Eagle Exxon
0 mi from route
Trip from Kingston, TN to East Chattanooga, TN
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 40m
Distance
81.2 mi
131 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 33m
★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 56m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 45m
3 PM
1h 47m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kingston, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Kingston, TN to East Chattanooga, TN is 81.2 miles and takes about 1h 40m via Rhea County Highway and Dayton Pike, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a relatively short drive, mostly on surface roads, making it a straightforward connection rather than a destination in itself. You'll find it easy to plan for, with minimal time commitment and predictable costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.6 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 | 24.6 mi | 28m |
| North Gateway Avenue | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| I 40 | 4.5 mi | 4m |
| Spring City Highway | 4.4 mi | 4m |
| TN 153 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| SR 17 | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| South Roane Street | 2.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Rhea County Highway
— 31.9 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kingston, TN and East 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
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Dayton Pike
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward TN 153 South: Chickamauga Dam
12
Continue on TN 153
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Dayton Pike
13
Keep slight left at fork onto TN 153
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
TN 153
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 5B
Toward SR 17 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn straight onto SR 17
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
SR 17
16
Turn right onto SR 17
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Glass Street
17
Turn left onto North Chamberlain Avenue
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Chamberlain Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
North Chamberlain Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 1h 40m duration, this is a flexible same-day trip. You can easily depart anytime, though leaving in the morning allows for more daylight. With only 81.2 miles, there's no need to rush or plan for overnight stops. Consider packing snacks and drinks, as the route data indicates zero planned stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the estimated cost is $13, but it's always wise to fill up before you depart Kingston, TN, especially since the longest continuous stretch on surface roads is over 30 miles.
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 40.6 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 40.6 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East 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 81.2 miles and 1h 40m.
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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.6 miles from Kingston, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Driver Services Center
1.7 mi from route
Renaissance Park
4.7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~9 min detour
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
mile 81.2
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Hours: 6 am–11 pm
+14236436096
Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery
4.9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~10 min detour
3.8 mi from route
~10 min detour
mile 81.2
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Hours: 11 am–8 pm
+14237604333
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 78.1 — 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
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
4
69.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward TN 153 South: Chickamauga Dam
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward TN 153 South: Chickamauga Dam
4
74.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
|
TN 153
Keep slight left at fork onto TN 153
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
78.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward SR 17 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5B
Toward SR 17 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.69 one way
$25.39 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.94 | $27.88 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.63 | $31.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.93 | $35.86 |
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: 28.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.53 | $3.90 |
| Efficient EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.10 | $3.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.5 | 0 | $11.37 | $5.20 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (64% 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.
Origin
Kingston, TN
Late night in Kingston on Sunday
Local time
3:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Chattanooga, TN
Late night in East Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
3:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 40m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily surface roads, with only about 13% on highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 31.9 miles on Rhea County Highway before transitioning. Expect to encounter traffic merging and potentially some urban congestion as you approach East Chattanooga. The majority of your time will be spent cruising at lower speeds on local roads.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 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?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SR 58 / North Kentucky Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 81.2 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (SR 58 / North Kentucky Street): Navigation decision point; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 East Chattanooga, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Rockwood along the way.
Rockwood
5 mi in
|
~6m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 81.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (13%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at East 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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