Tazewell, TN to East Chattanooga, TN is 149.2 miles and takes about 3h 8m via I-75 and I-40, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a drive that is primarily on major highways, making it a straightforward connection. With only one recommended stop and a duration under four hours, this route is ideal for a single-day trip. You'll find the fuel costs are quite manageable for this distance.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.6 miles from Tazewell, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
77.1 mi
1h 23m
Maynardville Highway
16.7 mi
24m
I 40
16.6 mi
19m
Highway 33 South
10.1 mi
15m
Maynardville Pike
8.7 mi
13m
Bonny Oaks Drive
6.5 mi
11m
Knoxville Bypass
5.7 mi
6m
North Broad Street
2.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 77.1 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tazewell, TN and East Chattanooga, TN.
1
Start on Main Street
196 ft·14 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto Montgomery Street
235 ft·12 sec·Montgomery Street
3
Turn right onto SR 33
2.8 mi·4 min·North Broad Street
4
Continue on SR 33
10 mi·15 min·Highway 33 South
5
Continue on SR 33
11 mi·16 min·Maynardville Highway
6
Continue on SR 33; SR 61; SR 144
0.3 mi·27 sec·Main Street
7
Continue on SR 33; SR 61
5.4 mi·8 min·Maynardville Highway
8
Continue on SR 33
8.7 mi·13 min·Maynardville Pike
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 441
2.4 mi·4 min·North Broadway
10
Take the ramp
0.8 mi·58 sec
11
Merge onto I 640; US 25W
5.7 mi·6 min·Knoxville Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 40; I 75
17 mi·19 min·I 40; I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
77 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 75
Toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
14
Take the exit onto US 11; US 64; SR 317
0.2 mi·44 sec·US 11; US 64; SR 317
Toward Secondary SR 317 West, US 11 South, US 64 West: Bonny Oaks Drive, Old Lee HighwayUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 11; US 64; SR 317
0.2 mi·24 sec·US 11; US 64; SR 317
16
Continue on TN 317
4.8 mi·8 min·Bonny Oaks Drive
17
Continue on SR 17
1.8 mi·3 min·Bonny Oaks Drive
18
Continue on SR 17
0.6 mi·1 min·Campbell Street
19
Turn right onto SR 17
0.3 mi·38 sec·Glass Street
20
Turn left onto North Chamberlain Avenue
52 ft·1 sec·North Chamberlain Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
North Chamberlain Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 8m duration, leaving Tazewell in the morning allows ample time to reach East Chattanooga before evening. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short distance, you have flexibility in how you pace yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $23 estimated cost covers the full 149.2 miles, and refueling options are plentiful along I-75. Since this is a single-day drive, aim to depart after morning rush hour to make the most of your travel time.
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 74.6 miles from Tazewell, TN, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.1 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 33 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.6 miles or 1h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 33m
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 Tazewell, 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 Tazewell, TN
This is one driving day of about 149.2 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Tazewell, 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 75 for about 77.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 141.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Montgomery Street
Turn left onto Montgomery Street
Navigation decision point
5
41.8 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|I 640; US 25W / Knoxville Bypass
Merge onto I 640; US 25W / Knoxville Bypass
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
47.5 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|I 40; I 75
Merge onto I 40; I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
64.1 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 75 South: Chattanooga
7
141.2 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|US 11; US 64; SR 317
Take the exit onto US 11; US 64; SR 317 toward Secondary SR 317 West, US 11 South, US 64 West: Bonny Oaks Drive, Old Lee Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Secondary SR 317 West, US 11 South, US 6...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.33 one way
$46.65 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.61
$51.22
premium
$4.89
$28.71
$57.42
diesel
$5.61
$32.94
$65.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.8
0
$15.67
$7.16
Efficient EV
37.3
0
$13.05
$5.97
EV Truck/SUV
59.7
0
$20.89
$9.55
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 15, 2026
Origin
Tazewell, TN
Morning
in Tazewell on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Chattanooga, TN
Morning
in East Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
10:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
10 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 8m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 70% of your time on highways, with the longest uninterrupted stretch being 77.1 miles on I-75. After that, expect to transition to surface roads. The density of exits on the highway sections means you'll frequently see towns and services passing by. The profile is mostly highway, so you can anticipate a consistent cruising speed for much of the drive.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.1 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Maynardville Highway. 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 Montgomery 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 149.2 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 (Montgomery Street): Navigation decision point; at 41.8 miles (I 640; US 25W / Knoxville Bypass): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.5 miles (I 40; I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Tazewell, TN and East Chattanooga, TN, road signs point toward Secondary Sr 317 West and Old Lee Highway.
Secondary Sr 317 West
141.2 mi in|~2h 54m|via US 11; US 64; SR 317
Old Lee Highway
141.2 mi in|~2h 54m|via US 11; US 64; SR 317
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 149.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.1 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Montgomery Street): Navigation decision point; at 41.8 miles (I 640; US 25W / Knoxville Bypass): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.5 miles (I 40; I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at East Chattanooga, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
