East Chattanooga to Tazewell is 149.6 miles and takes about 3h 9m via I 75 and US 11, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, making for a relatively straightforward drive. With only one recommended stop and a short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion when you need to cover ground efficiently.
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
74.8 miles from East Chattanooga, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
72.2 mi
1h 18m
US 11
21.7 mi
24m
Maynardville Highway
16.7 mi
24m
Highway 33 South
10.1 mi
15m
Maynardville Pike
8.7 mi
13m
Bonny Oaks Drive
6.8 mi
12m
Knoxville Bypass
6.3 mi
7m
South Broad Street
2.8 mi
4m
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 Tazewell, 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 right at fork onto I 75
6.3 mi·7 min·Knoxville Bypass
Exit 385Toward I 75 North, I 640 East: LexingtonUse the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward US 441: Old Broadway, BroadwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 441
2.7 mi·4 min·North Broadway
12
Continue on US 441
8.7 mi·13 min·Maynardville Pike
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on SR 33
5.4 mi·8 min·Maynardville Highway
14
Continue on SR 33; SR 61; SR 144
0.3 mi·27 sec·Main Street
15
Continue on SR 33; SR 61
11 mi·16 min·Maynardville Highway
16
Continue on SR 33
10 mi·15 min·Highway 33 South
17
Continue on SR 33
2.8 mi·4 min·South Broad Street
18
Turn left onto Montgomery Street
235 ft·12 sec·Montgomery Street
19
Turn right onto Main Street
196 ft·8 sec·Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour drive time, departing East Chattanooga in the morning allows ample time to reach Tazewell before sunset. The route includes only one suggested stop, so plan your fuel and restroom breaks accordingly, especially considering the longest stretch without services might be around 72 miles. The fuel cost is estimated at $23, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before setting out. This is a manageable one-day trip, so you have flexibility in your departure time.
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 74.8 miles from East Chattanooga, TN, or about 1h 27m 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 33 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.8 miles or 1h 27m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tazewell, 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 149.6 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 149.6 — 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
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.
9
101.6 mi into trip|~1h 56m in|I 75 / Knoxville Bypass
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75 / Knoxville Bypass toward I 75 North, I 640 East: Lexington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 385
Toward I 75 North, I 640 East: Lexington
7
107.9 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward US 441: Old Broadway, Broadway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 441: Old Broadway, Broadway
5
149.6 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.39 one way
$46.78 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.68
$51.36
premium
$4.89
$28.79
$57.58
diesel
$5.61
$33.03
$66.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.9
0
$15.71
$7.18
Efficient EV
37.4
0
$13.09
$5.98
EV Truck/SUV
59.8
0
$20.94
$9.57
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (65% 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
10:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tazewell, TN
Morning
in Tazewell on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
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
3h 9m 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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 149.6
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 drive is mostly highway, with 69% of the 149.6 miles on interstates like I 75. You'll experience a long stretch of 72.2 miles on I 75 before transitioning to US 11 and Maynardville Highway. Expect a more rural cruising feel once you leave the interstate, with fewer exits and less immediate traffic.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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 US 11. You will hit about 8 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 149.6 miles you will encounter 8 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 8.1 miles (US 11; US 64; SR 317): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.6 miles (I 75 / Knoxville Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
On the drive from East Chattanooga, TN to Tazewell, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Broadway along the way.
Broadway
107.9 mi in|~2h 4m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 9m. Total distance: 149.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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 — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Tazewell, 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. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (SR 17 / Campbell Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.1 miles (US 11; US 64; SR 317): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 101.6 miles (I 75 / Knoxville Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cumberland Gap National Historical 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 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Tazewell, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
