East Chattanooga, TN to Surgoinsville, TN is 180.5 miles and takes about 3 hours 31 minutes via I-75 and Rutledge Pike, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region, primarily traversing Tennessee. Expect a mixed driving experience, blending interstate speeds with more local road segments. It's a manageable one-day trip, ideal if you're looking for a relatively straightforward journey between these two points in the Volunteer State.
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
90.2 miles from East Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
72.2 mi
1h 18m
Rutledge Pike
28.5 mi
32m
Lee Highway
27.1 mi
31m
US 11
21.7 mi
24m
Rogersville Bypass
11.7 mi
13m
I 40
7.6 mi
9m
Bonny Oaks Drive
6.8 mi
12m
Appalachian Highway
1.7 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 Surgoinsville, 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
7.6 mi·9 min·I 40
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 11W: Knoxville Zoo
11
Keep slight right at fork
391 ft·9 sec
Toward US 11W: Mascot, Blaine, Rutledge, Bean Station
12
Continue on US 11W
29 mi·32 min·Rutledge Pike
13
Continue on US 11W; SR 1
12 mi·13 min·Lee Highway
14
Merge onto US 11W; US 25E; SR 1; SR 32; ADHS S
1.7 mi·1 min·Appalachian Highway
15
Turn left onto Old US 11W
1.2 mi·2 min·Main Street
16
Turn left onto US 11W; SR 1
16 mi·18 min·Lee Highway
17
Continue on US 11W; SR 1
3.4 mi·3 min·Rogersville Bypass
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 11W; SR 1
8.3 mi·9 min·Rogersville Bypass
19
Turn right onto Nelhms Street
127 ft·5 sec·Nelhms Street
20
Continue on Surgoinsville Creek Road
0.1 mi·30 sec·Surgoinsville Creek Road
21
Continue on Surgoinsville Creek Road
0.1 mi·24 sec·Surgoinsville Creek Road
22
Continue on Surgoinsville Creek Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Surgoinsville Creek Road
23
Turn right onto SR 346
208 ft·4 sec·Main Street
24
Arrive at destination
SR 346
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day trip of about 3.5 hours, you have flexibility in when you depart. Leaving in the morning will allow ample time to reach Surgoinsville with daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop, you can choose a convenient point along I-75 or on the secondary roads for a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you move onto Rutledge Pike, as services might be less frequent than on the interstate; budgeting around $28 for fuel should cover the 180.5-mile distance.
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 90.2 miles from East Chattanooga, TN, or about 1h 44m 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 40 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.2 miles or 1h 44m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Surgoinsville, 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 180.5 miles and 3h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 109.4 — 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
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
101.6 mi into trip|~1h 56m in|I 40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
109.4 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 11W: Mascot, Blaine, Rutledge, Bean Station
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 11W: Mascot, Blaine, Rutledge, Bean S...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.22 one way
$56.44 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.98
$61.97
premium
$4.89
$34.74
$69.47
diesel
$5.61
$39.85
$79.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
20 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Cleveland Town Center - Tesla Supercharger
Cleveland, 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 $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.2
0
$18.95
$8.66
Efficient EV
45.1
0
$15.79
$7.22
EV Truck/SUV
72.2
0
$25.27
$11.55
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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
9:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Surgoinsville, TN
Morning
in Surgoinsville on Sunday
Local time
9:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°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
11 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 31m 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.
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Cumberland Gap was the first great gateway to the west. Come follow the path of bison, Native Americans, longhunters, and pioneers. Walk where 300,000 people crossed the Appalachians to settle America...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 143.1
Park Closure: Little Yellow Creek Bridge Closure - Construction Underway
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This journey offers a mixed drive, with 56% of the route on highways. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch of 72.2 miles on I-75, allowing for consistent speed. As you transition away from the interstate onto roads like Rutledge Pike and Lee Highway, the character of the drive will change, likely becoming more local in feel. This blend means you'll encounter both faster-paced highway travel and potentially slower sections as you get closer to your destination.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 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 route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 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 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 180.5 miles you will encounter 13 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.
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 Surgoinsville, TN, road signs point toward Blaine, Rutledge and Bean Station.
Blaine
109.4 mi in|~2h 6m
Rutledge
109.4 mi in|~2h 6m
Bean Station
109.4 mi in|~2h 6m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 31m. Total distance: 180.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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 Surgoinsville, 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 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 — Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Surgoinsville, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
