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Trip from East Chattanooga, TN to Rocky Top, TN

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 28m

Distance

119.5 mi

192 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 19m ★
6 AM
2h 29m
8 AM
2h 49m
10 AM
2h 36m
12 PM
2h 34m
3 PM
2h 37m
5 PM
2h 48m
8 PM
2h 23m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Rocky Top, TN, TN

Rocky Top, TN

Kelly

Trip Overview

East Chattanooga, TN to Rocky Top, TN is 119.5 miles and takes about 2h 28m via I 75 and US 11, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward, highway-focused drive stays within Tennessee, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a practical option if you're looking for an efficient journey without extensive detours. With a high percentage of highway driving, expect consistent progress toward your destination.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

59.7 miles from East Chattanooga, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 62.1 mi 1h 7m
US 11 21.7 mi 24m
Lake City Highway 6.9 mi 10m
Bonny Oaks Drive 6.8 mi 12m
Edgemoor Road 6 mi 10m
Pellissippi Parkway 3.6 mi 4m
Clinch Avenue 2.4 mi 3m
Lovell Road 2.4 mi 4m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 62.1 mi, about 1h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between East Chattanooga, TN and Rocky Top, 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

62 mi · 1 hr 7 min · I 75
Use the slight right lane.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward Secondary SR 131: Lovell Road
10

Turn left onto SR 131

2.4 mi · 4 min · Lovell Road
Use the straight lane.
11

Turn left onto Schaeffer Road

458 ft · 12 sec · Schaeffer Road
12

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 13 sec
13

Merge onto SR 162

3.6 mi · 4 min · Pellissippi Parkway
14

Continue on SR 62

1.3 mi · 1 min · Oak Ridge Highway
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
16

Turn straight onto SR 170

6.0 mi · 10 min · Edgemoor Road
17

Turn left onto US 25W

2.1 mi · 2 min · Clinton Highway
18

Continue on US 25W

2.4 mi · 3 min · Clinch Avenue
19

Continue on US 25W

1.6 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
20

Continue on US 25W

6.9 mi · 10 min · Lake City Highway
21

Continue on US 25W

0.3 mi · 23 sec · South Main Avenue
22

Continue on US 25W

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
23

Turn left onto 4th Street

14 ft · 0 sec · 4th Street
24

Arrive at destination

4th Street

Trip Plan

Given the 2h 28m estimated duration, this is a perfect same-day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Plan to leave when you feel most rested to make the most of the 119.5-mile drive. The fuel cost is estimated at $19, so ensure your tank is full before you depart East Chattanooga. While the longest stretch is over 60 miles on I 75, keep an eye out for services as needed, as stops are not pre-planned on this route.

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 59.7 miles from East Chattanooga, TN, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.1 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 26 miles or 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 59.7 miles or 1h 10m 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 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rocky Top, 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 119.5 miles and 2h 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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 62.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Loudon County, Tennessee, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lenoir City, TN

60 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Cleveland, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Athens, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 59.7 miles from East Chattanooga, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.1 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 91.9 — 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.
4
91.5 mi into trip | ~1h 45m in

Take the exit toward Secondary SR 131: Lovell Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward Secondary SR 131: Lovell Road
6
91.9 mi into trip | ~1h 45m in | SR 131 / Lovell Road

Turn left onto SR 131 / Lovell Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.68 one way

$37.36 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $20.51 $41.03
premium $4.89 $23.00 $45.99
diesel $5.61 $26.38 $52.77

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 41.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 35.9 0 $12.55 $5.74
Efficient EV 29.9 0 $10.46 $4.78
EV Truck/SUV 47.8 0 $16.73 $7.65

Gas CO2

42 kg

EV CO2

14 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

6:23 AM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rocky Top, TN

Morning in Rocky Top on Sunday

Local time

6:23 AM

EDT

Current temp

83°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

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

2h 28m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is predominantly a highway drive, with 73% of the journey on major roadways like I 75 and US 11. You'll experience a longest stretch of 62.1 miles on I 75, allowing for steady travel. Expect a consistent driving experience for much of the trip, characterized by the efficiency of interstate travel. While primarily highway, the inclusion of Lake City Highway offers a slight variation in the road's character as you approach your destination.

73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.1 mi on I 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 11. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near SR 17 / Campbell Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 28m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

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.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 28m. Total distance: 119.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (73%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 62.1 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 Rocky Top, TN before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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