Origin
Forest Hills, TN
Morning in Forest Hills on Tuesday
Local time
9:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Forest Hills, TN to Chattanooga, TN
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 51m
Distance
92 mi
148 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 43m
★
6 AM
1h 51m
8 AM
2h 7m
10 AM
1h 57m
12 PM
1h 55m
3 PM
1h 58m
5 PM
2h 7m
8 PM
1h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forest Hills, TN
Connor Scott McManus
Chattanooga, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 92-mile drive from Forest Hills to Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 51 minutes. With 75% of the journey on highways, it's a practical choice for a single-day excursion, fitting comfortably within your travel plans. You can expect a fuel cost of approximately $14 for this route, making it an economical option. The drive primarily takes place within the Southeast region, offering a consistent experience as you travel between these two Tennessee locations. It's a route that prioritizes efficiency, getting you to your destination without unnecessary detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46 miles from Forest Hills, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 24 | 60.7 mi | 1h 9m |
| Wattendorf Memorial Highway | 10.6 mi | 14m |
| US 41A | 8 mi | 9m |
| Madison Street | 7.5 mi | 9m |
| Wattendorf Highway | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| US 27 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Forrest Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Carroll Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 60.7 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forest Hills, TN and Chattanooga, TN.
1
Start on Forest Avenue
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
Forest Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto US 41A
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Madison Street
3
Continue on UA 41A
0.3 mi
·
19 sec
·
UA 41A
4
Merge onto US 41A
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
US 41A
5
Turn left onto SR 55
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
West Carroll Street
6
Turn right onto South Anderson Street
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Anderson Street
7
Continue on Forrest Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Forrest Boulevard
8
Continue on Wattendorf Highway
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Wattendorf Highway
9
Continue on Wattendorf Memorial Highway
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Wattendorf Memorial Highway
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
11
Merge onto I 24
61 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 24
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 184B
Toward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
13
Continue on US 27
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
·
US 27
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 1B
Toward Downtown
15
Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
16
Arrive at destination
TN 8
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just under two hours, this trip is ideal for a spontaneous day trip. Aim to depart Forest Hills in the morning to maximize your time in Chattanooga, or consider an early afternoon departure if you prefer a more relaxed start. There are no designated stops mentioned, so plan your own brief breaks as needed, perhaps around the halfway point or just before reaching Chattanooga. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch on I-24, and be aware of potential traffic as you approach the city.
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 46 miles from Forest Hills, TN, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.7 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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46 miles or 57m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chattanooga, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Forest Hills, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Forest Hills, TN
This is one driving day of about 92 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Forest Hills, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 24 for about 60.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 46 miles from Forest Hills, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 24 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.7 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 91.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 41A / Madison Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 41A / Madison Street
Navigation decision point
4
16 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
SR 55 / West Carroll Street
Turn left onto SR 55 / West Carroll Street
Navigation decision point
5
90.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 184B
Toward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
5
91.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 1B
Toward Downtown
6
91.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
|
West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.38 one way
$28.77 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $15.79 | $31.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $17.70 | $35.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.31 | $40.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.6 | 0 | $9.66 | $4.42 |
| Efficient EV | 23 | 0 | $8.05 | $3.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.8 | 0 | $12.88 | $5.89 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Chattanooga, TN
Morning in Chattanooga on Tuesday
Local time
10:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Clear
SW 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
19 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 51m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Stones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with about 75% of the 92 miles on faster roads like I-24 and Wattendorf Memorial Highway. You'll experience a significant stretch of uninterrupted driving for up to 60.7 miles on I-24, so be prepared for extended periods of highway cruising. While the majority is on major thoroughfares, there are segments on US 41A that might offer a slightly different driving feel. Overall, expect a consistent pace conducive to covering ground efficiently, rather than a winding, scenic exploration.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.7 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and Wattendorf Memorial Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 41A / Madison Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 51m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 41A / Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 16 miles (SR 55 / West Carroll Street): Navigation decision point; at 90.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Arriving in Chattanooga, TN
Full guide →Founded 1839
Chattanooga is the 4th largest city in Tennessee. It is the seat of Hamilton County. It is in Southeast Tennessee on the Tennessee River and near the border of Georgia. It was immortalized in the popular 1941 song "Chattanooga Choo Choo", made famous by Glenn Miller.
Top landmarks
- • Delta Queen — paddle steamer launched in 1926
- • Hunter Museum of American Art — art museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee
- • Saints Peter and Paul Basilica — historic church in Tennessee, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 92 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.7 miles on I 24. 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 0.2 miles (US 41A / Madison Street): Navigation decision point; at 16 miles (SR 55 / West Carroll Street): Navigation decision point; at 90.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Chattanooga, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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