
Mt Pleasant Lane
Trip Plan
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 85.1 miles from East Chattanooga, TN, or about 1h 38m 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 37 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.1 miles or 1h 38m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mount Pleasant, 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 170.2 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.1 and 170.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
101.6 mi into trip|~1h 56m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
138.4 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 North: Bristol
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 421
Toward I 81 North: Bristol
5
161 mi into trip|~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward US 11E: Mosheim, Greeneville, Bulls Gap
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 11E: Mosheim, Greeneville, Bulls Gap
5
170.1 mi into trip|~3h 13m in|Mt Pleasant Lane
Turn right onto Mt Pleasant Lane
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.39 one way
$52.78 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$28.93
$57.87
premium
$4.93
$33.02
$66.04
diesel
$5.60
$37.52
$75.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.1
0
$17.87
$8.17
Efficient EV
42.6
0
$14.89
$6.81
EV Truck/SUV
68.1
0
$23.83
$10.89
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Sep 3, 2026
Origin
East Chattanooga, TN
Afternoon
in East Chattanooga on Friday
Local time
1:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Mount Pleasant, TN
Afternoon
in Mount Pleasant on Friday
Local time
1:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
3h 13m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of it...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 123.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
170.2 mi in 3h 13m, mostly highway — 72.2 mi of that is on I 75.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 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?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 40. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 8.1 miles in near US 11; US 64; SR 317.
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 170.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 8.1 miles (US 11; US 64; SR 317): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 138.4 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,319 ft684 ft
Total Climb
983 ft
Total Descent
363 ft
Highest Point
1,319 ft
~133.7 mi in
Elevation Range
634 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 Mount Pleasant, TN, road signs point toward Greeneville and Bulls Gap.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 13m. Total distance: 170.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Mount Pleasant, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.1 miles (US 11; US 64; SR 317): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 138.4 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Mount Pleasant, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
