Interstate 75: Cleveland to Chattanooga – Tennessee

Starting just south of Cleveland, Tennessee, our 22-mile journey along Interstate 75 southbound takes us through a transitional stretch that blends the foothills of the Appalachians with the growing outer suburbs of Chattanooga. The drive begins at the interchange with U.S. Route 74, a major east-west connector that serves the eastern parts of Tennessee and western North Carolina. From here, I-75 heads southwest, carving a smooth, multi-lane path through rolling terrain that’s dotted with wooded hillsides and commercial clusters.

As we leave the Cleveland area behind, we pass through the outskirts of communities like Ooltewah and East Brainerd. This stretch of I-75 serves as a major commuter route for residents in the northeastern suburbs of Chattanooga. The road itself is well-maintained and heavily trafficked, especially during peak morning and evening hours, owing to its importance as a link between residential zones and industrial, retail, and business centers in the city. Along the way, drivers will find several exits providing access to local routes, including Tennessee State Route 317 and TN-320, both of which lead deeper into suburban neighborhoods and local commercial hubs.

Approaching the heart of Chattanooga, the drive becomes more dynamic. Just past the Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant—one of the area’s most notable employers—you’ll begin to sense the shift from suburban calm to urban bustle. The skyline doesn’t quite make an appearance on this stretch, but the proximity to the city becomes obvious as the interchanges become more complex and traffic density increases. We reach a critical junction at the I-24 interchange, a busy crossroads that channels traffic toward downtown Chattanooga, west to Lookout Mountain, or south toward Georgia and Atlanta.

After the I-24 interchange, our route leaves Tennessee as we cross the state line into Georgia for a mile or two. The video concludes at the interchange with Georgia State Route 146 (also known locally as Cloud Springs Road), located just inside the Peach State. This marks the end of our brief but significant ride through one of Tennessee’s busiest highway corridors.