This 82-mile journey from Kingston, TN to Chattanooga, TN is a manageable 1-hour and 39-minute drive, perfect for a single-day trip. Expect a fuel cost of around $13, making it an economical option. The route primarily utilizes local roads like Rhea County Highway and Dayton Pike, with a relatively low highway share of 5%. Given its short duration and local road focus, this drive offers a relaxed pace and is ideal for a spontaneous road trip within the Southeast region. You won't need an overnight stay for this particular segment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41 miles from Kingston, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Rhea County Highway
31.9 mi
39m
Dayton Pike
31.5 mi
36m
North Gateway Avenue
6.2 mi
7m
I 40
4.5 mi
4m
Spring City Highway
4.4 mi
4m
South Roane Street
2.3 mi
2m
West Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
North Kentucky Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Rhea County Highway
— 31.9 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kingston, TN and Chattanooga, TN.
1
Start on SR 58
256 ft·34 sec·North Kentucky Street
2
Continue on SR 58
0.1 mi·21 sec·North Kentucky Street
3
Turn left
0.3 mi·43 sec
4
Merge onto I 40
4.5 mi·4 min·I 40
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 27, TN 61: Harriman, Rockwood
6
Turn left onto US 27
2.3 mi·2 min·South Roane Street
7
Continue on US 27
6.2 mi·7 min·North Gateway Avenue
8
Continue on US 27
4.4 mi·4 min·Spring City Highway
9
Continue on US 27
32 mi·39 min·Rhea County Highway
10
Continue on US 27
31 mi·36 min·Dayton Pike
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·40 sec
Exit 1AToward Downtown
12
Turn straight onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.3 mi·45 sec·West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
13
Arrive at destination
TN 8
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under two hours, this trip offers excellent flexibility; there's no need to rush. You can depart Kingston at your leisure. Since there are no specific stops recommended, use the time to enjoy the local scenery as you navigate Rhea County Highway and Dayton Pike. Keep an eye out for the numerous turns characteristic of this route, and ensure you have ample fuel before you begin, as the longest stretch without a turn is over 30 miles. The estimated fuel cost of $13 is quite low, so budget-wise, this is a very accessible drive.
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 41 miles from Kingston, TN, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.9 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 18 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41 miles or 50m 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 24m
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 Kingston, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kingston, TN
This is one driving day of about 82 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Kingston, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Rhea County Highway for about 31.9 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 81.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip|~0m in|SR 58 / North Kentucky Street
Continue onto SR 58 / North Kentucky Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
5 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward US 27, TN 61: Harriman, Rockwood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 27, TN 61: Harriman, Rockwood
5
81.4 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 1A
Toward Downtown
4
81.7 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Turn straight onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.82 one way
$25.64 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.08
$28.15
premium
$4.89
$15.78
$31.56
diesel
$5.61
$18.10
$36.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.6
0
$8.61
$3.94
Efficient EV
20.5
0
$7.18
$3.28
EV Truck/SUV
32.8
0
$11.48
$5.25
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Kingston, TN
Late night
in Kingston on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chattanooga, TN
Late night
in Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph11% chanceLive forecast
84°F
Dayton, TN
41 mi in
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
23 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 39m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be navigating numerous turns and local road segments rather than long stretches of uninterrupted highway. Only 5% of this drive is on highways, so be prepared for a more engaged driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 31.9 miles on Rhea County Highway. This suggests a drive that winds through local communities and varied terrain, rather than a fast-paced interstate cruise.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.9 mi on Rhea County Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 58 / North Kentucky Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Kingston, TN to Chattanooga, TN is easy. At 1h 39m with 5% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SR 58 / North Kentucky Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Kingston, TN to Chattanooga, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Rockwood along the way.
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.
The longest stretch is about 31.9 miles on Rhea County Highway. 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: near the start (SR 58 / North Kentucky Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Chattanooga, TN before heading back.
