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Trip from Madisonville, TN to 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 35m

Distance

76.2 mi

123 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 28m ★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Monroe County, Tennessee, United States of America

Madisonville, TN

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States

Chattanooga, TN

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning to travel from Madisonville to Chattanooga, expect a straightforward 79.6-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 17 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $12 for fuel, making this an economical choice for a quick regional excursion. By sticking to local roads like Warren Street, Tellico Street South, and Englewood Avenue, you avoid the typical interstate bustle. Whether you are heading south for business or leisure, the drive is manageable enough to complete in one go, offering you maximum flexibility for your schedule.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

38.1 miles from Madisonville, TN

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 46.7 mi 52m
US 411 9.3 mi 10m
I 24 5.8 mi 7m
New Englewood Road 4.9 mi 8m
Decatur Pike 3.4 mi 5m
US 27 1.7 mi 2m
Green Street 0.8 mi 1m
South White Street 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 46.7 mi, about 52m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Madisonville, TN and Chattanooga, TN.

1

Start on College Street South

8 ft · 4 sec · College Street South
2

Turn right onto Warren Street

207 ft · 8 sec · Warren Street
3

Turn right onto Tellico Street South

0.5 mi · 1 min · Tellico Street South
4

Turn right onto US 411

9.3 mi · 10 min · US 411
5

Turn right onto SR 39

374 ft · 13 sec · Englewood Avenue
6

Continue on SR 39

228 ft · 4 sec · Englewood Avenue
7

Continue on SR 39

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Niota Avenue
8

Turn left onto SR 39

0.7 mi · 1 min · Athens Pike
9

Continue on SR 39

4.9 mi · 8 min · New Englewood Road
10

Turn right onto SR 30; SR 39

0.8 mi · 1 min · South White Street
11

Continue on SR 30; SR 39

0.8 mi · 1 min · Green Street
12

Continue on TN 30

3.4 mi · 5 min · Decatur Pike
13

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 39 sec
14

Merge onto I 75

47 mi · 52 min · I 75
Use the straight lane.
15

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 56 sec
Toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on I 24

5.8 mi · 7 min · I 24
Toward Chattanooga, Nashville
17

Take the exit onto US 27

0.2 mi · 15 sec · US 27
Exit 178 Toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto US 27

0.2 mi · 16 sec · US 27
Exit 178 Toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork onto US 27

1.4 mi · 1 min · US 27
Use the straight lane.
20

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Exit 1B Toward Downtown
21

Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard

0.2 mi · 29 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
22

Arrive at destination

TN 8

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of freedom to choose your departure time to avoid local congestion. Because there are no programmed stops for this 79.6-mile route, make sure your vehicle is fueled up before leaving Madisonville to avoid needing a mid-trip detour. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, stay alert as you transition between Warren Street, Tellico Street South, and Englewood Avenue to ensure you stay on track. Keeping your focus on the road is essential since you will be navigating local thoroughfares the entire time. Enjoy the flexibility of this direct path, which allows you to reach Chattanooga in under an hour and a half without the fatigue of a long-haul 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 38.1 miles from Madisonville, TN, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.7 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 17 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 38.1 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 20m

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 Madisonville, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Madisonville, TN

This is one driving day of about 76.2 miles and 1h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Madisonville, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 46.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Calhoun, TN, TN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Calhoun, TN

38 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

Athens, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cleveland, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 38.1 miles from Madisonville, 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.

Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 76.2

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+14237604333

Visit website

Renaissance Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 76.2

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+14236436096

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 67.7 and 76.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
67.7 mi into trip | ~1h 23m in

Take the exit toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville

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 I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
8
74.1 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in | US 27

Take the exit onto US 27 toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain

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. Exit 178 Toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain
10
74.3 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in | US 27

Keep slight left at fork onto US 27 toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 178 Toward US 27 North: Downtown, Lookout Mountain
6
74.5 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in | US 27

Keep slight left at fork onto US 27

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
76.1 mi into trip | ~1h 34m 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

$11.91 one way

$23.83 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.08 $26.16
premium $4.89 $14.66 $29.33
diesel $5.61 $16.82 $33.65

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.9 0 $8.00 $3.66
Efficient EV 19.1 0 $6.67 $3.05
EV Truck/SUV 30.5 0 $10.67 $4.88

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (67% 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

Madisonville, TN

Late night in Madisonville on Sunday

Local time

12:39 AM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Chattanooga, TN

Late night in Chattanooga on Sunday

Local time

12:39 AM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

81°F

Calhoun, TN

38 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 35m 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?

Expect a turn-heavy, local experience rather than a monotonous highway cruise on this trek. You will be navigating local streets for the entirety of the trip, as the highway share is 0%. Because this route relies on town-to-town navigation, you will find yourself behind the wheel of a technical drive that requires your full attention. The road profile is distinctively local, moving through the Southeast landscape without the relief of long, uninterrupted interstate stretches. Prepare for a more hands-on driving experience where the pace is dictated by the road layout rather than high-speed travel.

83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.7 mi on I 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 411. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 67.7 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 67.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.1 miles (US 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.3 miles (US 27): 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 Madisonville, TN to Chattanooga, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Nashville along the way.

Nashville

67.7 mi in | ~1h 23m

About the Cities

Arriving in Chattanooga, TN

Full guide →

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.

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 35m. Total distance: 76.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 46.7 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Chattanooga, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

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 67.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.1 miles (US 27): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.3 miles (US 27): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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