This 321.1-mile journey from Obion, TN to East Chattanooga, TN is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that can comfortably be completed in about 6 hours and 3 minutes. With 97% of the drive on highways, it's designed for efficient travel, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. You can expect a fuel cost of approximately $49 for this route. The drive primarily utilizes US 412 and I-24, keeping you on well-maintained roads for most of the way. Given its manageable duration and highway focus, this route is a practical choice for travelers looking to cover ground efficiently within Tennessee.
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
160.5 miles from Obion, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 412
131.7 mi
2h 26m
I 24
103.1 mi
1h 54m
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
52.2 mi
55m
US 51
24.7 mi
27m
Riverside Drive
1.3 mi
2m
Wilcox Boulevard
0.9 mi
2m
West Palestine Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Dodson Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 412
— 131.7 mi, about 2h 26m
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 Obion, TN and East Chattanooga, TN.
1
Start on this road
88 ft·12 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Main Street
257 ft·13 sec·Main Street
3
Turn right onto 8th Street
401 ft·23 sec·8th Street
4
Turn left onto SR 183
0.9 mi·1 min·West Palestine Avenue
5
Continue on SR 183
0.5 mi·1 min·Elbridge-Obion Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 51 South: Dyersburg
7
Merge onto US 51
16 mi·17 min·US 51
8
Take the exit onto US 51
8.8 mi·10 min·US 51
Toward US 51 South, US 412 East: Dyersburg, Jackson
9
Continue on US 412
5.7 mi·6 min·US 412
10
Continue on US 412
29 mi·34 min·US 412
11
Turn left onto US 412
97 mi·1 hr 44 min·US 412
Toward I-40 East, US 412 East: NashvilleUse the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
13
Merge onto I 840
52 mi·55 min·Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.8 mi·2 min
Exit 53AToward I 24 East: ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 24
103 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 184BToward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
17
Continue on US 27
0.7 mi·59 sec·US 27
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 1BToward Downtown
19
Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.3 mi·50 sec·West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto Georgia Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Georgia Avenue
21
Turn right onto East 4th Street
0.4 mi·35 sec·East 4th Street
22
Turn straight
0.1 mi·22 sec
23
Continue on Riverside Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·Riverside Drive
24
Turn right onto Wilcox Boulevard
0.9 mi·2 min·Wilcox Boulevard
Use the right lane.
25
Turn left onto SR 17
0.8 mi·1 min·Dodson Avenue
26
Turn right onto SR 17
0.4 mi·45 sec·Glass Street
27
Turn sharp right onto North Chamberlain Avenue
52 ft·1 sec·North Chamberlain Avenue
28
Arrive at destination
North Chamberlain Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour, 321.1-mile drive, consider an early morning departure from Obion to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. With only one recommended stop and a significant 131.7-mile stretch on US 412, plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly. You’ll want to fill up before embarking on that longer segment. The estimated fuel cost is around $49, so factor that into your budget. Since this route is well under a full day of driving, you have flexibility to adjust your pace or add a brief stop if needed, but the highway focus means you can also push through to your destination efficiently.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 160.5 miles from Obion, TN, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131.7 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 71 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.5 miles or 3h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 54m
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 Obion, 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 Obion, TN
This is one driving day of about 321.1 miles and 6h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Obion, 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 US 412 for about 131.7 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 316.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto Main Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|8th Street
Turn right onto 8th Street
Navigation decision point
6
61.1 mi into trip|~1h 13m in|US 412
Turn left onto US 412 toward I-40 East, US 412 East: Nashville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I-40 East, US 412 East: Nashville
7
211.1 mi into trip|~3h 55m 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
316.4 mi into trip|~5h 54m 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
$47.42 one way
$94.84 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$52.35
$104.70
premium
$4.72
$59.62
$119.24
diesel
$4.80
$60.63
$121.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.3
1
$33.72
$15.41
Efficient EV
80.3
0
$28.10
$12.84
EV Truck/SUV
128.4
1
$44.95
$20.55
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Obion, TN
Morning
in Obion on Sunday
Local time
10:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 5 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Destination
East Chattanooga, TN
Morning
in East Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
11:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 0 to 5 mph51% 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
6h 3m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 210.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-centric experience on this route, with a substantial 97% of your miles spent on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 131.7 miles on US 412, offering a period of consistent travel. While primarily a highway drive, it incorporates sections of Tennessee National Guard Parkway, adding a bit of variety. The overall character is one of steady progress, with most of the driving focused on reaching your destination efficiently rather than exploring local byways. You'll likely find the roads well-suited for maintaining a good pace.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 131.7 mi on US 412.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 412 and I 24. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 321.1 miles you will encounter 20 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 (Main Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 61.1 miles (US 412): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,081 ft277 ft
Total Climb
1,063 ft
Total Descent
656 ft
Highest Point
1,081 ft
~252.3 mi in
Elevation Range
804 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Obion, TN and East Chattanooga, TN, road signs point toward Jackson and Franklin.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 3m. Total distance: 321.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 3m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 131.7 miles on US 412. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 29 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.
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 East Chattanooga, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 29 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 61.1 miles (US 412): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at East Chattanooga, TN before the return drive.
