Huntingdon, TN to Chattanooga, TN is 241.7 miles and takes about 4h 32m via I-40 and I-24, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, taking you from the western part of the state towards the southeastern border. Given its relatively short duration and primarily highway profile, it's a straightforward drive perfect for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it an efficient way to cover the distance. Consider this route if you're looking for a no-fuss transfer between these two Tennessee locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
120.8 miles from Huntingdon, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
103.1 mi
1h 54m
I 40
68 mi
1h 12m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
52.2 mi
55m
TN 22
12 mi
16m
Lexington Street
2.9 mi
5m
US 27
0.7 mi
<1m
Lexington Clarksburg Road
0.2 mi
<1m
West Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 103.1 mi, about 1h 54m
Traffic on I-24
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 9 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,974 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,367
Quietest
2 AM
~348 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Huntingdon, TN and Chattanooga, TN.
1
Start on US 70 Business; SR 22 Business
116 ft·8 sec·Court Square
2
Turn right onto SR 22 Business
2.9 mi·5 min·Lexington Street
3
Turn right onto TN 22
6.5 mi·8 min·TN 22
4
Continue on SR 22; SR 424
0.2 mi·21 sec·Lexington Clarksburg Road
5
Continue on TN 22
5.4 mi·7 min·TN 22
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington, Huntingdon
7
Merge onto I 40
68 mi·1 hr 12 min·I 40
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
9
Merge onto I 840
52 mi·55 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.8 mi·2 min
Exit 53AToward I 24 East: ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 24
103 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 184BToward 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 1BToward 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
For this 4-hour, 32-minute drive, leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Chattanooga without feeling rushed. Since the total distance is 241.7 miles and the longest stretch is over 100 miles, plan for one stop around the halfway point for fuel and a break. The $38 estimated fuel cost is manageable for a single day's travel. As you get closer to Chattanooga, be aware that traffic can increase due to its status as a popular destination. This route is designed for a direct trip, so keeping your vehicle fueled and yourself alert will make the transit smooth.
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 120.8 miles from Huntingdon, TN, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.1 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 53 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.8 miles or 2h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 42m
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 Huntingdon, 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 Huntingdon, TN
This is one driving day of about 241.7 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Huntingdon, 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 24 for about 103.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.1 and 241.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
15.1 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington, Huntingdon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Primary SR 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexing...
5
83.3 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
5
84 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge onto I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
136.2 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 53A
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
6
241.5 mi into trip|~4h 31m 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
$35.69 one way
$71.39 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$39.40
$78.81
premium
$4.72
$44.88
$89.75
diesel
$4.80
$45.64
$91.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.5
0
$25.38
$11.60
Efficient EV
60.4
0
$21.15
$9.67
EV Truck/SUV
96.7
1
$33.84
$15.47
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Huntingdon, TN
Late night
in Huntingdon on Sunday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 5 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Chattanooga, TN
Morning
in Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 0 to 5 mph42% chanceLive 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
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
4h 32m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
3 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 141.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely highway, with 98% of the 241.7 miles on major roads like I-40 and I-24. You'll encounter a substantial stretch of 103.1 miles on I-24 without needing to exit. The Tennessee National Guard Parkway accounts for a small portion of the trip. Expect continuous cruising with frequent exits for services along the interstate corridors, especially as you approach Chattanooga.
98% 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: 103.1 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and I 40. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 15.1 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 241.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,079 ft411 ft
Total Climb
1,082 ft
Total Descent
817 ft
Highest Point
1,079 ft
~172.6 mi in
Elevation Range
668 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Huntingdon, TN and Chattanooga, TN, road signs point toward Primary Sr 22: Parkers Crossroad, Lexington and Franklin.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 241.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.1 miles on I 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 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.
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 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 83.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84 miles (I 840 / Tennessee National Guard Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Chattanooga, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
