How far is Oak Ridge, TN from Chattanooga, TN?

The driving distance from Oak Ridge, TN to Chattanooga, TN is about 107.7 miles (173.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 88.7 miles (142.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 25m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
107.76 mi
01h 42m
Flight
88.68 mi
142.71 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Oak Ridge.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
88.68 mi
Kilometers
142.71 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
107.76 mi
Kilometers
173.43 km
Drive Time
01h 42m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chattanooga
Wed, Apr 15, 2:46 PM EDT
Return by in Oak Ridge
Wed, Apr 15, 4:29 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Oak Ridge
2026-04-15T13:03
Arrive Chattanooga
Wed, Apr 15, 2:46 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:43 AM to 11:43 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:04 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Oak Ridge
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Spring City
TN

Human settlement in Rhea County, Tennessee, United States of America

From Oak Ridge
49.8 mi
00h 51m
To Chattanooga
58 mi
00h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 PM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SW
Destination
56°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 3:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Oak Ridge and Chattanooga.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Oak Ridge and Chattanooga.

  1. 1

    Start on North Illinois Avenue

    1 mi · 1 min · North Illinois Avenue

  2. 2

    Continue on East Tri County Boulevard

    5.7 mi · 7 min · East Tri County Boulevard

  3. 3

    Continue on Harriman Highway

    9.6 mi · 11 min · Harriman Highway

  4. 4

    Merge slight right onto Bitter Creek Highway

    835 ft · 11 sec · Bitter Creek Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Harriman Highway

    1233 ft · 16 sec · Harriman Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Hannah Highway

    2.1 mi · 2 min · Hannah Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on North Roane Street

    6.4 mi · 8 min · North Roane Street

  8. 8

    Continue on North Gateway Avenue

    6.2 mi · 7 min · North Gateway Avenue

  9. 9

    Continue on Spring City Highway

    4.4 mi · 5 min · Spring City Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Rhea County Highway

    31.9 mi · 40 min · Rhea County Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Dayton Pike

    31.5 mi · 37 min · Dayton Pike

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown

    1176 ft · 40 sec

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto West Martin Luther King Boulevard

    1541 ft · 45 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Martin Luther King Boulevard

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Oak Ridge and Chattanooga.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
14 steps
1 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Rhea County Highway
31.9 mi · 30%
Dayton Pike
31.5 mi · 29%
Harriman Highway
9.84 mi · 9%
North Roane Street
6.37 mi · 6%
North Gateway Avenue
6.2 mi · 6%
East Tri County Boulevard
5.66 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Rhea County Highway

Continue on Rhea County Highway

31.9 mi · 00h 40m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 42m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19 mi
88.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Spring City
00h 51m from Oak Ridge
Leave By
3:04 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Oak Ridge and Partly Cloudy near Chattanooga.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Oak Ridge to Chattanooga?

The road trip is about 107.7 miles (173.4 km) and usually takes 01h 42m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Spring City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 49.8 miles from Oak Ridge and 58 miles from Chattanooga.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 88.7 miles (142.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 19 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:04 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.33 one way or $28.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 33.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Oak Ridge and Partly Cloudy near Chattanooga.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Oak Ridge and Chattanooga. Straight-line distance: 88.68 mi (142.71 km).

Oak Ridge

#1 Oak Ridge

City in Tennessee, United States

Population29,340
Coordinates36.0103600, -84.2696400
Altitude259
CountryUnited States
Chattanooga

#2 Chattanooga

The fourth most populous city in Tennessee.

Population184,742
Coordinates35.0456300, -85.3096800
Altitude206
CountryUnited States
Start: TN 62 (-84.269627, 36.010373)
End: West Martin Luther King Boulevard (-85.309688, 35.045753)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 173 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 35m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 41m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 20m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.8 gal
14.39 L · about $14.33
Round trip
$28.66
7.6 gal · 28.78 L
Estimated CO2
33.8 kg one way
Round trip: 67.5 kg / 149 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $14.33 $28.66
Mid-grade $4.25 $16.16 $32.32
Premium $4.65 $17.69 $35.37
Diesel $5.30 $20.16 $40.31

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Tennessee · Apr 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Oak Ridge and Chattanooga. The current time is 13:03:27.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.