Origin
Waverly, TN
Night in Waverly on Saturday
Local time
11:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waverly, 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
3h 45m
Distance
191.1 mi
308 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 33m
★
6 AM
3h 46m
8 AM
4h 11m
10 AM
3h 54m
12 PM
3h 52m
3 PM
3h 56m
5 PM
4h 10m
8 PM
3h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waverly, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Chattanooga, TN
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 191.1-mile drive from Waverly, TN to Chattanooga, TN is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes. Your journey will primarily utilize I-24, with a portion on Tennessee National Guard Parkway and US 70, making it a highway-focused experience. With a fuel cost estimated around $30, this route offers a straightforward connection between two points within the Southeast region. It’s a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient drive without needing to break it up overnight.
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
95.6 miles from Waverly, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 24 | 103.1 mi | 1h 54m |
| Tennessee National Guard Parkway | 52.2 mi | 55m |
| US 70 | 21.6 mi | 32m |
| SR 46 | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| I 40 | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| West College Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| US 27 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 103.1 mi, about 1h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waverly, TN and Chattanooga, TN.
1
Start on Mill Street
253 ft
·
16 sec
·
Mill Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto North Court Square
330 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Court Square
3
Continue on East Main Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
4
Turn left onto East Acre Avenue
114 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Acre Avenue
5
Turn right onto US 70
22 mi
·
32 min
·
US 70
6
Continue on US 70 Business
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West College Street
7
Turn right onto SR 46
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
SR 46
Use the left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Use the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 40
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
I 40
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 840 East: Knoxville, Franklin
11
Merge onto I 840
52 mi
·
55 min
·
Tennessee National Guard Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
2 min
Exit 53A
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 24
103 mi
·
1 hr 54 min
·
I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 184B
Toward US 27 North: Downtown Chattanooga
15
Continue on US 27
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
·
US 27
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 1B
Toward Downtown
17
Turn right onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
West Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
18
Arrive at destination
TN 8
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under four hours, you can depart Waverly at your convenience. Aim to leave in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for a leisurely pace, even though only one planned stop is typically needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering the longest stretch on I-24, as services can be spread out. The $30 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting, and since it's a single-day drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on traffic or personal preference.
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 95.6 miles from Waverly, TN, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.1 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 42 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.6 miles or 1h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 6m
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 Waverly, 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 Waverly, TN
This is one driving day of about 191.1 miles and 3h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Waverly, 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 24 for about 103.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 95.6 miles from Waverly, TN, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 24 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 190.9 — 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
|
North Court Square
At end of road, turn left onto North Court Square
Navigation decision point
6
24.4 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
SR 46
Turn right onto SR 46
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
29 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
85.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m 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
190.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 45m 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
$29.88 one way
$59.75 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.80 | $65.61 |
| premium | $4.89 | $36.78 | $73.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.19 | $84.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.3 | 0 | $20.07 | $9.17 |
| Efficient EV | 47.8 | 0 | $16.72 | $7.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.4 | 0 | $26.75 | $12.23 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Destination
Chattanooga, TN
Late night in Chattanooga on Sunday
Local time
12:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph
14% chance
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
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
7 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 45m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive where 97% of the mileage is on highways, so it's largely a fast-paced experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 103.1 miles on I-24, meaning you can settle in for a significant period of consistent driving. While primarily interstate, there are brief transitions onto other roads like Tennessee National Guard Parkway and US 70. This suggests a route that prioritizes direct travel over winding scenic detours.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.1 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and Tennessee National Guard Parkway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Court Square.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 191.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 (North Court Square): Navigation decision point; at 24.4 miles (SR 46): Lane positioning matters here; at 29 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
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 Waverly, TN to Chattanooga, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Franklin along the way.
Franklin
32.7 mi in
|
~48m
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 3h 45m. Total distance: 191.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.1 miles on I 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Court Square): Navigation decision point; at 24.4 miles (SR 46): Lane positioning matters here; at 29 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Chattanooga, TN, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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